I don't think you mean to sound critical of the way it's being managed, but it came across that way. For those without knowledge of wildland fire tactics, it's often pretty tough to watch from the outside looking in. It looks like they're doing nothing to the fire while the smoke just billows, but I guarantee those folks are working literally 24 hours a day using fire behavior experts, logistics teams, meteorologists on site, and boots on the ground to accomplish the safe extinguishment of the fire.I'm no firefighter. It was in the afternoon. What do I mean by raging out of control? Sorry, all I can say I mean just what I said.
I have the utmost respect for firefighters. I was just whining, having to watch my beloved forest go away right in front of eyes. The fires are blowing up as I type this, especially the Calf Canyon/Hermit's Peak.I don't think you mean to sound critical of the way it's being managed, but it came across that way. For those without knowledge of wildland fire tactics, it's often pretty tough to watch from the outside looking in. It looks like they're doing nothing to the fire while the smoke just billows, but I guarantee those folks are working literally 24 hours a day using fire behavior experts, logistics teams, meteorologists on site, and boots on the ground to accomplish the safe extinguishment of the fire.
Another thing to consider is that fires don't always do what you expect them to do, so it's wise to build in a margin of safety so you don't kill your firefighters when all they would've saved is a couple trees. So, in rugged and/or steep terrain, heavy fuels, or anywhere with limited egress, extra caution is taken. Many times they won't even put crews in those situations at all, and for good reason.
Last I checked, they had almost 900 personnel assigned to the fire, and with only 11% containment and the windy/dry weather forecast, I'd expect that number to grow over the next few days. Putting out these fires isn't as simple as dumping a bunch of water on them. Management is thinking days and weeks ahead; it's very much a strategic challenge as much as it is a physical one.
Some local brains around here say there is a good chance these forests will 'never' grow back due to climate change, possibly becoming grassland.I get it. My first fire job was as a seasonal firefighter in 2010, and the main reason I pursued that job was because I wanted to respect & protect the forests, and I know many if not most of the folks in the wildland arena got the job for that same reason.
We have a couple big mountain ranges that surround my area, and every summer they light off. It's tough to watch, but then when renewal comes the next spring, I take joy in seeing the circle complete itself.
I don't know if this is true or not. But the world IS heating up. It's worst in places like Bagdad and parts of India where daytime temps go over 120F. Imagine that temp along with no or poor air conditioning?
It usually doesn't rain around here for another 2+ months. And that is not guaranteed.Since the winds are blowing out of the south, Colorado is full of smoke.
Last night, the smoke and the blowing dust was blocking out the moon while I was driving home across the bottom of the state. Evacuation notice's came through for Rd 518. The fires are bad, but with no water they will only get worse here. The farmers in south east Colorado are very worried. South East Colorado is expecting 70 MPH winds today.
The country folks are tough here and they stick together. No crybabies. Makes it seem not as worse as it really is. That wilderness is God's country, part of the Continental Divide Trail.That's just awful. I'm sure there's no way those of us who don't live there can possibly know how bad this is.
Enjoy Payson, it's gorgeous up there.@Righty Tighty Im in Payson right now. Many of the Forest Service resources from up here are in New Mexico on the Hermits Peak/ Calf Canyon complex. We are just covering the Pleasant Valley and Payson Districts of the Tonto NF.
Almost every single Hotshot crew has n the country is/has gotten multiple roles on the NM fire. We also have an engine in Colorado right now on a 21 day cover assignment. My engine crew started out the year in Florida then Texas. The equipment we were on had four crew swaps that did 14 day assignments each.
The grunts in the Forest Service got an early start. Some folks are getting burned out already. A friend of mine has 600 hours of overtime whereas a very busy season total is 1000 hours overtime. We are only two months into our “fire season”.
The employees have hit a wall. Many people are quitting the Federal Wildland fire service, not returning as seasonals, or are declining job offers. Pay is at the forefront and then health and work/life balance. We get paid chump change compared to other agencies and industries. A kid could go work at McDonalds and make more than fighting wildfires. People are doing 14 days on fires and coming home for their 2 days required off-time then going right back out for another 14 day fire assignment.
The Washington Office is clueless and our Agency is led by a bunch of wannabe politicians and yes-men.
I am personally thinking about leaving fire. I absolutely love my work and love traveling to our Nation’s most beautiful lands. I just can’t sustain raising 2 kids in California on $43k /yr.
they're gonna be in a bad situation eventually
“Unless there’s a major system overhaul, our land management agencies’ fire programs could be extinct in the next 10 to 20 years.”