Bland Mountain Fire

[Tillaway]

I just got back from the first forest fire I have been to since 1987.  A 4705 acre weenie roast near Canyonville, Or.  A big chunk of or district personnel were there.  I went down there with a type 6 engine. Niether one of us were engine certified but I do remember how to operate one from time spent in my youth.  It was largely uneventful exept for the last day when the  excavator we had contracted, to do rehab and tear apart cat burms, caught fire.  It seems it had a wee bit of an electrical problem and the battery compartment caught fire, burst both batteries and started to burn the wires and compartment insulatation.  

The operator could not find his fire extinguisher so I grit my teeth and gave it a blast from the charged hose I just happenned to be using.  Its a bit disconcerting to spray water on electrical and oil.  I figured I would just make a bigger mess and jolt but it worked. One battery clamp had welded itself to the metal hold down in the process.

[Frank_Pender]

Well done Tillaway.  Glad you and opersator were not injured in any way.  Are you now certified with that truck? ;D

[DanG]

Good going, Tillaway! 8)

Frank, he probably still ain't officially certified, but he knows more about it than they could teach in any school.

[BW_Williams]

Hey Tillaway, sounds like a save to me!  Had to put out a truck a time or two on fires, but not a hoe, yet.  Stay away from a straight stream and you'll be good.  We used spray water on vehicle fires all the time, but these days it's CAFS.  I have seen staight water sprayed on 230kV, by trained professionals.  Glad you were able to get a little H pay.  What's up with your redcard, politics?  BWW  

[Stephen_Wiley]

Good job Till,

I guess they figure anyone working in the Tillamook area has got to know their way around fire equipment (given its past history).

But, Canyonville is a bit of a drive from Tillamook, must of thought you were headed back to CA. :D

[Tillaway]

DanG is right, I'm still not certified.  The new ICS system or whatever it is does not recognize experience outside the system.  My old red card is useless.  I find it a bit frustrating since I have more experience than most of the task force leaders.

Hey BW all it took was a real light fog, put it out in about two seconds.  I didn't want to blast away cause who nows what was burning in there.

Steve, it was a bit too close to California, rattle snakes and poison oak.  I now have the worst case of poison oak I have ever had. :

[Stephen_Wiley]

Till,

You did not have to go down there just for a good case of Poison Oak........Frank, would have gladly taken you for a ride in his gator and let you roll around his property.  :D ;)

By the way Frank, I escaped inoculation last time I was there (even only wearing my sandals).

Well Till.........I know how you feel!  My last bad case was in Eugene two years ago.  Used plenty of Technu products.  If you have not tried it the Oral Ivy works great for prevention.

Oh........my last encounter with a rattler was in "West Linn".  Must of been transferred there  was living real close to condominiums, even had little ones.

[Frank_Pender]

Tillaway,m sorry to hear about the itching issue.  I have a past student that I "inoculated" with a mere handshake a few years ago and sent him to the hospital with the itch in his blood.  I hope you are not that bad off.   :-/


  Steve, I am glad you did not get "inoculated" while you were here.  Remember, next time to wear your boots and we will wash them off well when you leave.  I can furnish water and soap.   8)