As the rotor turns........

I feel as if I am narrating the soap opera of the Zaca saga sometimes. Well, there is drama on the forest with the crews sometimes but that’s so not important and I’m not one to talk about that. No one talks about that. Although it would make a good TV series. Lol. As with any job you have personalities, politics and conflicts. For the most part everyone has a good time but you get the occasional issues. So those of you who think we have perfect jobs, we don't. Anyway.........

Wow, Friday was a bone chilling day!!!!!!

The fire took an aggressive action and made a 10-20(I couldn’t determine the miles nor could Sam our burn boss) or so mile flame front heading towards highway 33 in ojai(next to where the day fire ended), towards homes and ranches. Myself and many other helitorch and firing boss ships along with water dropping helis and the DC10 headed for that front. We came armed with the psd and our firing ops guy on board.

When we arrived, even Sam our firing guy had never seen anything like that. It was like something out of a movie. Photos and videos couldn’t capture it. A wall of flames with 100 foot or more flame lengths spanning some 10-20 miles(couldn’t see most of it under the smoke to the northeast) across the east side of the fire line. The wall of fire put out more smoke than I’ve ever seen before. At one point the smoke was collapsing from the plum it made, but never got the vertical lift and build up to collapse completely. If that would happen it would cause downdrafts that could bring a helicopter crashing down they say. Air attack(who manages all of the ships from high above the fire keeps watch of the smoke column and knows when that will happen as to get all of the aircraft out of the area. I would love to see the satellite image from Friday august 17.

A combined effort of the helicopters throwing fire from the dozer lines to burn towards the flame front, the water drops to stop the spots, and the ground guys who are the real heros and in the most risky business of all slowed the fire that day. Every time a spot would cross over the line, guys on the ground would come in and attack the fire by hand, digging line around it and doing what they do down there. I even saw dozers run line right next to the spots, and these spots I’m talking are huge, taller than the dozer. I can only imagine the heat. While we flew next to the fire to throw psd balls down to stop it coming towards the line the heat was so intense even from the air. It was amazing to watch all of the ships but mostly those crews on the grounds with only their safety zones cut out by dozers to take shelter if the fire jumps the line and heads their way. The chills I experienced were from the satisfaction of getting into some risky areas and throwing fire to fight fire. It was truly amazing. You can only do so much out there but the little that you can help do is such a rush. Every person on that fire plays a role in stopping it, from that firefighters on the line, in the air, the dozers, the support vehicles and other crews as well as the many contractors that supply the food, water, base camp logistical needs, and even the porta-johns! I tell you, having a bathroom, it’s the little things that make a difference sometimes in comfort. Lol. Anyway, I’m sure I’m leaving some people out but I am still new to fire and do not know all the players in this game yet.

I have some cool pictures of the action that day. They don’t do it justice. Never will.

I’m on my days off while I write this and trying not to worry about what the fire or my crew is doing on my days off but it’s tough not to be curious.

It’s now Monday morning and we just finished a.m. briefing and I learned that some firefighters suffered minor burns over the weekend. Ouch. Their engine was scorched as well. They were taken to the Sherman Oaks burn center. Sounds like their burns were on their wrists between their glove and sleeve opening. Hopefully they will be okay. That’s all I know about their condition. The fire is pretty close to the 33 now. Our only hope of stopping this thing is at the 33 and hoping it does not jump the highway as it could not just burn up to the Day Fire scar but burn around it to the north and south as there is still a lot of unburned fuel out there. We still have concerns of it burning back west on the north side and southeast on the south side. Lots of concerns out there.

Rigging the PSD machine now to go do some backfiring ops. Thanks for all your be safe wishes. Much appreciated. Been doing 16 hour days. Will try to get back to everyone soon. Thanks so much!