Hug your local firefighter!!

Anonymous Poster · Jun 10, 2002

One of my activities yesterday was watching a forest fire whose origin is located about 25 miles from the house blow up from 100 acres to a 60,000+ acre monster. The flanks of the fire are now about 10 miles
from the house. Seeing a 50 ft tree vaporize with 50 ft flames is a very impressive sight. Winds are still
20-30 knots, so hot spots are flaring up all over the place. The head of the fire is still out of control. This fire is consuming 500 acres/hr and moving at a speed of 5 mph. No rain is forcast for the next 5 days and winds are forcast to continue. Amazingly only 1 structure has been destroyed as of yesterday. That record will not continue to today. Resources are stretched thin all over the state of Colorado. The smoke plum is visible 2 states away. The firefighters are doing everything they can to contain this thing, but the winds, rough terrain, and low humidity (15%) are working against them. So when you see your local firefighter, thank him/her for doing what they do. They may be your only line of defense between fire and disaster.
For those of you complaining about too much rain, be careful what you ask for!!!

My other activity yesterday was packing/making plans to evacuate. Think about it now what you would take and where to put stuff (like your tractor). You may not have a bunch of time to get out.

Golfgar4 · Jun 10, 2002

<font color=blue>"So when you see your local firefighter, thank him/her for doing what they do."</font color=blue>

When I got out of the Navy, I applied to the City Fire department. We had to go through a written test, and then do a physical test. I passed everything just fine. The last step of the process was to go before the Police and Fire Commission for an interview.

The Fire Chief had noticed on my application that I had listed 2 scars on my right leg from a motorcycle accident I had while in college. He asked me how much feeling I had in my leg. I said I had lost about 80% of the feeling on the front of my lower leg. He failed me on the spot. When I asked why, he explained that if some how my trousers ever caught on fire, it would take too long for me to notice because of the loss of feeling I had.

To this day, I THANK THAT MAN! In thinking back on it, I wonder what I was thinking. Me - running INTO a burning building??/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid!

I thank God every day for people who choose to be a Firefighter or a Police officer. After 9/11, the respect these people deserve was finally made very public. But until that dreadful day, I don't think they received anywhere near the respect and appreciation that we, as citizens, owed them.

I hope everything goes well for you, and you come out of this horrendous situation just fine. If you do, I'm sure that no small portion of that will be as a result of some real fine Firefighters! Just remember that "things" can be replaced. Your family and friends cannot. Be safe, my friend.

Steelfan · Jun 10, 2002

Just had to do a bit of chiming in on this subject. The local firefighters in my area are volunteers, and in my mind they are all the more special. I belong to the closest hose company to me for 21 years, but I never fought a fire. About 2 years ago, I was asked to run for office at that company. I've been helping ever since. I still don't fight fires, but I help make sure the guys are riding in good equiptment, and they have everything they need. These guys are real heroes, and its the least that I can do. So yes hug your local firefighter, they are the best in all of us.

Turfman · Jun 11, 2002

Hey, what's up with this firefighter stuff? They drive big red trucks, get paid to sleep and can't the the recliner off there rumps to change the TV channel.

Seriously, my brother is a firefighter and I was a volunteer for 17 years. That was the hardest work I have ever done when we were busy. They are brave people and do us an outstanding job.

wroughtn_harv · Jun 11, 2002

Another thing you can do to help out your local fire department is to carry a couple of pump up sprayers to have available when you're doing anything that might cause a grass fire.

I occasionally do welding and cutting in the field. This time of year and until it's wet again I carry a couple of pump up sprayers and the weed eater. I use the weedeater to shorten the grass and weeds.

I don't know why but I can be welding right next to the truck and still hear the snap crackle pop of burning grass.

A pump up sprayer charged and with the nozzle set at a fine mist will flat kick a grass fire's butt. It's deadlier than a water hose I swear. But if you don't get the fire when it's small it will get you and yours.

hosejockey2002 · Jun 12, 2002

<font color=blue> They drive big red trucks, get paid to sleep and can't the the recliner off there rumps to change the TV channel.</font color=blue>
Shh!! Don't tell anyone, that's supposed to be a secret! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Seriously, my hat's off to those ground pounders wearing yellow who work more than twice as hard for less than half the money as us city firefighters.