Long, wild, fire day. About two dozen firefighters camping on the worst of the fires.

[DemoTex]

It all started with the lightning yesterday. Here are the pics, starting at about 0200 am this morning (7/31/2010).


The anti-cougar system on for Nick, who needed to potty at 2 am. Lights and noise.


First fire today (#459), on the lower southwest aspect of Aspen Butte.


Plotted position of 459


Fire 461 behind a ridge to my southeast.


Fire 461


Helo 4BT on the way to fire 461 with one of many water buckets.


Bucket brigade.


Air Attack 84 Lima


The little red square on my azimuth line is the tip-top of the ridge. The fire was just over the ridge in section 3, SW of the NW quadrant. Notice East Butte, where I am, in the upper left corner of this DragonPlot screenshot. I try to get a screenshot if I use DragonPlot and a photo of all my fires, but it does not always work out that way.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear DemoTex!

I really enjoy seeing your pics alongside the maps. It makes the situation much clearer...

And I bet you were busy. That's the nature of the job...

Hang in there!

:hi:

[Arctic Dave]

2. K&R

[JohnnyLib2]

3. K & R and thanks.

Truly, a different perspective on the world

[jannyk]

4. We've got an anti-Bear setup similar to your ...

anti-Cougar one for Nick, here on Oregon's West Coast.

For the past 3 weeks a Black Bear has been in our yard every night. The first night he got the garbage can - supposed to be Bear proof - duh, he hauled it down the hill and set about chewing the handles off to get inside - since then there has been not a scrap of food for him, but he keeps on coming. Last night (3am) he got the neighbor's freezer - not a cooler - a great big chest freezer they keep outside with bait and the day's catch in. It was locked, but he turned the darned thing upside down and gave it a good gouging - then he ran back through our lot and collided with some patio furniture.
Thing is, he varies his visiting times, a lot - anytime between 9.30pm and 5am. We have a blind Spaniel who usually has to pee around 11pm - so we trip all the outside floodlights and make lots of noise - so far he's avoided us.

Look forward to your pics each evening. Stay safe.

[Skittles]

5. as always your pics are such a TREAT

I feel like I am THERE! :D

[opihimoimoi]

6. KnR #7...awesome work... You are a true Patriot...the lot of you deserve medals and recognition

:toast: :beer: :bounce:

[aquart]

7. Thank you.

I've started looking forward to these.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Hey, DT. I relied on you for fire news--until the SoCal Crown Fire got here

Imagine my surprise when it reached within a mile of me. My brother, who lives a mile down the road, had a mandatory evac.

Our Gubernator even dropped by the command post, but I missed my chance to to tell him what I thought of him. :)

I was never in any danger where I live, but it was a big surprise to see the fire jump the hills and the reservoir to encroach on areas that seemed safe. And I'm in a pretty urban area without the fire risks and forest fuel where you're pulling duty.

I don't have great pics like yours, but if I had only one it would be from two days ago, when the fire smoke permeated the sky and turned the evening sun a bright red, like a red marble, embedded in a field of red but somewhat more orangish sky. I don't think I'll ever forget that.

Your pics, as always, are amazing. And your great maps really help to give perspective. I really admire you for what you're doing, and understand completely when your duties don't permit you to post here.

Mostly, I'm glad we have you on the job, and I hope you--and Nick--stay safe, bro. What more can I say but, "Hang in there." (And I know you know what I mean.)

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[DemoTex]

15. I see that the Crown Fire is 87% contained (14,000 acres).

I'm not sure I would have named it the "Crown" fire. I wonder if it was because of a lot of fire crowning (crown fire - a forest fire that advances with great speed jumping from crown to crown ahead of the ground fire).


The "Crown Fire" (LA Times photo) building into a pyrocumulus

[Hekate]

9. Kick and Rec,

:hi:

[xchrom]

10. wonderful. nt

[spanone]

11. k&r....

[Crystal Clarity]

12. K & R

Thanks DemoTex!

[hootinholler]

13. A question...

Are the aqua lines short lived creeks? Do thy originate on the buttes and dry up in the desert?

-Hoot

[DemoTex]

14. It is just wet weather drainage.

I have never seen a drop of water in any of them.

[DemoTex]

16. I'm surprised that there are no comments about the jugs-on-a-string!

As of this week, I string empty 1-gal water containers on the outside of the lookout catwalk rail to reduce clutter on the working side. I refill these plastic containers at the USFS compound in Bend. I only buy water in the grocery when the handles break. I also refill several 5-gal water cubies every week.

Yes, I have running water in the lookout tower. Whatever I run up the 60 steps from the ground to the lookout!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. I did wonder about those...

But I didn't wonder enough to make a comment!

Thanks for the explanation, Mac!

Sounds to me as though you have no need of a gym...it makes me tired just thinking about all your physical effort!

:wow:

[DemoTex]

19. I bring jeans and shorts of two waist sizes out here.

By the end of fire season in October, I will be hanging the smaller sizes on my scrawny ass with suspenders.

[DemoTex]

21. And on which day did God invent the bungee cord?

It is a MUST at a fire lookout tower! I discovered a new use of the bungee cord during the fire-hell yesterday. Two of the fires (461 & 463) could only be observed through the screen door. A rubber door stop would not hold the door open (bugs be damned!) against the SW wind, so I tried a short bungee cord. Perfect!

[stevedeshazer]

17. Those pics are great, man. I knew you were gonna have some trouble w/ lightning

This week's coming weather looks pretty good.

Best to you and Nick.

[DemoTex]

20. Looks like a great week.

I'm headed into Bend and the posh Oxford early tomorrow. Nick gets a bath and haircut tomorrow. So do I.