I'm just back from my first fire dispatch. We started on lightning watch in Quincy, California, which is about an hour north of the Lake Tahoe area. We didn't get to go to any fires there, sadly. After a week, we moved up north to the China-Back Fire Complex and got to go mop on those fires. It was pretty fun. Looking forward to the next dispatch.

Now for the pics.

1.) All geared up on the Indicator Fire (Small lightning fire in the Plumas NF near Quincy)

2.) This tree was struck by lightning and started the Indicator Fire.

3.) 100 hour cigars with my squad and crew leader.

4.) On the Back Fire with Mt. Shasta in the background. That's all smoke, not clouds.

5.) On the buggy after day one on the Back Fire. It's dirty work.

6.) Me with some of the crew after day two on the Back Fire.

7.) The buggy ride home today.

Hit the pic limit. Last two.

Cool!

You guys look like you've been working hard. Good job.

That forresters axe you have in the first shot, do you know if it has any official name? It's pretty much the most awesome tool I've used in the history of my life.

.... Anyone else a little turned on?

It's a maddox [sp], and it's a freakin' backbreaker. It's not so awesome when you're having to dig a footing with it.

You would prefer a shovel?

I know I pretty much come into your threads and say "awesome" but...awesome. Glad you didn't get hurt, and congratulations!

It was pretty hard work when we were working the fires. Had to hike in, work, then hike out. When we were on the China fire we hiked in a mile and gained 1600ft of elevation in the process. The same hill got one of out sister crews a medevac ride on a helicopter because people were passing out.



It's a Pulaski, named after the guy who invented it. I was the crew's lead chainsaw, but there wasn't much saw work, so I had to use a tool like everyone else.

Am I the only one who thinks firefighters smoking cigs is kinda...ironic?

Awesome that you're back (in one piece at that!) though.

Welcome back!

Nothing says "man" more than firefighting and smoking cigars.

I will start another 200K acre brush fire just for you, Avenger

I have a lot more pics on Facebook. Add me as a friend if you want to check them out.

except fighting fires WHILE smoking cigars...

anyways welcome back

Neato.

Hooray!

cool.


just by you kirby. just by you.

I agree with this idea.

Avenger, you must fight fires with a cigar in your mouth. The badassery would be so great.

Yes. Firefighting with cigars. And shooting the fire with a railgun.

Pfft, doing ANYTHING while smoking a cigar makes it more manly.

I don't know. Crocheting?

Even crocheting.

i saw a video of a woman smoking a cigar with her cooter, that wasn't particularly manly, although it did have a beard.

Now I wish I didn't know what a cooter is.