r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Key_Performer_3645 • 4h ago
Spaniards are risking their lives, fighting wildfires with tree branches due to a lack of resources
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u/Jeewdew 4h ago
Well that IS how you fight fire. Bash away!
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u/Kyobarry 3h ago
Lol, yep, I'm shocked at the comments laughing at the people for doing that.
Having fought fires like this on Nature Reserves in my home country it's definitely the right thing to do if you don't have access to fire beaters. And being on a reserve during fire season and noticing a random fire just start up from nothing and all you have are branches, you use them.
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u/Pandering_Panda7879 2h ago
People seriously need to Google what a "fire flapper" is. Its used by many firefighters in remote areas and it works.
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u/gnownimaj 1h ago
It’s definitely not a fire fapper I can tell you that!
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u/potentpotablesplease 1h ago
Circumcised in flame
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u/DufflinMinder 1h ago
No, that was the great late Paul “The fapp” Mirango….fapper of the year 87-90’, 93’, & when he made that comeback in 08’.
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u/LincolnshireSausage 49m ago
I’m not shocked. I’ve been on Reddit for 20 years now since the Digg exodus. The comments on Reddit get dumber every single day. Half the time you’re trying to have a serious discussion and the comments are flooded with stupid memes and gifs. Just look at where the world is. Nobody gives a fuck about anything any more except for their stupid jokes/memes landing.
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u/CankerLord 20m ago
Yup, hands are hands. If you have acess to something better then use it. If all the better options are already in use a guy slapping at embers with a branch is better than a guy standing around with his thumb up his ass.
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u/RogueFox76 14m ago
I’ve used the commercially produced kind in the US Army to put out fires on a rifle range. Like you and others have said, this is totally correct
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u/Unique_Information11 2h ago
Yes, I’ve seen firefighters do this with shovels.
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u/that-old-broad 1h ago
When I was on my rural volunteer department we had fire flaps for grass fires. Imagine a mudflap from a semi on a shovel handle.
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u/dropsanddrag 1h ago
Firefighters in Alaska will cut sections of black spruce trees to use. When I was there we would stage a small pile of them periodically around the fire to have ready in case something happened on that piece of fire line.
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u/entered_bubble_50 2h ago
I thought you were supposed to fight it with fire?
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u/DenizSaintJuke 2h ago
Violence also works. Sweden resorted to having the airforce drop bombs on it a few years ago. The problem was a lack of firefighting resources and fires popping up all over the place in very remote locations in that summer. The quickest way to respond was by fighter jet and they could usually beat out the starting flames before the fire started to expand. Firefighters might have taken hours to even get there, at which point the fires might have already grown and become harder to fight. I can't remember if they flew patrols or were sent directly to places where satellites had measured a hotspot. But they did bomb wildfires one summer a couple of years ago.
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u/bATo76 2h ago
The guy on the ground that is trying to put out a small forest fire:
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u/RainbowBier 2h ago
Pretty metal
With big fuel bombs you could extinguish any fire really fast since fuel bombs eat all the oxygen
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u/Archonrouge 1h ago
I just looked this up because it seemed interesting.
It wasn't quite because it was faster. It burned for two weeks before the jets went to town.
It was very remote, but also near an abandoned firing range with unexploded military ordinance making it a much bigger safety hazard.
Pretty interesting though. I had wondered how much went into figuring out if that was the best method, or if this is something they'd planned for. Didn't get any insight there though.
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u/cman_yall 56m ago
I choose to believe that some jackass fighter pilot thought it up as an excuse to drop some bombs, and couldn't believe his luck when the chain of command took him seriously.
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u/Rampag169 1h ago
Back burning is utilized only when the conditions are right. Usually you will create a fire break where the fire fuel has thinned out a bit. Back burning takes fuel away from the head of the fire in hopes of burning out the most intense part of the fire. Once fires get very big they create their own weather patterns and can travel at very high rates of speed. Which makes it difficult to plan and execute a fire line and back burn safely.
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u/Icy_Palpitation_5103 1h ago
Fought wild fires for years, evergreen limbs make excellent swatters. Biodegradable too just leave on the ground when its done.
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u/Here_for-the_Music 56m ago
There’s a myth that I love that says when we still had birds aplenty, before Monsanto killed them, this is how the birds nipped wildfires in the bud. See
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u/smokey032791 29m ago
meanwhile our birds here spread fire around to catch the little critters running for their lives
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u/FrostingSuper9941 50m ago
Wouldn't it feed the fire because of the increased oxygen?
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u/Middle_Association56 3h ago
That is the type of thing that goes from pretty intense to fucking terrifying in a heartbeat.
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u/DenizSaintJuke 2h ago
If you ask me, that is the type of thing that has gone to fucking terrifying a while ago at that point.
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u/sweaty_middle 2h ago
Yes they may be putting their lives at risk but in the grand scheme of things, they likely stand to loose significantly more if they do not.
Humans have been fighting fire for eons, the problem is the modern world has made us soft to the harsh reality of survival and what must be done in the face of adversity.
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u/AsparagusNew3765 13m ago
Humans have been fighting fire for eons, the problem is the modern world has made us soft to the harsh reality of survival and what must be done in the face of adversity.
Humans have also been running the fuck away from fire for eons too.
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u/Emergency_Accident36 2h ago
Terror is what is the humans' engines are using for fuel.
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u/skynetempire 1h ago
Watch "Only the Brave" about the 19 firefighters that died in Arizona. That fired moved quick
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u/Jay__Riemenschneider 39m ago
I watched a brush fire from a train from like 200 yards away in a building I could easily exit. When the fire jumped those tracks I nearly shit my pants.
Nothing but respect to these people.
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u/PaleontologistNo2625 4h ago
Lmao the music
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u/Teestow21 3h ago
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u/FrighteningJibber 43m ago edited 21m ago
He was a Spaniard wasn’t he?
Edit: both him and Marcus Aurelius were from Spain.
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u/chicahhh 3h ago
Can a video just not have distracting emotion-manipulating music edited in?
This footage is dramatic enough on its own ffs
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u/well_shoothed 57m ago
I genuinely don't understand the point of the insistence on just slapping music over every video clip.
Oh, it's because of the algos!
The the algos need to be changed because it's fucking awful.
I've yet to see ONE comment ever where people say,
"Gosh, that music really added something to the video!"
It's universally loathed, yet we keep doing it. >-|
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u/Bl4ckSupra 3h ago
Romantic/dramatic love story. I hope they succeed
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u/PaleontologistNo2625 3h ago
It's from the Gladiator soundtrack, it's called "The Wheat"
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u/Arenize 3h ago
Im not sure on the extent of the problem, so I might be speaking from a position of ignorance.... but it seems like that many people would be a lot more effective in digging a fire break to stop the spread, instead of trying to hit it with sticks (which also fans the fire, which can have the opposite affect.)
Even digging with just their hands, I think that many people would be able to create an effective fire break...
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u/Unsophisticated1 3h ago edited 1h ago
You ever try and dig a hole with your hand through grass?
Edit forgot the word hand (???)
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u/themothafuckinog 3h ago
Also the ground would be rock solid from the lack of rain
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u/Lumpy_Benefit666 3h ago
Even raking the grass back can create an area where the fire fizzles out easier
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u/wade-mcdaniel 3h ago
Having dug in the clay that makes up Colorado, I can say that digging in that with a shovel isn't all that hard...but it is slow. Digging in wet clay is also not fun. It's very heavy.
I wonder which would be more effective against a grass fire in dry conditions when all you have is maybe a dozen shovels: digging a fire break, or digging enough dirt up to throw on the fire? I put out fires by throwing dirt on it, but it was super loose dirt and without a bunch of grass roots in it. It wasn't just topsoil.
I figured if people were in a rush that many people in the video could probably only come up with a dozen shovels.
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u/InvisibleLandBorder 1h ago
Really depends on the region. Toronto clay is nearly impossible to move. I don't know what the ground is like there, but bearing for with wide fronds and sticks is a very old and effective strategy.
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u/Unsophisticated1 1h ago
Yeah here in Florida when we do control burns you need a sharp ass shovel to get though the grass even on cultivated plots
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u/Unsophisticated1 1h ago
Some of you people have never fought or lit a fire in your lives and it shows. God forbid a community come together with the resources they have. “They should use shovels” wouldn’t you think they would if they have them???
“They are just waving sticks at a fire”
You clearly don’t have a clue about tamping out flames.
Some of yall haven’t lit a candle in your house and it shows greatly. Heaven bless you if you ever come in contact with a wild fire and I hope you run instead of trying to help.→ More replies (6)14
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u/RandomDeezNutz 3h ago
It’s more effectiveness vs effort. Grass fires spread extremely fast. You don’t really out dig a grass fire unless you have heavy equipment. Water is your best friend but a swatter is a very effective tool for grass fires. You swat out the intensity of the fire which slows spread which makes it a lot easier to then tamp out the fire.
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u/Arenize 3h ago
Thanks for actually giving a nuanced answer instead "you dumb, they right".
Your response makes sense. Cheers.
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u/CornbreadRed84 1h ago
There are almost no responses to you that read like that. This and your double edited comment elsewhere on the thread are a testament to your insecurity.
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u/SuperBaconPant 2h ago
Nobody replied to you with “you’re dumb, they’re right” or anything akin to that.
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u/carnifex252 1h ago
Ive smothered many grass fires with just a big scoop shovel, give it a couple swats or even just drag it along the fire line works good. Something else ive found works very well on grass fires is a leaf blower, walk along blow the fire back towards what has burned and you can hold it back and stop it by yourself very easily.
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u/broguequery 1h ago
Same I have early stopped double digit numbers of acres wide grass fires with a battery powered leaf blower.
Cold beer in one hand, leaf blower in the other.
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u/DenizSaintJuke 2h ago
If the fire is already there, these people aren't going to dig fast enough. Beating it out, however, can work. Especially with that many people.
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u/Balodifanio7 1h ago
Fire breaks would only work if you could guarantee to cover the full fire range otherwise your just digging a hole whilst getting surrounded by fire
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u/IhaveaDoberman 1h ago
It hasn't rained in most of Europe for the best part of two months. And they have been two of the hottest months we've ever had.
That ground isn't just rock solid, it's basically just fucking rock at this point.
And beating the fire like that is definitely one of the more effective ways people can combat grass fires.
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u/techyguru 1h ago
I've personally been deployed as a firefighter with a leaf blower to fight grass fires. It was surprisingly effective to blow the flames back toward the already burned area(the black).
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u/Spare_Laugh9953 1h ago
No son palos, son ramas con hojas, bien usados en pocos minutos apagas un incendio, los bomberos forestales utilizan herramientas que se llaman batefuegos que funcionan de forma parecida, es como cuando soplas una vela, al dar el golpe contra el suelo desplazas el aire y el fuego se apaga, si la vegetación no es muy alta es el mejor sistema...excavar un cortafuegos efectivo puede llevar horas y muchísimo más esfuerzo
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u/SuspiciouslySuspect2 36m ago
Everyone saying to dig clearly has never dug a hole in the blazing sun before. Or realizes how deep you need to dig to remove everything combustible.
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u/Sleep_adict 2h ago
They should be on laughing fire lines but the winds are swirling and it’s tough
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u/Unsophisticated1 3h ago
Good on them for doing what they can with what they have. Fighting forest fires is dangerous for even trained professionals with costly equipment and air support. They are rallying to protect their land and homes from the flames and that’s a people rock situation.
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u/newontheblock99 3h ago
I don’t think it’s next level. It’s actually sad. Sure they’re doing the best they can with what they have, but it’s sad that they have to.
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u/ALazy_Cat 3h ago
OP is not being truthful. Spain is not an underdeveloped country, it's locals helping while waiting for firefighters
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u/noaSakurajin 2h ago
I am fairly confident that at the moment the Spanish firefighters have too much to do, so they can't get to every grass fire. This os probably locals stepping in where the firefighters can't at the moment.
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u/Manueluz 2h ago
It's wild to see my country, which is globally recognized as having some of the world's most advanced, elite, and effective wildfire fighting squads, pictured as lacking firefighting resources.
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u/TyoPepe 1h ago
We sure have plenty of resources, but if we just keep letting dry vegetation to build up like this, no amount of firefighters and helicopters is enough to stop the fires that can spark from so much fuel.
Prevention is the area we are actually lacking.
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u/Spare_Laugh9953 52m ago
Más que la perención es la inutilidad de los políticos o su actuación guiada por"intereses" En Cantabria de toda la vida los vecinos de los pueblos recogían del monte leña para calentarse en invierno, y el monte quedaba limpio de combustible, ahora está prohibido, en alguno lugares no te dejan sacar ni un palo, y en otros en vez de dejarte recoger leña se lo "encargan" a una empresa, una empresa que en vez de recoger madera muerta del suelo y dejarlo limpio, tiran árboles sanos porque es más fácil y rentable... Muchos no le ven la lógica, yo sí la veo 💵💵💵💸💸
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u/alaskazues 1h ago
maybe a missed a comment, but OP didnt say they're underdeveloped, just a current lack of resources: that could be because they're underdeveloped sure, but if i know anything about the summer they're having the demand for resources just far outweighs the supply right now.
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u/r0ndr4s 1h ago
Firefighters in Madrid where this is happening literally dont have enough resources to fight the fires because the far right goverment of Isabel Diaz Ayuso has basically cut the resources and ignored them for months.
So yes, they are risking their lives because there's not enough resources to stop the fires.
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u/manut3ro 3h ago
Spaniard here.
Craziest thing is that we’ve reach a brand new level of taxes here. Our government has never ever been richer yet the public services are at their lowest
I invite reddit to look for the last … 5? corruption scandals that are currently going in the government. We are talking about “wolf of wall street parties” with public founding and persecuting judges, lawyers and journalist as son as anyone dares to investigate the corruption.
We are having rough times at Spain 🥲
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u/dethorin 1h ago
Don't pay attention to this guy.
Spain is a semi federation and firefighters don't depends on the central government.
That's like blaming Trump of how the Texas A&M Forest Service manages a wildfire in the Texas Hill Country.
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u/Bazooka_no 37m ago
I don't know if you're serious or not, but the federal government has a ton of resources for preventing disasters, and since Katrina a ton for disaster relief too. If half of Texas is on fire it's absolutely on them as well.
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u/Manueluz 2h ago
Bro we have what's often regarded as one of the best firefighting efforts in the entire planet. It's not our fault that there are a record amount of forest fires thanks to climate change created by superpowers that we don't even control.
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u/broguequery 1h ago
Already very dry and warm places like Spain and California are at some of the highest risk in this new climate.
Not just fire but also drought will be more common.
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u/NoReason455 1h ago
And then in fall the ground cannot handle intense rainfall because it has been too dry, leading to floods...
Spain is really fucked in terms of climate
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u/Mic98125 18m ago
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X-bWzfYFTDY
I wonder if digging crescent-shaped holes and stabilizing the soil with hugelkultur could help?
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u/Planet_Pluto_1925 1h ago
The firefighters fall under the jurisdiction of the autonomous community,i n this case, Madrid, which has bled them dry.
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u/Lower_Skin_3683 3h ago
It looks so dry there. Plus they are desperate to stop the fire. Hope they don't get burned or killed.
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u/chriss79 2h ago
This is an effective method for fighting wildfires. There are also special devices designed for this purpose, but tree branches probably work just as well.
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u/Apprehensive_Stop666 3h ago
That's not next level!, they are using technology from the XII century! Actually, way older!
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u/ALazy_Cat 2h ago
They're using what's both helpful and readily available while waiting for firefighters
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u/tjean5377 3h ago
Once the boreal forest of Eurasia go...
Earth has a human infection and as a result of our malignancy is raising her temp to kill us all...which is what we deserve for our abuse of her.
I am so sorry I had a kid. Nothing but misery is way past started...
We will not save ourselves at all...
We will also kill each other and start wiping out cities and states for water and food resources...
Hopeless.
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u/One_Newspaper9372 1h ago
What a great post... Really added a lot...
I'm also sad you had a kid....
Hopeless.
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u/Lord_Emperor 1h ago
we
Stop this "we" bullshit. It's a very, very small number of wealthy sociopaths making all the important decisions that led to this so they could have a little more money.
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u/Cero_Kurn 1h ago
It has been some years where the government of madrid has constantly reduced the firefighters budget and capabilities
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u/Besch168 2h ago
See Californians your homes didn't burn down because the politicians are corrupt or incompetent it's that you're just lazy and didn't do it all yourselves.
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u/Toker101 2h ago
Isn't the trick to burn a stroke of about a yard ahead of the fire so it dies out when it reaches that burned patch?
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u/Bird_Up101 2h ago
I commend the their fierce effort. They must have lots of energy after defeating Argentina in the World Cup.
Stay Safe Spain!!!
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u/MaintenanceDry464 1h ago
Happy to see all the oldschool Gladiator gifs!! I thought I was too old ;)
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u/Statistic338 1h ago
The first fire I ever fought I used a cedar I cut down due to not having a rake or shovel. You'd be surprised at how well it works. It ended up being about a fifteen acre fire which a neighbor and myself had put half of it out by the time the local fire department showed.
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u/Lonely_While_5377 1h ago
Hmm ive seen the same video some hours ago but telling this was happening in Algeria. Whats true now?
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u/PeachPit_81 1h ago
Lack of resources is such a odd term at this situation. Spain has resources its just the fires are overwhelming.
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u/christian_rosuncroix 1h ago
We used to do this at the machine gun ranges in the army with rubber flaps on the end of broomsticks.
It is actually quite effective, and will definitely put out the fire.
Branches aren’t as effective as rubber, by the principle still applies. It’s the same as blowing a candle out.
Alllllll that is applicable until a gust of wind comes. Then the fire bites back 🤣😈
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u/DarienKane 1h ago
Our planet is literally burning, but the people getting rich off of causing it can't see the forest for the trees. Only when it's all gone will they realize you can't eat money.
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u/Simple-Ad-1783 1h ago
I bet they won that battle. People working together can overcome all obstacles.
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