Images I’d much rather not have shot, but after the last few few days with the Canadair fire fighting planes passing continuously over my home, it seems right to share them with you, if nothing else as a tribute to the pilots who are my undisputed heroes. Compared with the situation in so many other places throughout the northern hemisphere, we’re the lucky ones, at least for now. Our immediate area is so far unscathed, but there at least four different fires burning at the moment within a 50 km radius from where we live, mostly “just” tinder-dry grassland and juniper scrub, but the damage is extensive. With high temperatures, no sign of rain and a hot, dry wind, the fight is to prevent it from reaching the woods and forests and, of course, people’s homes. What makes me so angry is that the largest and fiercest was certainly started deliberately, the investigators have already found an incendiary device, ignited in the place and at the moment when it was likely to do most damage. Tragically the use of fire as a weapon for extortion, protest or vendetta is not uncommon hereabouts. The fire risk is at its peak for the next ten days, so I live with my fingers crossed. Here’s hoping.