Just like back in the states, all over Kosovo it has been hot and dry. This is causing a lot of field and forest fires throughout many of the municipalities. From past Civil Affairs rotations, we have a long standing relationship with the Kamenica/Kamenice fire department. Our team received a distressed call from Chief Riza one afternoon for assistance from KFOR. He told us his men had been fighting a blaze for 3 days and he had just taken two of them into the hospital from heat exhaustion. We were only 4 people, but rushed to the scene and gave water and food to the seven firefighters that had been battling a flame coming down one hillside towards a customs checkpoint and a Serbian Village. Unfortunately KFOR highers could not commit more assistance. Because we're not firefighters with the proper training or gear we simply assisted on a minor level. It gave us the insight of their dedication and difficult efforts. By the time we left the scene the seven exhausted men had successfully maintained and controlled the burn. We later learned they were able to gain total control of it. I was amazed with their endless efforts and have a great respect for these men. It's just too bad they don't have a little better equipment. But sometimes in the states, it's the same story.
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