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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 362
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 362 |
As a matter of fact, I've been in a lot of them where rancher and BLM were on the same side, like the one below. A wildfire in Nevada was heading for a remote ranch where two firefighters had just been seriously burned trying to save it. There was a group of Alaska Smokejumpers and Boise Smokejumpers (both BLM bases) standing by in a nearby Winnemucca, Nevada. For some reason, instead of us parachuting to the fire they sent us by van. When we got close the "civilian" driver saw the flames whipping across the road and decided she wasn't getting paid enough, so one of the jumpers took the wheel and we drove through the narrow flame front and got to the ranch shortly before the fire hit. The only sensible option was to back fire, so that's what we did. The bright red dot in the extreme lower left in the above photo is one of the fusees we were using to light the backfire. Luckily it worked perfectly and we managed to hold the line. The rancher lady hugged each of us with tears running down her cheeks. The ten of us secured four more miles of fireline that night. We worked that day, all night, and until 8 PM the next day, a 35 hour shift. We got our butts kicked plenty of times as well. I took the shot below from the plane just before we jumped this Nevada fire. We ended up dragging all our gear into a clearing as the fire burned all around us. There are, no doubt, plenty of buffoons in the federal government, but there is also a whole lot of people trying to do a good job for the public. In considering the federal government, it's important not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Smokejumping
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856 |
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.
If being stupid allows me to believe in Him, I'd wish to be a retard. Eisenhower and G Washington should be good company.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303 |
God Bless and Keep ALL of you and your crews, Mister.
May you always be upwind, and have the wind at your back when lighting off those potentially treachorous BFs.
May Cool fresh Water be yours always, and Teeth achingly COLD beer be found at your R & R sites.
May your nose be clear of the mornings, and the first crap you spit out not too dark.
Been a LOT of years since I worked on a fireline, and never jumped,
...can damned sure rlate to your job, though.
BRAVO !
GTC
Member, Clan of the Border Rats -- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
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Posts: 15,642
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 15,642 |
Actually, I feel sorry for the good folks who work for the govt, cuz when it come to them or the politicians, I know who will get thrown under the bus.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,953 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,953 Likes: 1 |
--- CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE --- A Magic Time To Be An Illegal In America---
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,842
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,842 |
Good post Buck.
Go on any new adventures?
Quando omni flunkus moritati
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,544 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,544 Likes: 2 |
A positive note, on the 'fire, about the .gov?
Someone alert Ripley's!
Buck, thanks for your time and efforts.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
As a matter of fact, I've been in a lot of them where rancher and BLM were on the same side, like the one below.
There are, no doubt, plenty of buffoons in the federal government, but there is also a whole lot of people trying to do a good job for the public. In considering the federal government, it's important not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
No doubt. Same with cops. Same with...teachers.
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,345 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,345 Likes: 1 |
Just read Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean a few months ago. Brave men, sad story.
Thanks for your service Buck.
Carpe' Scrotum
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,230 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,230 Likes: 2 |
Just read Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean a few months ago. Brave men, sad story.
Thanks for your service Buck. that was a great book! His son followed it with "fire on the mountain" about the South Canyon tragedy in 1994. Sycamore
...Actually Sycamore, you are sort of right....
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Joined: May 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,953 Likes: 1 |
It was by the Bundy Ranch.
--- CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE --- A Magic Time To Be An Illegal In America---
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250 |
Good on you and all your kind! Great job!
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Posts: 3,276
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,276 |
Great post! My Dad packed out smokejumpers in central Idaho in the mid 50s'. That fostered his love for mules and dislike for horses.
If you're ever in the Ely, NV area we'll buy your crew a brew.
Interesting site on Nev wildfire issues, Smoked Bear LLC, not sure how to post the link.
Last edited by weaselsRus; 05/17/14.
Eagles may soar, but a weasel never got sucked into a jet turbine!
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 362
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 362 |
Thanks folks!
My smokejumper days are over. Nobody owes me any thanks although I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless. It was a great job and it left me with many good memories and friends.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,230 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,230 Likes: 2 |
It was by the Bundy Ranch. ????? pretty hard to fight a fire in creosote bush and cheat grass. If started, it would be in the next state before anyone got there. With the grazing, and the 6" annual rainfall, probably not enough fuel to carry a fire around Bundy ranch. I have seem sign of a fire up on Grand Wash Bench, looked like it went fast, through the blackbrush and cholla. nothing to fight, really, just watch it go. Sycamore
...Actually Sycamore, you are sort of right....
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Posts: 73,096
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 73,096 |
Great post Sir, those crews don't get near the recognition they deserve. I fought some minor wildfires down here as a volly with the PC-CH VFD as a very young man. Those folks that do the big ones have all my admiration, I was NEVER even near their class of FF!
George Orwell was a Prophet, not a novelist. Read 1984 and then look around you!
Old cat turd!
"Some men just need killing." ~ Clay Allison.
I am too old to fight but I can still pull a trigger. ~ Me
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 14,712 |
Great job, Buck. Respect.
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