Tasting soot and defeat

[WilliamPitt]

Tasting soot and defeat

Firefighters in San Diego County sensed from the start that they were outmatched this time. Maddeningly intense blazes met explosive suburban growth.



By Scott Gold and Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
October 25, 2007
Poway, Calif.

As the last of the ashes fell and the fire moved on, they returned, like vanquished warriors, to survey their losses.

In northern San Diego County on Wednesday, firefighters went back in to douse hot spots left behind after the Witch fire ravaged the region before marching on toward the coast. But before attending to their task, some paused on the blackened hills, removing their helmets and, holding them to their chests, allowing themselves a moment to take in the destruction.

For three days, this had been their battleground. Some went 70 hours without sleep. Some were left coughing up wads of soot. They had taken on one of the fiercest blazes to ever strike the state. And in many instances they had lost decisively -- a troubling experience for many of the 9,000 firefighters working this week across Southern California.

"Firefighters are a particular breed," said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief Doug Lannon, a 35-year veteran and a commander of the effort to fight the Witch fire. "We do not like to lose." And yet, by Wednesday evening, more than 1,800 structures, including 1,600 homes, had been destroyed in blazes that stretched from Santa Paula to the Mexican border.

The mop-up that began Wednesday was conducted with as much resignation as resolve. This fire, many firefighters said, was particularly tough, leaving them with the sense that they had been overwhelmed and outwitted by the flames, undermanned from the start.

More: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-firefighters25oct25,0,5053379.story?coll=la-home-center

[SteppingRazor]

1. Look on the dude's face says it all. n/t

[uppityperson]

2. k&r for firefighters.

[MindPilot]

3. These guys are the best of the best

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[Kajsa]

4. They have been overwhelmed by wind gusts up to 85 mph.

Now that the winds have died down, they have a good chance of getting the upperhand
in containing many of the wildfires that have scorched the bottom third of our state.

I am forever grateful to our firefighters.

They say it's " part of their job", but the fact remains
that they put themselves on the line everytime they fight
our wildfires.

:applause: to our firefighters.

[WilliamPitt]

5. .

[Kajsa]

6. Another kick and emphasis on how much the wind

dictates the outcome of these fires.

The burning embers travel long distances in high wind,
jumping freeways and firelines.

The high winds also hampered rescue/firefighting efforts by grounding
most of the planes carrying fire retardant chemicals.

The Santa Ana winds have also carried the smoke and soot to the coast,
where it is concentrated. We have had extremely poor air quality since
Sunday night.Many people are wearing breathing masks when they go
outside.There is soot everywhere, even inside with the windows closed.


These guys work in these conditions.


I can't praise our firefighters enough.

:thumbsup:

[ljm2002]

7. With 3 days of wind...

...the outcome was a given.

I was living in the East Bay back when the Oakland Hills fire happened. It was kicked up by Santa Ana winds that morning -- but what saved it from being a much worse conflagration was that the winds died down by 2pm that same afternoon. Had the winds continued even into that evening, that sucker would have burned all the way to the Bay.

The firefighters in the present instance have nothing, nothing at all to be ashamed of. Sometimes Mother Nature overwhelms. It is a reminder to us that we are not all-powerful, despite our recurrent fantasies otherwise.

To the firefighters: you are the best, do not hang your heads. You did what you could under the most horrific circumstances imaginable, and the work you do in the aftermath is extremely important.

[Evoman]

8. Do the firemen on the ground have any effect on the fire?

I'd hate to see these guys putting their lives in danger if there is no point. Evacuate people, save lives....and get the hell out. Houses can be rebuilt. People can't.

[redwitch]

9. I agree.

My SIL and hubby went home last night. Their house was spared and they are grateful that they just have ashes and soot to clean up. As much as they love their home they would never want anyone to die to save it. Firefighters are a little on the crazy side, bless them. I am too afraid of fire to ever put my life on the line the way they do. Here's to 'em. They should be proud of the job they did, no one could have done more.

[Evoman]

10. Well, I'm glad your family is okay.

And yes, firemen have a lot of "the crazy" in them. Some of the firemen I've met are almost pathologically unafraid of danger.

[Kajsa]

12. I'm glad to hear their house is OK.

That's good news, Redwitch.

[Kajsa]

11. They sure do.

They can save structures when possible and set fire breaks to
stop the advancement of the fires. Setting controlled fires
as fire breaks wasn't an option here. The winds were too damn strong.

They also put out hot spots of smoldering embers so the first big
gust of wind won't turn it into another inferno.

Sometimes, the wind conditions works against them, but they try
and do the best they can.

They all carry fire retardant covers( for lack of a better word)
they can duck under if the fires turn and advance on them.

It is very dangerous work.