Fire

[Dave]

There is a fire started by lightning about 12 miles SW of here. Started yesterday evening. Just last week I helped get one of the fire trucks started. One of the other trucks had a flat tire. And the tanker truck wouldn't start. This fire is way too early and obviously we aren't ready yet. The report is the fire is only 150 acres. But where it is at that country is built on edge. Very little equipment access.
About the time this started yesterday I was on the road on my quad. The wind was blowing. The dust the wind was picking up off the road was passing me. I was doing 17mph. The dust was doing about 30. That will make a fire grow.

 

[greybeard]

:(
That don't sound like a good start to summer...

 

[Dave]

I drove down there to have a look at 10:00 this morning. No smoke, no activity. Looks like 150-200 acres.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

Here's one by you Dave.

 

[Mrcopier]

That seems to be normal around you. That’s scary stuff

 

[backhoeboogie]

Dave that is concerning. Always. I was burned out in '90. I've never used wood fence posts since. Steel barns etc. I use little wood for anything.

We are having a very wet spring here. Vegetation is growing in all the areas. If it turns out dry, we may have issues this year.

I'd rather fight the fires there, before they get upon me.

Those winds you cite are going to be your worst enemy.

 

[Dave]

I wonder if there are any new ones this morning. 10:00-11:00 last night there was a lot of thunder. Loud boomers. I saw on the news before I went to bed there was fires going in the Columbia Gorge. Both sides of the river. And the wind was doing its thing in the gorge.

 

[Dave]

That seems to be normal around you. That's scary stuff

I don't know about normal but it does happen. That is why we have the RFPA (rangeland fire protection asso). The local ranchers know the country, are closer, and are vested in putting the fire out quickly. Most of the time we are there first and have the fire controlled before the BLM even arrives. That big fire last year would not have been nearly as big but the BLM took over control and did a terrible job. They imported a "fire boss" from somewhere back east who wouldn't listen to the locals. By the time the fire was out the word was spread that if they ever send that guy here again we will send him home in a box.

 

[kenny thomas]

I don't know about normal but it does happen. That is why we have the RFPA (rangeland fire protection asso). The local ranchers know the country, are closer, and are vested in putting the fire out quickly. Most of the time we are there first and have the fire controlled before the BLM even arrives. That big fire last year would not have been nearly as big but the BLM took over control and did a terrible job. They imported a "fire boss" from somewhere back east who wouldn't listen to the locals. By the time the fire was out the word was spread that if they ever send that guy here again we will send him home in a box.

Its kinda the same all over. You put them out small before the government gets there and make them big. I was taught to hit them fast and knock them down.