Well I have officially stareted my tour down south. I came down to the states on July 20 something. It is hard to keep track of the days during this job. But I left Fairbanks on a flight to Seattle and then to Idaho. We arrived in Idaho before the buggies arrived. The buggies are what we use to get around as a crew. We roll with buggies that fit 10 people each and Supervisor rig. That means the the Crew Boss and one other person will drive with him. So anyways we beat the vehicles to the fire, becuase they were staged in Folsom, CA for the winter. There were 3 people that left to get the vehicles before the rest of the crew.
Anyways we arrived at Poe Cabin just south west of Greangeville Idaho around 5 or so. We immediately ate dinner, from the caturing service that has been on the fire, and went right to bed. This means that we pulled our sleeping bags out of our read bags and got ready for bed. This was especially nice for me becuase this was the first night in a while that I did not have to sleep with my Seattle Marathon beanie over my eyes because that sun will actually be setting.
We woke up at 5 AM and went right to breakfast and got in the buggies, which showed up in the middle of the night, and drove to where we would be workign for the next few days. The first day of work was one of the longer days because you have been off work for the past 4 or five days. Because of R & R and travel days. On top of that we also cut and dug direct line for about 8-9 hours straight. It was at about 4500 elevation....which keep in mind i am used to about 400-700, so that made it a little difficult. Oh yeah and the temps were 100+. So that was a littel taxing on the body beign that i have been used to 70's or so. That days was a little on the tough side for those reasons.
This next day was very long. We spiked out on the line...so that means that we are eating MRE (Meals ready to Eat) and that we will be working longs days becuase there is only like a 20 min drive to the line. So for the next few days the fire activity has been picking up and we are told that the line that we constructed for the first 2 days has been burned over and that we are now going to dig Indirect line. Now immediatley this should raise a red flag becuase this means that you will be digging a line with unburned fuel between you and the main fire. ( This is one of the 18 watch out situations) but with our job we kind of brek a lot of those. Don't worry though if i ever feel that my life will be put in danger i will refuse to work. So we start to construct this line down hill for about a half mile or so. The saws jump out ahead of the diggers and create a 20 foot swath canopy included and the diggers wait for them to get farther in front incase they have to fell some trees.
The digging line works like this. First person will have a Pulaski and also the next 2 or three. The first person is normally a rookie because it is normally the hardest position. Not meaning that we are in better shape then the vets, but the vets did it there rookie yr. So we can not break tradition type thing. After the p tools is a combi. This is a combination between a pick end and shovel end. Then there will be another p tool or two and then a shovel.
The lead p tool will break the ground up and also make sure the line is being constructed where they want it. This is normally harder because you have to swing with full strength. And each person behind lead will have to work that much less. So lead P breaks the ground with aobut a 8-10 inch scrape. Next breaks a little larger, making it 10-18 inches. Next 2 P's will use the Adz end and hoe the dirt off the scrape. Then the combi will try and get all the organic matter that the P tool was able to break up, off the scrape. And the shovel will move all excess dirt and organci matter so there is just dirt or rock left. Materials that can not burn with a 18-24 inch line dug as the finish product.
So now you understand why the lead P will have the hardest job. After a day and half of digging this line we are now ready to burn it out. We need to start the burn before the sun is not facing the aspect, thus the relative humidity (RH) is still low; thus beign able to burn. When we start the burn it starts off a little slow but it finally picks up. I will expalin more in the next R & R.
Need to get rest have an early flight tomorrow.
Anyways we arrived at Poe Cabin just south west of Greangeville Idaho around 5 or so. We immediately ate dinner, from the caturing service that has been on the fire, and went right to bed. This means that we pulled our sleeping bags out of our read bags and got ready for bed. This was especially nice for me becuase this was the first night in a while that I did not have to sleep with my Seattle Marathon beanie over my eyes because that sun will actually be setting.
We woke up at 5 AM and went right to breakfast and got in the buggies, which showed up in the middle of the night, and drove to where we would be workign for the next few days. The first day of work was one of the longer days because you have been off work for the past 4 or five days. Because of R & R and travel days. On top of that we also cut and dug direct line for about 8-9 hours straight. It was at about 4500 elevation....which keep in mind i am used to about 400-700, so that made it a little difficult. Oh yeah and the temps were 100+. So that was a littel taxing on the body beign that i have been used to 70's or so. That days was a little on the tough side for those reasons.
This next day was very long. We spiked out on the line...so that means that we are eating MRE (Meals ready to Eat) and that we will be working longs days becuase there is only like a 20 min drive to the line. So for the next few days the fire activity has been picking up and we are told that the line that we constructed for the first 2 days has been burned over and that we are now going to dig Indirect line. Now immediatley this should raise a red flag becuase this means that you will be digging a line with unburned fuel between you and the main fire. ( This is one of the 18 watch out situations) but with our job we kind of brek a lot of those. Don't worry though if i ever feel that my life will be put in danger i will refuse to work. So we start to construct this line down hill for about a half mile or so. The saws jump out ahead of the diggers and create a 20 foot swath canopy included and the diggers wait for them to get farther in front incase they have to fell some trees.
The digging line works like this. First person will have a Pulaski and also the next 2 or three. The first person is normally a rookie because it is normally the hardest position. Not meaning that we are in better shape then the vets, but the vets did it there rookie yr. So we can not break tradition type thing. After the p tools is a combi. This is a combination between a pick end and shovel end. Then there will be another p tool or two and then a shovel.
The lead p tool will break the ground up and also make sure the line is being constructed where they want it. This is normally harder because you have to swing with full strength. And each person behind lead will have to work that much less. So lead P breaks the ground with aobut a 8-10 inch scrape. Next breaks a little larger, making it 10-18 inches. Next 2 P's will use the Adz end and hoe the dirt off the scrape. Then the combi will try and get all the organic matter that the P tool was able to break up, off the scrape. And the shovel will move all excess dirt and organci matter so there is just dirt or rock left. Materials that can not burn with a 18-24 inch line dug as the finish product.
So now you understand why the lead P will have the hardest job. After a day and half of digging this line we are now ready to burn it out. We need to start the burn before the sun is not facing the aspect, thus the relative humidity (RH) is still low; thus beign able to burn. When we start the burn it starts off a little slow but it finally picks up. I will expalin more in the next R & R.
Need to get rest have an early flight tomorrow.
Comments
We miss you here and hope you come home safe and sound. When will that be?
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Susie
Love,
Chris and Pat
Dave and Terri
When Grace and I were in SD I was thinking that we must have been close if you were still in Idaho. Sounds like a tough job! Hang in there! Saty safe! Miss ya!
~Gwenna, Andy, and Grace