Yesterday afternoon we lost power so I was helping a friend install gauges in his truck. So when the power went out I rushed home to shutdown the A/C and water heater. On my way back down to my friends place I was thinking I bet the fire tones go off. So I tell my friend that its going to happen sure enough the tones go out for a power line fire. I'm less than a 1/4 mile ride with my ATV to the fire station. Off and running. I picked up Engine 11 and proceeded to the fire. Long story short my quick actions of getting there first and knocking down the fire kept it down to about 1 acre. USFS was highly impressed.

 

Then I get home there is still no power but the inverter is functional so I hop in and get a shower I'm cover with soot and ash. So I was invited to the Chief's house last night to to have a get together. So stayed till about 11pm. I roll home and my neighbor is super bright. (Not!) We are in a Stage I fire restriction where no open fires are permitted. He's got a bonfire burning. There is no telephone service, no power, and no way to contact 911. Really bright. I lay down to go to bed and then they start shooting off fireworks. (Freaking really smart now). Nothing I can do...

 

Crawl out of bed this morning 6am to "Diesel" stuffing his beak in my face. Ok. So crawl out of bed and sit in front of the computer. Barely get 2 cups of coffee down and "Page Tones go off again. This time a house fire. So I run down stairs and get dressed and grab my radio. Off and running to Station 1 to grab engine 11. Again I manage to be first on scene again. Fire was knock out by some Indians that where firing in the river across the road. Needless to say I called off all other crews and waited for the Fire Chief to show. I watched and carefully inspecting the wall where the outlet blew out and started the fire. We are very thankful for the Indians that did rush over and put the fire out. So we spent another 3 hours carefully inspecting the wall, attic, and crawl space for fire or embers.

 

So sad to say I'm exhaust... I hope the radio stay quiet but I doubt it. Some will be stupid this weekend.

 

(Engine 11)

You should try and recommend to the chief about getting a grant for a thermal imaging camera. They have been extremely useful in finding hot spots.

...if you guys don't already have one.

Hope you guys still aren't stuck with steel tanks for your scba's!

The price of being a hero!  Good call! 

Edited July 3, 20159 yr by flagmanruss

Hope you get some much deserved rest this weekend.

 

So sad to say I'm exhaust... I hope the radio stay quiet but I doubt it. Some will be stupid this weekend.

 

(Engine 11)

                                    

                                                                                 

                                         YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!

Good Job, Mike. 

 

You can't fix stupid, I agree.  

 

It would be nice to call in one of these for your neighbor...   Heheh..

 

Just went back down to my fire station reloaded my hose bed with second lay of 1" fire line since 1 1/2" is just too heavy for dragging around solo. 1" line is much lighter. Not to mention when your working with limit water resource you need to conserve water till the bigger tenders get on scene.

5 Gallon buckets lined up at the neighbors fence filled with rv black tank stuff, labeled 'in case of fire'. Only have one lid a hair open (smell) to let him know it's there just in case.

5 Gallon buckets lined up at the neighbors fence filled with rv black tank stuff, labeled 'in case of fire'. Only have one lid a hair open (smell) to let him know it's there just in case.

 

  Yuk... You are so nice...

 

I got lucky last night and got some much needed sleep. But man I'm sure getting tired of the every day 100+ weather. The river out here is now getting super low.

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mso&gage=rigi1

Me too... things been so busy... runnin tired all the time.... I lost my checkbook and fuel cap all in one day. Beginning to catch up on sleep a little every nite.

 

I pray no fires out there too Mike. I've never seen conditions this extreme so early in west Oregon.

I did manage to escape for a short time to the woods and take a ATV ride up to Morgan Lake to find out USFS had close the trail off so you can no longer go high enough to see the lake for a photo nor is the trail suitable any longer to get down to the lake with a vehicle. So I've had a bit of fun.

Me too... things been so busy... runnin tired all the time.... I lost my checkbook and fuel cap all in one day.

 

That's a case of getting old if ever I heard one.  

That's a case of getting old if ever I heard one.  

Yep, I hear that. Also it has to do with a whirlwind of sorts, things I have to do to complete a job that is very complex. Like what needs to be done first can change with each moment of further realization of another aspect I didn't think of before                Can't wait to see how it comes out in the end.

 

Put simply, it's a challenge and a good one .

I'm very happy we got about a half inch of rain. Conditions are so much nicer with the cooler days and less fire hazard.

 

That's what we nick named my youngest daughter with the fire red hair. So cute with those blue eyes.... we called her 'fire hazard'