The Group

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Word of the day "raw"

Left Hand Canyon Fire

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Shows the black and some Americorps mopping up.

First fire! Only hours after receiving our red cards (official wildfire certification) we got our first fire call. 3 NCCC's got called to a controlled burn in Northern CO. The fastest any NCCC team has been called into action. Then at midnight we all got the call that our whole team would be sent to Left Hand Valley at 6:45am for a 3-acre fire. The Roosevelt Hot Shots got the fire under control over night using a fire line (dirt dug to mineral soil). At around 9am we drove our trucks a mile into an off road recreation trail. The type that people bring modified Jeeps on (raw!). Our job was to mop up the fire. Which means to smother any hot spots until there is no possibility for the fire to reoccur. Not glamorous work but it represents about 50% of the job. Most of the day was spent digging up burning roots and on occasion some flames would pop-up.

In the pictures you can see that most of the trees didn't burn. The area was burned a few years ago so most of the fuel was on the ground. Leaving the trees to far apart to light up. The cause of this fire is still under investigation but it looked like campers using an uncontrolled fire, firearm or firework started it.

Arapahoe/Roosevelt National forest

Arapahoe/Roosevelt National forest, originally uploaded by stevempassmore.

I have a feeling it will look like we take a lot of breaks... we don't its just the only time to take pictures.

Arapahoe/Roosevelt National forest

Arapahoe/Roosevelt National forest, originally uploaded by stevempassmore.

Picture taking is the last priority on a fire so I didn't take to many pictures

Mock fire. Our day was designed to be a fire situation simulation. The forest service took us to an isolated area of the Arapahoe/Roosevelt National Forest. After being briefed we set out to dig a fire line to contain the fire. They used simulated water drops and fire behavior (CO has 2 million dollars for air support this year). We did about six hours of fire line. Normally it will be an initial attack of 16 hours. As for the land it is going to be a controlled burn later this season. So the line we dug will be used at some point.

backpack

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Hands on. Training today was all about equipment use and maintenance. We got issued our backpacks and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). The stuff is all well worn and of government quality (i.e. holes and chain grease stains). Our packs full of 6 quarts of water weigh no less then 45 pounds and up to 65 pounds. To end the day we set off backfire ordnances such as fire grenades, magnesium flares, drip torches and flare guns. To much fun!

Fire proof boots

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Training. Wednesday marks the last day of classroom training for the Forest Service. So far the training has been a crash course in wildfire safety, theory, communication and technique among other things. The forest service places a lot of emphasis on safety since the risks are high. Mostly we just run faster then the wind then hide.

We got our boots today. My guess is that they cost around $200-250. Custom made all leather, Kevlar laces and a nice 3-inch heel. No steel toe since that would get really toasty standing on hot embers and coals. If you want to imagine the fit... they feel like your standing on the rungs of a ladder. The high heel is in place so that one can stand better on an incline for extended periods of time. To break them in I soaked them in warm water then walked three miles. Resulting in some hot spots.

Well.... Yeah not much going on. Transition week has come and gone. Transition is just a time to have performance reviews and present project reports, not to mention much needed relaxation and reuniting with other teams. Monday marks the beginning of wildfire training with the forestry service. Want to memorize the standard firefighting orders? I have to, so you should...

STANDARD FIREFIGHTING ORDERS
1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
2. know what your fire is doing at all times
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire
4. Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively.
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and insure they are understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.

Last chance. Today marks the last weekend in Chicago. I visited some of my favorite sites around downtown. Got a Cohiba (Cuban cigar) and relaxed on the beach. Then eat a filling Mexican meal and had a few Dos Equis.

chicago sights

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This is in the Chicago Cultural Center looking at a Tiffany stained-glass dome.

The bean

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Again I have to post a picture of this sculpture.

View inside the bean

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Again the bean rocks!

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A little info

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The artist is Anish Kapoor and the title is "Cloud Gate". Anish hates that people call it the bean.

Millennium Park

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Ummm Cohiba

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