Fires Not So Wild

The recent spate of wildfires appear to include more arson than was first believed.
Today the news outlets in our area are saying the state fire marshal, after inspecting the burned areas across the state, believes some of them were arson. The big fire south of here near Slaughterville was actually three fires all started at once. The fire near Cushing seems arson, but they stomped that down before it did much damage. We already knew the one in Luther was considered arson, and that one took out roughly 60 structures.
The one nearest us here in the trailer park last year was probably arson, as was the one before it which took out so many homes just within a few miles. Perhaps the firebugs didn’t intend to burn as much as went up in flames, but they did intend mischief and harm.
What makes it difficult is how very many of them over the years here in Oklahoma are unsolved. When they start all over the place on the same day, it’s more than merely suspicious. Copycats? Maybe. I have to wonder, simply because it’s not the first time a coordinated effort was made to burn down a lot of stuff over a wide area for malicious reasons. Among other things, it’s a quick and cheap way to bankrupt a whole state at once. Our economy is very strong compared to the rest of the country, and I’m sure lots of people know that and aren’t happy about it.
At the same time, the sort of folks who would engage in such schemes aren’t so interested in actual damage as fear. You’ll hear plenty of folks talking about bucking up and rebuilding, or how they are just happy everyone got out alive, but that can’t hide the broad fearfulness promoted by the mainstream media. Not only does this sell air time and papers, but it serves to keep people dependent. I’m pretty sure this is what matters most of all, regardless whether any of it was arson.