Why I Missed the Pig Roast!

[Stamp]

I was in McCall, ID!  Jeff has been telling me to post some experiences from Fire Duty, so here's a note about this years' assignment...

I have lived in a tree house, got lost in the woods, swam with stingrays, been mugged and rolled my truck.  No life experience comes close to the exhilaration of a Western fire duty assignment.

I've served in three capacities: Equipment Time Recorder in Oregon (Flagtail-Malheur Complex), Radio Operator in Montana (Crazy Horse Fire) and most recently, Information Officer Trainee in Idaho (Payette WFUs).

Fire camps seem to become self-reliant communities in no time, set up in the middle of nowhere.  Being ordered as a single resource translates into a minimum of two weeks living and working with fire fighters from around the country with different backgrounds.  You make friends quickly and keep many of them for years.  My first two western assignments involved living in tents in large camps.  I expected the same this year and ended up with something totally different.

My first impression of Idaho was that it looked like a giant sandbox.  All I could see from the plane were miles and miles of uneven terrain with no sign of life.  No roads, no power poles, no bodies of water, and no ambient light from homes.  Smoke puffs and plumes rose in every direction.  When I got closer to the ground I realized that Idaho was actually blessed with beautiful mountains and heavy fuel loads of lodgepole and subalpine fir intertwined with flowing streams.

Idaho was my first assignment working on Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires.  Many natural- caused western fires are in wilderness areas that are so far removed from civilization that they're not possible to reach with heavy equipment.  Instead, fire is allowed to burn to reduce fuels and prevent future catastrophic fires.  The fire activity provides nutrients in the soil and helps regulate insect and disease levels in many plants. 

Some people consider this a hands-off "watch and burn" approach.  On the contrary, entire teams are dedicated to monitor and manage these fires.  Team members even include specialists such as incident meteorologists and fire behavior analysts. Infrared flights are flown often to track the fire's progress and if needed, fire retardant can be dropped strategically to redirect the fires.  Fire Use Modules (specialized crews) are often placed near potential breeches and prepare to conduct back-burns if necessary.

When geographical conditions allow fire to take its natural course, it can be much more cost-effective, safer (fewer firefighters risk their lives), and less destructive to the environment (no fire retardant to get into rivers, no impact from heavy equipment).  Fire use management is only employed in pre-determined locations where natural features such as rock formations or upcoming weather conditions are likely to extinguish the fire without causing a problem.  When fire occurs near population centers or threatens life and personal property, it's fought aggressively.

Our Incident Command Post was set up at the Payette National Forest Supervisor's Office.  Unlike past assignments, our office was a trailer (instead of a yurt), I was housed with two other fire fighters in a mountain-side home (instead of a tent), and we were smack dab in the middle of McCall, Idaho, an unassuming town with very friendly people.

My job as an information officer trainee was to be a first point of contact for the fire, keep the community and media informed of conditions and, just as importantly, to keep our team informed of rumors and concerns of the residents. One hot August day with dry-lightning produced 41 new fire starts.  Our team was charged with monitoring 15 of those fires.

I was assigned a vehicle and ran a "trap line," posting information through town with various stops ranging from state parks to outfitters.  One entire day was spent at an airport/jump base explaining wildland fire use to visitors, many of whom did not understand why we weren't fighting the fires directly.

We worked closely with the local USFS Public Affairs Officer, sent broadcast faxes and e-mails, updated fire websites, visited spike camps, and conducted a daily radio broadcast through backcountry radio to reach people living in the wilderness.  Many days were spent driving through the mountains speaking to campers, fishermen and people in towns small enough to rely on generators for power.

Two days before the end of my assignment a helicopter careened into Lick Creek Road near the Secesh River.  A contract pilot and three Payette National Forest employees were killed instantly.  It happened on the side of a mountain that I had passed nearly every day for two weeks.  While not assigned to a specific fire, they were in the process of swapping a Lookout whose job was to report new fires and to keep a watchful eye on fires already ablaze.  Since I was familiar with the area, I was asked to drive to the helibase to pick up the four remaining crew members who, by chance, were not on the doomed mission.  Understandably, it was a long ride back to camp. 

Like underwater photos that lose all color and perspective once in print, the photos I brought back of beautiful mountains and pristine rivers look drained and minor in comparison to the real thing.  They could never accurately depict the sights, sounds and feelings evoked during my two-week assignment. 

Firefighting involves a high element of risk.  Even though single resources are not always in the trenches, every position in the Incident Command System serves an important role. New skills learned, new friends kept, and memories of a thankful community can never be taken away from the person who agrees to serve as a wildland fire fighter.

[oakiemac]

Sounds like you had a good and very interesting experience. I lived in Idaho falls for about 6 months one year. I loved it because we were so close to the mountains. Lots of good fishing was a plus.

[sawguy21]

I have been through McCall, beautiful area. That was a great account of the firefighter's (and the fire's) role in the scheme of things. The public often only sees destruction. Thanks for sharing.

[Stamp]

Thanks for taking the time to read it!  Idaho was beautiful and I'd love to take my husband to visit one day, but I think I'll head south in the winter...

[theonlybull]

stamp, excellent account.  describing the duties, feeling, and goin on's at a fire are a tough thing to do.  I've seen enough bush fires, and ours have been confined to a few acres.  wildland fires take so much more resourses, and man hours then the typical fires we see.

my hats off to ya,  we need more women in the fireservices. 

captain Bear River Fire Department
NS, Canada

[moosehunter]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 
  Nice write-up. Thanks

[OneWithWood]

thanks for the write-up and explanations.  definately helps to put some things in perspective.

[Tom]

I thought it was a good article too.  As  a matter of fact, I wish it had been even more detailed.  You have a good way with words, Stamp.  Us'em frequently.  They are the only things that will outlive us for any length of time.

[BW_Williams]

Great report Stamp, good explaination of WFU, if you ever make it to WA we may run into each other!  I had over 30 shifts off district this season (too many), believe me us guys "in the trenches" appreciate the support folks and most of us realize that it's a national effort that converges on the West each summer.  I wish I could explain the comraderie that draws me back each year when the phone rings in the middle of the night, you drop everything, drive across the state,  work long hours for low pay (I still haven't gotten my last fire's check yet).  But it's like an addiction and if I could go out of state I would, but I'm away from home enough.  Are you agency or do you go AD?  Did you read my report from this summer?  The PIO's I've worked with locally are sure a help keeping the media busy, so we can do our job.  Thanks for coming out!  BWW

[derhntr]

I love that area. I go elk hunting there, rugged country. The Brockdorf hot springs is a favorite stopping place.

Brian

[Stamp]

My agency supports me, so I go out as a state agency rep.  I'm thankful that I'll have my qualifications for going as an AD in the future if needed though  8)

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone!