Problem Solved

Having recently returned from the East Coast and the wonderful snow, it made me appreciate the relatively mild climate in which I work. I do not need to worry about hose lines freezing full of water, hydrants buried in snow, and the general fun and games that goes with emergency operations in the bitter cold. On a related note, apparently snow can be a real problem as you need to push and pile it somewhere...

In New Hampshire (per a animated Celtic firefighter named Don) the piled snow becomes a real problem. It was decided that they should just push all the piled snow into the ocean, but somehow that was not environmentally friendly. While I was pondering that conundrum, he went on to describe how one transplanted redneck decided to fix the problem of the huge pile of snow in his driveway in town.

Apparently, the simple solution what to construct a teepee type shelter over the giant snow pile, light a fire in said tent, and wait for the magic to happen. Enter Don the firefighter who explained that this was not a good idea in several ways. As the "discussion" about the appropriateness of the snow pile reduction project continued, there was a giant sparking commotion as the fire set the tent on fire and then promptly burned through the power lines above, leaving the homeowner without power - and underscoring Don's analysis of the validity of using a fire - in a tent - under the power lines - to reduce the snow pile...