How NOT to get rid of a Hornet's Nest!!!!!

So....I had a HUGE hornet's nest in my backyard. It was first discovered in the fall when we had some dead trees cut down on the large hill behind our house. I knew that I needed to get rid of it but did not quite know how to get rid of it. Yesterday evening, I was talking to a neighbor about the hornet's nest and my yard in general. He is a wonderful man and he offered to help me with the nest as well as other major issues with my yard. You see, I have lived in this house for three years and it was a house that needed some tender loving care. The downstairs has been remodeled and the front and side yards are in good shape but the backyard was a large hill with a steep slope that basically goes up to the top of the mountain. It was in complete disarray. I needed to have more trees cut down and lots of undergrowth removed. I am wishing now that I had a "before renovation" picture of the back hill.


My neighbor said he would take care of the nest on Monday. He decided to surprise me. He was worried that one of the kids would get stung so he came by today and burned the nest while I was at work. The nest dropped from it's position as it burned and the brush caught fire and the wind blew all at the same time. The fire flew up the hill behind my house. Since this was the first time he had worked up here, he did not know where my hose was located. They used a bucket and some water standing to try to put it out but it spread too quickly. They tried to contain it but the wind kept blowing it. The fire department arrived and took over trying to contain the fire. The department of forestry was called in and firemen from a neighboring county. They fought the fire all day and finally contained it late this evening. 30 acres of forest near my house burned. It burned within feet of my home and my other neighbor's home. It is still amazing to me that no structures or houses were burned. Thanks be to God!

I knew nothing about the fire during the day. I went to pick up Graeme from day care and the worker pointed out the smoke to me. I thought...hmmm, that looks like it is close to my house. Graeme and I drove up and saw all of the department of forestry trucks parked near our house and some firemen walking down the hill. I said, "Hey guys, what happened?" They replied, "Some guy was trying to burn a bees nest." That is when I knew that the fire had originated in my backyard. To say I was shocked is putting it mildly. I was asked in a silly e-mail today to answer with one word a series of questions and one was What is your biggest fear? to which I replied, Fire. I had no idea that the hill was on fire when I typed that earlier today. It has always been and will continue to be my biggest fear.

My neighbor feels horrible about what has happened and thought I would be mad at him. I am just so thankful that no one was hurt and that no ones house burned down as a result. I am thankful to God to have my house and even if it smells smokey...it's mine and all of our special momentos..pictures, items from China, etc are safe tonight. I am thankful for my neighbor who tried to do a good deed and for the fire fighters who contained the fire (they were just up here again as another little ridge ignited so I was able to thank some of them personally). We are so Blessed and may I never take that for granted!