In western wild-land fire parlance there is no "if," it is always "when."

[DemoTex]

I got about 4 hours of poor quality sleep Sunday night. The lightning
flashed all night (after the last crews left fire #289) and thunder
rumbled. Nick stayed freaked out and shaky.

I got up at 4 AM Monday for nature's call, and saw low flames
on fire #289 to the west. It was a W-T-H moment (what-the-heck, I
won't sleep now!), so I stayed up and watched the fire. It was an
incredible vigil: my fire, my watch.

Before I left the lookout Monday morning (for my off days in Bend), I briefed my relief on the fires from
Sunday, the wannabee fires I saw pop up, the threatening #289 on
the ridge to the west, and other issues.

At 08:30 Monday I finally left the lookout. About 1000 meters down the
lookout road (knowing - absolutely KNOWING it would happen), I spotted
a smoke. I called the lookout on the cell. She could not see
it (I knew that - too close to the base of the butte).

Since I had no way to take an azimuth reading (per an alidade), I just
did a mental burn. I then did a wifferdill in my truck and headed back
up to the lookout. E___ had already called the fire in on a
provisional position solution, but we updated the position with my
mental burn.

I came into Bend, ate a late breakfast, and checked in at the Oxford.
I actually passed out for two+ hours. Later, the hotel staff updated
me on the violent storms that I slept through.

Big smell of drift smoke in the air in Bend last night and today. Very
green-pine smoke smell. People are noticing it and are more than concerned. They feel
that the fires are too close. Some of those people are big critics of
the USFS even taking on wild-land fires. But when they get a whiff of
drift smoke in their comfy backyards, they change their tunes.

The lightning today (and fire count) pushed us (the USFS) over the edge. I think I heard it said that we are
bringing in outside firefighters. But it remains
initial attack - small crews on small fires (keeping them small). I'm
estimating over 5000 lightning strikes on the Deschutes NF since 3 pm
Sunday - probably more.

I'm headed back out to the lookout early tomorrow morning.
I will arrive at the butte at about 07:30.

Tomorrow promises more lighting and fires. But that's what we are here
for. Protecting the public land. Your land.


Fire #289 (no name) at about 0430 Monday (7/26/2010) morning. This is a highly cropped, very high ISO photo shot with moonlight and the flames of the fire (thus the graininess).


The moon at 0430 yesterday.


Sunrise yesterday through rain and virga.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. You tell the tale so damn well...

I could hardly breathe as I waited for the next words...

And these pictures!

I don't honestly have the words to praise them enough. They are all wonderful, but the moon shot and the sunrise made me gasp.

Please, stay safe!

I look forward to the next installment...

:hug:

[DemoTex]

2. Never a dull moment!

:hi:

[Delphinus]

7. +1,000

Stay safe and keep us up to date with your stories.

[WheelWalker]

3. I was a crew boss with the FS from 1979-1985...

my wife from 1974-1995, retiring as FMO. There's nothing like the smell of smoke in a woman's hair.

[Suich]

4. Pretty scary reading...

can't even imagine what it's like to be there! This could be a real bad fire season.

Stay safe, mac!

:hi:

[Raster]

5. Humor: I thought the last caption read "Sunrise yesterday through rain and viagra."

:rofl:Way too early! Seriously, your pictures and details of your exploits in the lookout are a joy to view and read. Thank you. Keep it up! (sorry, couldn't resist)

[xchrom]

6. I sincerely hope all of this becomes a book some day. Nt

[Catshrink]

8. Another riveting report!

Glad you're safe. Poor Nick - such a trooper.

[saigon68]

9. Nice work --Stay Safe

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Glad that you and Nick are safe and sound.

" I'm estimating over 5000 lightning strikes on the Deschutes NF since 3 pm
Sunday - probably more. "
:wow:

Everyone needs to be eternally and extremely grateful for the work you and the rest of the Forest Service does. It is amazing and life saving work.
That picture of the far away fire..just starting..almost looked like the burning end of a cigarette...as seen in the first dawn.

Amazing stories..and amazing pictures.

Stay safe. Give Nick an extra ear scratch for me please.

Looking forward to more stories and more pictures..

Thank you..for all you do, and for sharing it all with us.
:grouphug: :thumbsup: