There’s a mesmerizing quality to fire.  Whether it’s the single dancing flame of a candle or a raging inferno, it can be hard to pull your eyes away.

My impression is that some arsonists light things on fire just to watch them burn.  I guess I can understand a little of that motivation – without carrying it to the same extreme.  Ecologically, I’m careful not to just “burn to turn the prairie black” but to have  clear objectives for each fire and ensure that the conditions and ignition patterns meet those objectives.  However, that clarity of purpose and regimented procedure doesn’t mean that I can’t also take a few minutes now and then to stand back and appreciate the artistic qualities of the fire itself.