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General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 06:16:58 PM

Title: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 06:16:58 PM
Picked up my new unit Thursday. Everything is computers.
The truck is a International Road Star and the dozer is a Caterpillar D4K2. This is the smaller unit in our fleet built for mountain and rough terrain.

Our Forestry shop or Caterpillar can log into a data base and check all the temps and pressures as I am working.
Amazing.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/IMG_2456.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/IMG_2452.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/IMG_2449.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/IMG_2453.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/IMG_2454.JPG) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24625/IMG_2455.JPG)




Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: thecfarm on December 07, 2013, 06:21:21 PM
Is that something to push trees over on the back or to drag?
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 06:22:56 PM
Quote from: thecfarm on December 07, 2013, 06:21:21 PM
Is that something to push trees over on the back or to drag?

On the back is a plow. When I drop it on a fire, I'm able to plow a 6 foot wide fire break with it.

This is our first EPA tractor. Glass cab, AC, Heat, AM-FM stereo with phone and i-pod hook up, heated seats, heated hand controls, Wind shied wipers and a Hydrostatic transmission.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Hilltop366 on December 07, 2013, 06:26:06 PM
You will be able to put some nice rows in your garden with that.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 06:26:59 PM
Quote from: Hilltop366 on December 07, 2013, 06:26:06 PM
You will be able to put some nice rows in your garden with that.

Food plots.... :D :D :D
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: LaneC on December 07, 2013, 06:28:43 PM
That is sweet. Glad to see you getting the equipment yall need to do a valuable service
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: beenthere on December 07, 2013, 06:43:10 PM
That has gotta be some fun to make fire line with.

Sure beats the old days of 10 to 20 guys in a line with hand tools scratching out a fire line. 
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Peter Drouin on December 07, 2013, 06:46:54 PM
Who pays for all that ?
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: beenthere on December 07, 2013, 06:51:18 PM
Quote from: Peter Drouin on December 07, 2013, 06:46:54 PM
Who pays for all that ?

:D :D
Surely you are pulling our leg.   ;)

I'd think the exhaust stack would be integrated with the ROPS and not sticking above where a tree/low limb could cause it some problem.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 06:51:30 PM
Quote from: beenthere on December 07, 2013, 06:43:10 PM
That has gotta be some fun to make fire line with.

Sure beats the old days of 10 to 20 guys in a line with hand tools scratching out a fire line.

We still do that on Federal land. Regulations say federal land can not have fire fight equipment on it. Everthing must be done by hand.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 06:51:50 PM
Quote from: Peter Drouin on December 07, 2013, 06:46:54 PM
Who pays for all that ?

The State.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Sonofman on December 07, 2013, 07:09:01 PM
The State, which means You and I and Okrafarmer and all the others here in SC. You sure get to play with some nice toys, Poston.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: clww on December 07, 2013, 09:16:12 PM
Beats living in an ash tray after a wildfire.

Great pictures, David. :)
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 09:40:18 PM
Quote from: clww on December 07, 2013, 09:16:12 PM
Beats living in an ash tray after a wildfire.

Great pictures, David. :)

Ain't that the truth Chief!  :D
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Buck on December 07, 2013, 09:53:25 PM
Very nice. Those Fesco plows do make a sweet line. Does your cab A/C have the charcoal filters? Our JD650's did and they work well.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 10:14:57 PM
Quote from: Buck on December 07, 2013, 09:53:25 PM
Very nice. Those Fesco plows do make a sweet line. Does your cab A/C have the charcoal filters? Our JD650's did and they work well.

Yes.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: WDH on December 07, 2013, 10:16:16 PM
I need to plow some fire lines for my prescribed burning this season.  Get that thing down here.  You know the directions. 
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: justallan1 on December 07, 2013, 10:19:58 PM
Nice set-up! Glad to see new equipment showing up. I've played that game and you guys have all my respect.

Allan
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Magicman on December 07, 2013, 10:29:45 PM
I would love to see you in that Cat cab.  I'll bet that it makes you look better.   ;D

That is a nice ride.   smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 07, 2013, 10:51:27 PM
Quote from: Magicman on December 07, 2013, 10:29:45 PM
I would love to see you in that Cat cab.  I'll bet that it makes you look better.   ;D

That is a nice ride.   smiley_thumbsup

Can't see me....the windows are tinted.  :D
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: hardtailjohn on December 08, 2013, 12:32:51 AM
Quote from: justallan1 on December 07, 2013, 10:19:58 PM
Nice set-up! Glad to see new equipment showing up. I've played that game and you guys have all my respect.

Allan

Same here, Allan. Spent way too many hours on a D5 or 6, no cab, no air, just a bandanna and a hard hat. 
Nice setup PostonLT40HD...but that's a bit scary that they can log in and see what everything's doing, when you think of it!
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Brucer on December 08, 2013, 01:59:51 AM
Money well spent. Don't think so? Go spend a day on a wildfire with a suppression crew. Guaranteed it will change your mind.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Migal on December 08, 2013, 02:12:16 AM
 :) Sweet the Orange fever went Cat Yellow!  8) 8) 8)
:snowball: I'll be nice L8R for now the ribbing Yes every man on here want's to play with your toy's! Don't tell the Ladies.  :D
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Peter Drouin on December 08, 2013, 07:37:59 AM
That thing would be handy. I spent over 10 years fighting wildfires with an Indian tank and shovel  :D 
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: snowstorm on December 08, 2013, 08:32:50 AM
i bet its a thrill ride getting that dozer up on that truck body. is it all steel ? there are sides thats good.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: customsawyer on December 08, 2013, 11:42:05 AM
I would think a V-blade would be handy on the front of that dozer. Is there a reason that you don't have one?
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: curdog on December 08, 2013, 11:54:38 AM
Quote from: customsawyer on December 08, 2013, 11:42:05 AM
I would think a V-blade would be handy on the front of that dozer. Is there a reason that you don't have one?
I'm not sure about sc, but in nc we use the 6 way blades in the central and western part of the state so we could bench line on a hillside. Some of the eastern tractors in the wetter/ flatter areas will have vblades or kg blades to get through the heavy pocosin fuels. our dozers don't usually run plows just put in bladed line.
Poston, that's a sharp lookin hauling unit, I like those smaller trucks that you can get into those neighborhoods and steeper curvier roads.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 08, 2013, 12:19:39 PM
Quote from: customsawyer on December 08, 2013, 11:42:05 AM
I would think a V-blade would be handy on the front of that dozer. Is there a reason that you don't have one?

We tried the V-blade years ago. Not very good at pushing a tree down or building water bars.
The 6 in one blade works the best.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: beenthere on December 08, 2013, 12:26:27 PM
Poston
Do you carry a chainsaw on board? Or go around any deadfalls that are too big to go over or through?
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 08, 2013, 12:38:36 PM
Quote from: beenthere on December 08, 2013, 12:26:27 PM
Poston
Do you carry a chainsaw on board? Or go around any deadfalls that are too big to go over or through?

The dozer carries a back-fire torch. The chainsaws will be on the Supervisors pick-up.
I clear around all the dead falls and keep them in the burn area if they are close to the fire line all others are pushed to a safe area.
We do use the chainsaws during mop-up to saw down burning snags etc.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: RynSmith on December 08, 2013, 12:58:43 PM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on December 07, 2013, 06:51:30 PM
Regulations say federal land can not have fire fight equipment on it. Everthing must be done by hand.

I don't understand this, do you mean no state-owned equipment on federal land?   ???

We certainly used a dozer on Forest Service land...
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 08, 2013, 01:40:28 PM
Quote from: RynSmith on December 08, 2013, 12:58:43 PM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on December 07, 2013, 06:51:30 PM
Regulations say federal land can not have fire fight equipment on it. Everthing must be done by hand.

I don't understand this, do you mean no state-owned equipment on federal land?   ???

We certainly used a dozer on Forest Service land...

Yes we have also on Forest Service land. But the Feds have thousands of acres they are keeping as natural as they can. These lands are not even logged. If fire occurs....it is managed by hand tools.
We have a lot of Forest Lands like that in S.C.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: beenthere on December 08, 2013, 01:48:05 PM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on December 08, 2013, 01:40:28 PM


Yes we have also on Forest Service land. But the Feds have thousands of acres they are keeping as natural as they can. These lands are not even logged. If fire occurs....it is managed by hand tools.
We have a lot of Forest Lands like that in S.C.

That is sad that the Feds manage their land that way.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 08, 2013, 02:01:11 PM
I can understand the sadness....some of these lands around her have old Indian pottery fields in them.
Don't get caught in one of these fields......so says the signs.
Lots of historical "stuff" going on on these lands. I can see what logging and equipment would do.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Ken on December 08, 2013, 02:13:01 PM
That is a sweet looking office.  I'm jealous knowing that I have a bit of dozer work tomorrow.  My heater doesn't work so well and it is supposed to be -16c in the morning.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13639/IMG_1024.JPG)
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: Migal on December 09, 2013, 11:52:04 PM
 :)
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on December 08, 2013, 01:40:28 PM
Quote from: RynSmith on December 08, 2013, 12:58:43 PM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on December 07, 2013, 06:51:30 PM
Regulations say federal land can not have fire fight equipment on it. Everthing must be done by hand.

I don't understand this, do you mean no state-owned equipment on federal land?   ???

We certainly used a dozer on Forest Service land...

Yes we have also on Forest Service land. But the Feds have thousands of acres they are keeping as natural as they can. These lands are not even logged. If fire occurs....it is managed by hand tools.
We have a lot of Forest Lands like that in S.C.
apparently they don't own a sawmill  ;D
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: red on August 12, 2016, 02:37:37 PM
So you just ride around in brand new equipment for 30 years and you get a certificate ?  Well we are very happy you still have Ten fingers and Ten toes.
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: timberlinetree on August 13, 2016, 05:57:21 AM
Neat! I always wanted to work fighting forest fires. If you do find Indian pottery don't take any for a souvenir! I found out the hard way!
Title: Re: 2014 Fire Fighting Unit-South Carolina-Wildland Fire
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on August 13, 2016, 01:08:42 PM
Quote from: timberlinetree on August 13, 2016, 05:57:21 AM
Neat! I always wanted to work fighting forest fires. If you do find Indian pottery don't take any for a souvenir! I found out the hard way!

We have federal signs posted in our states forest lands. You're right.....best to leave history alone.