My nephew Sean sent me a work photo this week. He loves what he does and periodically shares scenes from his locations. I had been thinking about Sean this week. At the Oxford Commissioners meeting, Delmarva Power answered questions about the tree trimming they are required to do in all of our small towns. Some of the Oxford townsfolks were pretty upset that the beautiful tree canopy had to be cut back away from the power lines. There were a lot of suggestions about “How I would do it, even though I am not an arborist”. It got a little hot in the hearing room.
The folks from Delmarva Power came in peace to inform the public of why it is critical and the law to prune back the trees away from the power lines at least every four years. I think it might have helped to have Sean’s video played that night – he is a federal fire firefighter out west. As I write this, he has been in Chico and Paradise, CA, and is now in Willamette, Oregon – The video was him in the fire line – trees on fire above, brush on fire at his feet. Scary just for me to look at it – Fires are often triggered by power lines that snap and spark trees, brush, and houses.
I can see a fire whipping through the old frame houses in Oxford in high winds. One broken branch that falls onto power lines could spark the whole town.. It is a real possibility. If you don’t have respect for Delmarva Power, how about for Graham, Tim, Henry, Easy, Dave, Rachel, Connie, Bruce and all the other Fire Company that would be out fighting for your town.
Susan Delean- Botkin
Oxford
Theresa Dejter says
You intentionally left out Josh Coder who has been an exemplary firefighter here in Oxford for 3 years, was Fireman of the Year his first full year of service and runs close to 90% of all calls including EMT. The only ones he does not attend to are those where he happens to be working at his full time job. He has put his own safety at risk many times to ensure our well being. I will never take for granted his continued efforts to protect us all, including you.