Given that truck camper owners are very mobile and self-sufficient, I'm posting this in the TC forum.The Washington state Department of Natural Resources is for the first time requesting help from citizen volunteers to help fight fires.Story is HEREContact centers:Centers are being established in two strategic locations:Omak: Jay GuthrieOmak City Hall, 2 Ash St. NPhone 360-826-2546email: CRC.Omak@gmail.comANDColville: Julie SacketWashington State Department of TransportationSecond Floor, 440 N Hwy 395Phone 509-675-7847email: CRC.Colville@gmail.com

That is some tough work. When I was active duty Army, my unit from Ft. Carson, Colorado deployed to Warm Lake Complex, Idaho (Boise National Forrest) to help with a major fire. The Forest Service gave us a few days training and off we went. For the most part, all we did was make fire breaks and do some mop up work but it was pretty exhausting work even for a 21 year old that was in shape at the time. I hope they get those fires contained soon and everyone stays safe.

I volunteered in Malden WV back in 1963.... the mountain was steep, it was all night.... blinded by the fire, couldn't see in the dark... snakes irritated snakes plenty. ... athorities were stopping cars on US-60 begging people to help... offered 15 cents an hourVery dangerous.... At this point in my life.... and knowing more about nature (one of my degrees is in Biology) I'd let it burn. It will grow back.If my house was in harms way I'd get my important stuff out and leave.Some of what we see is rich people building where they shouldn't... then expecting others to risk their life to save there material things.... if they do lose their house they build back on the same spot... and sooner than later... scream for help.The lives of the firefighters that just died were worth a lot more than the property values.It was one heck of a one time adventure.ChetUSAF Veteran

That is long hours of hot dirty work, there is nothing romantic about fire fighting. There are a lot of hard feelings in Rock Creek B.C., it narrowly missed being destroyed by a large fire that is still not contained. BCFS would not let untrained volunteers get involved due to liability issues, the people argue they have equipment and local knowledge that could be put to use.Years ago, I was a foreman on a parks crew that got sent out to contain a fire until equipment could arrive to cut a break. Helicopters were available but buckets had not yet been developed. I spent two days trying to keep my crew from getting lost or killed, these guys didn't have a clue and didn't care.

It's a mess, that's for sure.It's kind of the "perfect storm" type of situation here in WA, with multiple factors all happening at the same time, resulting in extreme fire danger, far worse than ever before1. Very low snow pack in the mountains, due to very little precipitation.2. Warmer than normal temps in January-March, so what little so there was, didn't last long, and very little new snow came in Feb and March due to low precipitation3. Extremely warm temps far too early in the season - in June, we had temps that aren't seen until August - many days in the 90s and 100s where I live in Spokane, as well as other parts of the state.4. The extreme temps just keep continuing!Ash is falling at my place today.The lightning last Thursday / Friday have really made a mess in the north central part of the state - Chelan county, Okanagon County, and NE part of state: Stevens County.If you haven't heard of 10 Tanker, check it out: 10 Tanker Air - the mother of all air tanker!It's a company that operates 3 DC-10s that have been converted to tankers. They carry up to 11,000 gallons.T911 has been based a the Moses Lake airport (aka Moses Lake Airtanker Base / Grant County Airport - an ex Air Force base)for a few weeks. Boeing does flight testing there - it's not uncommon to see 747s flying around in circles.10 Tanker on Facebook

Youtube History Channel special on the 10 tankerT911 dropping retardant in Chelan last weekBecause it's been stripped of all unnecessary gear, it flies well below gross weight. As a result, it's very maneuverable, even at slow speeds.Do a search for 10tanker on Youtube, all sort of videos are there.One of the reasons the company picked the DC10 is its fast spool-up speed on the engines, so it responds quickly to throttle application when pulling out of the drop.

Volunteers needed in Washington State fire fighthing

deltabravo
Nomad
Aug 23, 2015
Yesterday the smoke was so thick in Spokane, the sun was blocked out nearly all day. The smoke got worse as the day went on. I was outside for a while. My eyes burned and I smelled like a camp fire. It was bad.
Notice in the video that Spokane is quite a distance from the fires. (around the 4 minute mark)
deltabravo
Nomad
Aug 23, 2015
Back on topic.

Here's a virtual fly-through of the fire areas.
Reality_Check
Nomad II
Aug 22, 2015
sh410 wrote:
Iraqvet05 wrote:
sleepy wrote:
usmcshepherd wrote:
its a great representation of what makes America great! When fellow American's answer the call for help in situations like this.

I'll fight for life... not for property!

So if your house were in close proximity to a major fire would you expect someone to help save it or just let the fire run thru the area?

If the choice is my house or a firefighters life, easy, the house is insured.

This is turning asinine. Sounds like some of you expect them to know when it's ok to fight and when they might get injured or die and they should just let it burn.

Hell, just get rid of Fire departments then. Just not worth it, eh?

It's life folks; good people do good things and sometimes it just doesn't turn out with a happy ending.

God bless the ones fighting the fire, the hell with keyboard jockeys.
sh410
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
Iraqvet05 wrote:
sleepy wrote:
usmcshepherd wrote:
its a great representation of what makes America great! When fellow American's answer the call for help in situations like this.

I'll fight for life... not for property!

So if your house were in close proximity to a major fire would you expect someone to help save it or just let the fire run thru the area?

If the choice is my house or a firefighters life, easy, the house is insured.
Iraqvet05
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
sleepy wrote:
usmcshepherd wrote:
its a great representation of what makes America great! When fellow American's answer the call for help in situations like this.

I'll fight for life... not for property!

So if your house were in close proximity to a major fire would you expect someone to help save it or just let the fire run thru the area?
usmcshepherd
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2015
Well I am sure the folks that have suffered through events like Hurricane Andrew and Katrina, the Oklahoma City Bombing, collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11, and the Joplin, MO tornado to name a few appreciate the support of their fellow American's.
sleepy
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
usmcshepherd wrote:
its a great representation of what makes America great! When fellow American's answer the call for help in situations like this.

I'll fight for life... not for property!
usmcshepherd
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2015
its a great representation of what makes America great! When fellow American's answer the call for help in situations like this.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2015
Actually, the local news reported that DNR was requesting experienced heavy equipment operators.
slickrock_steve
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
When I fought a fire in So. Cal many years ago, we needed to have lots of water brought up to us, and it was nice to have a hot cup of cocoa, or coffee. We TC's could be mobile kitchens for mop up crews, and stay back away from the action, but still give some support. We can also carry lots of bottled water, and even help with evacs of tired guys to base camp.

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