Pilot Fire. Wendover UT is home to the most genetically pure strain of Cutthroat trout in the west coast US. Our goal is to save the streambed that houses the fish habitat. Restrictions on fire retardant and back burns are in place due to the fish. Northern CO is the Initial attack crew on the fire that is 60 acres and growing. Air support and Utah County crew are in route.

It is a Red Flag day. That means that the temps, relative humidity and winds will reach levels that can create volatile fire conditions. We hit that point around 2pm, 90 deg, 12 RH and 20+mph wind.

The morning we spent digging line around the downhill section of the fire. Around 2pm the helicopter kicked up embers from a spot fire that then blow up below us. Simultaneously a spot fire picked up were we hiked in sending embers and smoke in behind us. We decided it was a good time to leave by following the fire line back. At this point the IC (Incident Commander) choose to team us up with UT county and heliteck to dig line up hill from the streambed. Shortly after a grass fire started below us. In fear of loosing an escape route the IC called everyone off the hill.

That night we set up camp approx 3 miles from the fire in the grass lands. At 11pm we evacuated our campsite because the fire was creeping within a mile of us.

Then at 3am my squad boss Chris came down with what turned out to be a kidney stone. It was decided that he should be helicoptered to Salt Lake city for diagnosis. Somehow I slept during the whole thing and helicopter landed only a few feet from me.