Fire Camp, Chainsaws and Dutch Ovens

SHIFT 48...Looking not so much at a 'Countdown', but a 'Reflection of Time'.

Gearhart Wilderness in Fremont National Forrest

So this part of the 'reflection' continues to peek into those days of the 'Lost Fire'. While the fire was eventually growing to over 10,000 acres we were given the task to attend to the smaller fires in the area, typically from lightening strikes. This was due to the fact that we knew the surrounding area. Where the other crews that were fighting the large fires had traveled from out of state. Particularly from the southeast. This kept us away from our homes for nearly 20 days. So what is one to do for food away for that long? Fire camp baby! To this nineteen year old the meals seemed to be the best ever known to man. It is more likely that we were just burning so many thousands of calories, that we could of eaten the leather off of our boots with some gravy, salt and pepper, and our hunger would of been satisfied.

One of the fires that we were given during this time was near the tiny town of Beatty. The wind that day was maybe 15 mph sustained. By time we were called the fire was nearly 100 acres and growing with the locals fighting the blaze. We were given the assignment as a chainsaw crew with yours truly as the lead. How was I given the lead? They asked, "has anyone operated a chainsaw before?" Three or four of us raised our hands. They choose me. I guess because I looked older than the rest with my beard. The problem...ops, I may have never actually used a chainsaw. Oh I'd seen one a couple times in the hardware store...use one...No! But over the next several hours...I became quite the quick study. Very thankful for couple guys who actually knew what they were doing. Moral...don't make yourself out to be what you're not.

Nice attire dude!

As I conclude some memories from the beginning days of my fire experience I'd like to add some more food for thought. Or is that thoughts about food? During a three-day weekend I decided to backpack to Blue Lake in the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness. As the other guys that I typically hung out with were still on the fire line, I decided to go it alone. About 1/2 way up the trail I ran into a guy whom I'd seen before who worked in another division of the Fremont National Forrest. He was a large dude, maybe 6'2" and at least 240 pounds and from Kentucky (he maybe had just a tad of accent:). As we hiked along the path, we determined that we would camp at the lake together. He was carrying what appeared to be a handmade backpack, perhaps sown by his grandmother during the civil war... As we continued hiking I could hear the creaking of his backpack along with something clanging inside. Much to my amazement I would become his guest to a dutch oven feast that included a small roast, potatoes, carrots and a baby loaf of cheese. I love backpacking :)

So this was the Fremont National Forrest...fight fires...I could do this for a career. The crazy thing is...I think that I fought more fire that summer than I believe that I have during the remainder of my career. And food? Well...it plays a pretty important role in the fire house for sure.

Until the next shift..