Was just woken at 11:30 our mountain is burning and has gotten worse.
The last photo is from the hilltop overlooking my fire station and also where we lived at a Forest Service housing unit. 17,000 acre Valley Fire, 2020. Notice the green trees in the middle of a nuked forest. We saved our own station and my residence.
My wife and kids were home at the time and drove off the mountain right as we were laying a backing fire. Another minute and they would have to shelter in place. As they were driving up the long driveway they saw a fire whirl (fire tornado) carrying a manzanita tree in the air. She later told me she had no clue my job was this dangerous. You don’t get it till you’re in it. True baptism by fire.
Cleveland National Forest Engine 340. This was my 340 daily driver.
My ‘cuda went through Hurricane Katrina and this fire.
@Oldmanmopar Best thing you can do is pick all the organic material from structures. Get a leaf blower, get a drip torch, and become well versed in how to operate those two things. It’s too late now for you to learn for this fire. There’s a lot of skill that goes into when and where to lay down a backing fire.
I have never seen a home saved by a homeowner with a water hose. It doesn’t happen. Sprinklers are a good idea but need to run around 24 hours. You have to flood the place for it to not burn. The superheated air, wind, and single digit relative humidity will dry everything in advance of the flaming front. Everything has to be saturated fully and even then the wind can blow embers INTO eaves and soffits, wood decks, and even vehicles and burn them down. If you hinge all your hopes on wetting things down with a piss hose and the power goes out you could be in the middle of a firefight and run out of water. Best thing to do with water is leave it for the firefighters.
Good luck OMM, once the air tankers show up you’ll be alright. Head on a swivel though.
I don’t think people know what a Type 3 is. I was a driver/pumper on several for a couple years. Did a couple years as a hotshot and helitak too. After moving back to my home state, Okla., and talking with local fire guys, they don’t even know.
The last photo is from the hilltop overlooking my fire station and also where we lived at a Forest Service housing unit. 17,000 acre Valley Fire, 2020. Notice the green trees in the middle of a nuked forest. We saved our own station and my residence.
My wife and kids were home at the time and drove off the mountain right as we were laying a backing fire. Another minute and they would have to shelter in place. As they were driving up the long driveway they saw a fire whirl (fire tornado) carrying a manzanita tree in the air. She later told me she had no clue my job was this dangerous. You don’t get it till you’re in it. True baptism by fire.
Cleveland National Forest Engine 340. This was my 340 daily driver.
My ‘cuda went through Hurricane Katrina and this fire.
@Oldmanmopar Best thing you can do is pick all the organic material from structures. Get a leaf blower, get a drip torch, and become well versed in how to operate those two things. It’s too late now for you to learn for this fire. There’s a lot of skill that goes into when and where to lay down a backing fire.
I have never seen a home saved by a homeowner with a water hose. It doesn’t happen. Sprinklers are a good idea but need to run around 24 hours. You have to flood the place for it to not burn. The superheated air, wind, and single digit relative humidity will dry everything in advance of the flaming front. Everything has to be saturated fully and even then the wind can blow embers INTO eaves and soffits, wood decks, and even vehicles and burn them down. If you hinge all your hopes on wetting things down with a piss hose and the power goes out you could be in the middle of a firefight and run out of water. Best thing to do with water is leave it for the firefighters.
Good luck OMM, once the air tankers show up you’ll be alright. Head on a swivel though.