Were back in service. We were spiked In an area called Eden Valley. We were several hours from the main camp. We still haven't seen much fire. However yesterday we saw a black edge where fire was. Today we are again on another part of the fire. Branch 1 division D/E. I will try to upload some of the pictures I have been taking. We have seen some real nice country. On a side note we may be here for a while.
This country is really steep and the diversity of trees and shrubs here is amazing.
I will try to keep you up to speed as I can.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Big Windy
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Big Windy Update
The fire is up to 10,841 acres. There is three fires In our complex. The Calvert is 163 acres. Jenny fire is 3,092 acres. Big Windy fire is 7,572. The neighbor fire, the Douglas complex is creeping closer to us. They may join together at some point.
We have been doing structure preparation. Getting the cabins protection from fire if it comes over here. We also set up sprinklers around the house and test them out. They worked good when WD tested them.
Today is our last shift until next Monday. We are going to take some R&R.
Below is some pictures of what we are doing.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Big Windy Complex Day 1
Good day today. Saw some steep country along the Rouge River. We went way in to a couple of cabins and started structure protection. We cleared brush from around house and limed up trees..
Tomorrow we will wrap the cabins with a protective foil cover and also set up a sprinkler system to wet the homes and the land around. I will upload a few shots of what we saw today. Until tomorrow. Have a nice day.:)
Big Windy Complex
We checked in and we're on the structure group for the day. We are getting our inspections done and then we will be heading out to the line. I will update as I'm able to.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Big Windy Complex
We will be at camp in an orchard. Leaving soon. I will post updates and pictures as I have a great phone or wifi signal. Until then.......
A dispatch
We received a dispatch to Merlin Oregon. Not sure what fire yet. I will do my best to keep you up to date on the inside scoop. Be safe see you later.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Dispatch Rollercoaster
The wildfire season is in full throttle. There is fire all over the western half of the united states. In Southern Oregon there has been called a "State of Emergency". The National Guard has been called out to protect homes and fight the fires.
We are still waiting.....and waiting.....
Last week the word was we would be sent out when the lightning event came around. We got everything ready and?.....No call Came in. So we stood down. Then this week the lightning came and we packed the car up to go and.......This time engines were being called out.
We are number 15 on the priority list. Engine 12 called out. Engine 13 called out. Engine 14 called out. Engine 15............No dispatch. We are next on the list and no call. With all of the fires going on we cant figure it out why we are still here.
Earlier in the week the State fire Chief mobilized the structure engines to go out to these fires. How is that when there are wild land engines sitting, crews at the ready they aren't going out on these fires and the structure engines are?
You see part of the problem is that the PEOPLE that make up these crews are being hurt by sitting around. No they aren't hurt by hemorrhoids from sitting, but hurting in a financial way.
Let me explain: In the Contracting world many people come from all over the country to be "ready at a moments notice" to go to a fire. Some have come as far as Florida. Others have quit jobs and all have sacrificed their summers to be available to serve to protect the outdoors we all love. They all do this without pay. Yes I said without pay.
How is it they don't get paid? Well they don't get paid to sit on standby, waiting for a dispatch to a fire. This is very expensive. The Contractors only get paid when dispatched to a fire incident. Thus the roller coaster ride of your going next call and then that call doesn't come, well frankly is very hard to deal with.
As firefighters we, like many of you see the news and hear how bad they need resources and here we sit waiting for a dispatch. As you can imagine it is very frustrating to us. All firefighters have made sacrifices to be available to go out and fight these fires. It has cost some thousands of dollars in lost time and personal expenses just to be available for this service to the public.
The next time you see a contract wildfire fighter thank them for their sacrifice. Because at times like this the sacrifice is great.
The clock is ticking. Number 15 is the next engine to get called out. Our engine. Will it be in the next few minutes, hours, or will it be another hurry up and wait to go nowhere? So we will wait until the call finally comes. Or will it. Such as a roller coaster eventually the ride is over and we will be going to a fire. Or so we hope.
We are still waiting.....and waiting.....
Last week the word was we would be sent out when the lightning event came around. We got everything ready and?.....No call Came in. So we stood down. Then this week the lightning came and we packed the car up to go and.......This time engines were being called out.
We are number 15 on the priority list. Engine 12 called out. Engine 13 called out. Engine 14 called out. Engine 15............No dispatch. We are next on the list and no call. With all of the fires going on we cant figure it out why we are still here.
Earlier in the week the State fire Chief mobilized the structure engines to go out to these fires. How is that when there are wild land engines sitting, crews at the ready they aren't going out on these fires and the structure engines are?
You see part of the problem is that the PEOPLE that make up these crews are being hurt by sitting around. No they aren't hurt by hemorrhoids from sitting, but hurting in a financial way.
Let me explain: In the Contracting world many people come from all over the country to be "ready at a moments notice" to go to a fire. Some have come as far as Florida. Others have quit jobs and all have sacrificed their summers to be available to serve to protect the outdoors we all love. They all do this without pay. Yes I said without pay.
How is it they don't get paid? Well they don't get paid to sit on standby, waiting for a dispatch to a fire. This is very expensive. The Contractors only get paid when dispatched to a fire incident. Thus the roller coaster ride of your going next call and then that call doesn't come, well frankly is very hard to deal with.
As firefighters we, like many of you see the news and hear how bad they need resources and here we sit waiting for a dispatch. As you can imagine it is very frustrating to us. All firefighters have made sacrifices to be available to go out and fight these fires. It has cost some thousands of dollars in lost time and personal expenses just to be available for this service to the public.
The next time you see a contract wildfire fighter thank them for their sacrifice. Because at times like this the sacrifice is great.
The clock is ticking. Number 15 is the next engine to get called out. Our engine. Will it be in the next few minutes, hours, or will it be another hurry up and wait to go nowhere? So we will wait until the call finally comes. Or will it. Such as a roller coaster eventually the ride is over and we will be going to a fire. Or so we hope.
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