On my way to the Western Fire Season 2013

[DemoTex]

Looks like a barn burner this year (pardon the pun). NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) puts Oregon and California in high threat forecasts. My fire lookout tower is in the Red Zone.

Nadin will be in SoCal, and I will be in Oregon. That is a good start in fire season coverage for DU.

I'm in Big Spring, TX, tonight. Hope to make Tucson tomorrow. I got a stopped in a speed trap in Union Town, Alabama, yesterday. Classic shakedown. I was doing 6 mph over in a taper-down area (61 in a 55 zone, coming off a 65 into a 45). No slack at all. The only thing good left in Alabama is Trof! I'll find out tomorrow how much $$$.


Pole Creek fire in the Sisters Wilderness, September 9, 2012

[onehandle]

1. 61 in a 55 zone?

Jesus Christ. Go fight some crime.

Good luck this season. Looking forward to your reports.

[DemoTex]

8. The cop was my age (65 or so)!

Vietnam Vet license plate, USFS Fire sticker, short hair, yessir-nosir, sober as a judge (OK, bad image. I know some drunk MoFo judges), and on my way to help fight the demon wildland fire fer Godsake! The cop - plain white SUV and in jeans, but lots of other Alabama State Patrol and county cops within a quarter of a mile - said that the Alabama State Patrol could only cut you 6 MPH. I assume he was State Patrol. I pointed out the math (55+6=61 .. NO TICKEY!), nicely.

When he brought all the paperwork back to me in my truck (license, insurance, registration, etc), he said .. and I quote .. "Sir, thank you for being so courteous, and thank you for your Vietnam service." WTF?

I really, really wanted to ask him to let me take a photo of his still-flashing SUV behind my Toyota Tacoma rig for my blog. Then I thought about a night in the Union Town, ALERBAMER, jail.

[elleng]

2. Looking forward to pictures of your work.

Forward the speeding ticket bills to GD!!!

[DemoTex]

12. Taking up a collection?

[elleng]

22. Will surely do that.

We NEED you out there, at OUR expense!

[annabanana]

3. Stay safe DemoTex!

Looks like a hot time in the old town tonight.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Hiya Mac!

Agreed about Trof and 'bama'! STAY SAFE, man!

[Warpy]

5. It was a dry winter out here, at least in the southwest.

You might have a busy season ahead, too.

Stay safe!

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. The NIFC ain't pretty

I cover these suckers so I read the crap with the morning coffee...the off the record warnings a month ago are...sadly, making a lot of sense now. At least I get to go home from a fire line...some of these guys can expect months on end of hell.

If it's as bad as the report puts it, we all will be busy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Mac you and I will have "fun."

I just hope the 1924 prediction does not happen, or up a shit creek without a paddle comes to mind.

For all of you in fire country, listen to fire officials. The Spring fire destroyed zero structures...the owners listened and gave fire crews defensible space.

It is 60% contained and counting my blessings. No dry lightning, which was the expectation 24 hours ago...healthy rain...right now.

Sorry 75% contained, tweet just came in

You take care

Is nick with you? Share a steak with him

[DemoTex]

10. Nick is in SC .. too old for this.

Are you on John Maclean's "Friend" list on FB? If not, go to my FB page and my "friends," and friend-request him. He puts out some good stuff.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Thanks, I have

Right now it's raining, no dry lightning...woohoo...ok quarter of an inch by the time the system moves on, better than nothing.

When you get back, nick will not forgive you. The pets know...I swear. Every time I come home from a fire Lin they are especially sticky.

[JDPriestly]

28. What is the 1924 prediction?

Thanks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Worst fire season on record

[MoonchildCA]

30. I don't know about zero structures...

the last I heard, it was 15 structures, but still with 28 sq. miles, that is an amazingly low amount. Kudos to the firefighters--they have worked miracles. My daughter attends CSUCI and her graduation will take place with blackened hills for a backdrop. Tomorrow she sees her campus for the first time since evacuation. Luckily, only one unoccupied building had fire damage.

What a surreal experience this has been. I still can't believe the scope of this fire, and the fact it, and a few others, are only the first of the season. I'm afraid to imagine what may come.

[Lifelong Protester]

7. Whoa! Stay safe!!!

(and occasionally stay thirsty, my friend, if that is your thing!)

[hootinholler]

9. As Radar said

Watch yer azimuth!

[uppityperson]

11. That photo is gorgeous. Nature is awe some. Very scary but gorgeous.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Some photos from last year

Exhausted fire fighter. This was into a week of fire fighting.



Same fire, as they were setting the burn to stop the fire.



A week before at the Chihuahua valley fire, six tries...no tripod, and a truck to brace on. We aced down the hill with two type 3 (brush trucks)

All these started with dry lightning.

[Scuba]

15. Looking forward to your reports and photos. Thanks DemoTex.

[spanone]

16. incredible picture!!!

k&r....

be safe.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. My dear DemoTex!

What a great picture! I'm so looking forward to more from you this season...

Damn those cops and their speed traps!

I hope the ticket won't be too bad...

Stay safe and have fun coming west!

[panader0]

18. I have a spare room in Sierra Vista

Out of the way a bit but free. Let me know if you're interested.
I used to live in Warm Springs, right on the Deschutes.
Sierra Vista is about 30 miles south of I-10, and about 40 miles east of Tucson.

[Suich]

19. Good to hear from you, Mac!

They reported 3 different wildfires burning in SW Washington on the news tonight...yikes! Gonna be a long season...stay safe!

Looking forward to your pics and reports!

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. It's been wild up and down the coast

This last week.

You stay safe, make sure you clear a fighting space

This column from a local retired chief is full of good info

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/13159

Posted it the other day as a PSA.

[Botany]

20. A friend in Oregon is waiting to see you

have a good summer!

[DemoTex]

21. My buddy!

Exactly why I left Nick in SC! I can't tell you how much this post made me laugh. GOOD ONE!

[Gman]

25. That's a pretty good drive from Big Springs to Tucson

Safe travels

[pscot]

26. Good luck

Be safe.

[SheilaT]

27. Why in the world are you going to Oregon via Tucson?

You could instead go through Santa Fe and stop and see me!

Anyway, good luck to you all summer, and I likewise appreciate your reports and pictures.

And bad luck on the ticket. Sometimes a cop just won't cut you any slack. However, I have the distinct advantage of being a 64 year old woman, with the gray hair to prove it. In recent years, any time I have been stopped I always get off with a nice warning. I think it's because I look like Mom, or possibly Grandma if the cop is young enough, and they're really not about to ticket either of those two. I suspect if I were stopped by a cop my age I wouldn't be so lucky. Or if stopped by one who hates mom or grandma.