A Totally Off-Topic Post

[Blackdog]

A few years ago I was driving from Dallas to Tucson. Not long after I crossed into AZ from NM on HY10 all traffic was stopped and people were out of their cars.
As I stopped the guy in the car in front of me walked back and said, "The Highway Patrol wants us to stop and catch any burning tumbleweeds that come this way - pass it on." I told the driver behind me.
No tumbleweeds came and we all left within 20 minute.

I have questions now:
1. How does one stop a burning tumbleweed?
2. Does this happen often?
3. Was this a joke?

I can see the headlines now - Tourist Killed by Flaming Tumbleweed on Interstate 10.

It reminds me of a party gave we use to play. Someone starts a rumor on one end of the room and by the time it gets around the room it is a totally different story...could that be the case?

Live in Arizona three years - never a burning tumbleweed.

Ever heard of such a thing?
Michael

[JEBar]

while I have never seen one in North Carolina , they have and probably do exist .... I remember years ago seeing a news report of a farmer/rancher burning ones that piled up against his fences .... as I remember they really blaze up .... as to how you stop one , that's a job I wouldn't want ...

[Cofisher]

I saw a video of a South East Colorado fire a couple years ago. A fence line of tumbleweeds had caught fire and created a tornado. There were balls of fire flying out of that thing in every direction. Stop them? No.

[Mistered]

Ever heard of such a thing?

Vaguely - but it was called 'snipe hunting'........

[BrokenolMarine]

They may have had traffic stopped for any number of valid reasons, and that guy was yanking your chain...
Or... Just maybe... They were hoping to prevent the spread of fire.

I'd tell the story that way... The day you help protect the state from wildfire.
Seriously.

[clovishound]

If you are an English policeman you blow your whistle and holler "Stop" really loud.

[Sir Henry]

You can stop a burning tumbleweed with a shotgun.

[North Country Gal]

Have lived in western Nebraska and western Dakotas and we dodged tumbleweeds while driving down the interstate all the time. Even knew a town where the tumbleweeds would pile up so bad that they would clog up underpasses and road ditches. Had to have heavy machinery to clean them out. Not kidding. Saw it, myself. Can't say I ever saw a burning tumbleweed, but I can see how it could happen if someone got careless with fire.

[tunnug]

I've lived in Tucson since '68 and this is the first time I've heard of that, even during fire season.

[Mags]

I'll remember this and use it someday.

[mrguvna]

I used to work and live on oil rigs in west Texas and yes tumbleweeds were a way of life out on the desert roads. never saw one on fire! matter of fact I had one hanging in the corner of my house as a bachelor, made a nice artifact and conversation piece.