My house is in a thick forest in Florida and we are experiencing a severe drought this year. Wildfires are common. Friday night my neighbor held a Memorial Day party that was, for lack of a better word to describe it, like Hee Haw revisited. I don't mind the loud music or beer-lagered guests or even the occasion gun shots. But they lit a bonfire deep in their backyard at the edge of the woods which stunned me and I called the fire department.
They came and frankly must have been cousins with half the party. When I asked them just as they pulled out, the fireman said he told them to put it out. I suggested to the firemen that if they didn't see it put out, they'd be back.
Sure enough as soon as the firetruck pulled out, the bonfire was piled higher with whoops and hollaring. So I waited some time, just so the fire department would get that it really wasn't put out after they left. And they returned with several sheriff in tow.
The fire was dampened but it glowed and smoked a long time. Today, at noon, the woods caught on fire behind my house. It appears to me that the bonfire kindled a wildfire that took 25 men, three hook and ladders, and two bush trucks six hours to put out. All our houses were spared but tonight my neighbors waved to me across the burned expanse after the firemen left and I was utterly at a loss. Shocked even.
This is a "neighborhoody" street, everyone knows everyone. I know I will run into them and I frankly don't know what to say. I am not sure I can talk at all because what I would say won't be civil.
Any (civil) suggestions?