Running and Gunning

Off to a good start. Two fires under our belts and its only April 23. Which means two things to me. One, this is shaping up to be a good season for the pocket book. Two, trial by fire for the crew. What has surprised me most this early on is crew moral. The guys this year really know how to laugh and make the work day fun. Such things go a long way a few months from now if we can keep it up. A wise creep once said, "No work and all play makes Jack a dull boy." Here is a brief and potentially boring description of the fires we have concord so far.

Pine Lawn Fire 400 some odd acres. Started at the "million dollar s(*&ters" located on the highway near Reserve and the Ranchero Estates. My guess is a cigarette butt thrown in the grass at the rest stop. It quickly grew to the point of risking the Ranchero Estates and the suburbs of sprawling Reserve, NM.
In comes the Gila Hotshots with flashing lights to save the day. We drove our Buggies through the flames and parked in the safe already burned black. After the typical brief confusion we started attacking the head of the fire with chainsaws and hand tools. The fire moved though the Ponderous Pine litter quick. Once it hit the PJ (Pinyon and Juniper) it slowed and we caught it. The smoke was thick as molasses. Really messed the lungs up. Soon after we tied in with the engine crew working towards us a spot fire started. No time to catch our breath. Off to the races. Again caught it in the PJ and scabby rock. Time for me and Matt (my saw partner) to put some burning snags near the line to rest. No rest for the weary. First hot tree of the year. Stood in the hot ash to long and had to take a break in between my face cut and black cut. Hot feet! Done for the day? Nope, time for night operations. Dozers had arrived from Springerville AZ and we held the dozer line burning off unburned sections until around 2 am.

Day two consisted of snagging the highway of hazard trees. Rushing off to catch another spot fire. And of course every wildland fire fighters favorite activity mopping up. Mopping up in short is putting out anything burning.

Day three highlights. Did my first double bar tree of the season. A double bar tree meaning any tree that is wider in diameter than our 28 inch saw bar. Requiring one to cut from both sides of the tree to complete the cuts. All I can say is BOOM. The tree was a hazard to telephone crews fixing burned up telephone boxes.

Day four we started our day with mop up on the Pine Lawn Fire and got dispatched to the Yellow fire in the wilderness.

The Yellow Fire was started by the age old "Put your campfires out, dead out" not being followed. These careless hikers stated a 40+ acre fire. So much for leave no trace. We ended up spending five days in the wilderness on the Middle Fork River. The hike in was 5.5 miles down hill which took us till dark. Most of us packed sleeping bags but still spent a frigid night on the canyon rim. The next day we drop into the fire which had mostly burned itself out over night. Hung up in the rocks and scree of the canyon. In the wilderness we use MIST. Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics. With the blessing of the wilderness people we had use of our chainsaws. Wilderness crews use cross cut saws and follow a no power tool policy. In an attempt to preserve the wild atmosphere our tactic was to pile any logs we cut and burn them. Anything that can not be burned is covered in dirt or hidden from view of the trails. Also, we try not to put in fire line if at all possible. The canyon walls are steep stree so everyone got a chance to break in their balance. Lots of rolling rocks. But, the hazards are well worth our office windows view.
After a night in the cold we got our gear slung in by helicopter and slept in comfort after a bon fire next to the river. The next night got even better. The helicopter slung in hot buckets of food for the crews working with us. Literally buckets filled with hot food. Shredded chicken, mashed potatoes, briskets and peach cobbler. Umm Umm good. A much welcomed break from MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat) the same stuff the guys over seas in the military are eating. Lots of trans fat... Thanks uncle sam. What a change from slow food. Heli food and uber processed food.
The crew personality really shined in the wilderness. Lots of laughs, stories and silliness to be had. Towards the end of the fire it became apparent just how many people hike the Gila Wilderness. Close to 50 people hiked though including a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) group. The hike out was up hill about a thousand feet and took about 2 and half hours.

Pictures are on hold for now due to computer troubles. Memory went south again.