These pictures are not in order. Actually the order kind of goes from
the bottom upwards but not important. It was easier to load them
this way.
This photo was taken by Rick Burroughs, Captain, Monterey Park Fire Departmentwhile I was PSDing the east side of the fire by the 33. Yeah, I made that
Hey Ladies, check this fireman out! He was behind me
making sure I didn't go rolling back down
the hill. lol. This is my hike back up to the chopper after the cabin unwrapping.
Following Luke Abell my manager back to the chopperfrom the cabin unwrappping.
Pretty forest even with the burn scars.
Kind of a cool shot. Was once green and lush, now black but still pretty
in a strange way.
The inside of the South Fork Cabin.
The unwrapped cabin.
The protective wrap!
The wrap that saved the cabin.
Yeah, I look like a fool here. I just had
to post this one to laugh at myself.
Things pilots shouldn't be doing.
lol. You try hiking in steel toe pilot boots. lol.
Our hike from the ship to go unwrap the South Fork Cabin.
Doesn't this look fun!!!!
I take a moment to wave!!!
On our hike I discovered that after the forest burns, it's like hiking through
Compliments of Luke's camera. Cool shot.
The tankers dropping retardant next to the torch base
Our hike from the ship to go unwrap the South Fork Cabin.
May not look steep but to me it was pretty steep
and slippery.
Doesn't this look fun!!!!
I take a moment to wave!!!On our hike I discovered that after the forest burns, it's like hiking through
powder when you hike through all the ash. Alot tougher than a normal hike.
Oh, and I discovered Ash Holes! lol.
Yeah, it sounds like something else if you say it fast. Anyway, when a tree or other plant stump burns out, where it once was, is super soft. It's a big sink hole.
Stepping in it was interesting. lol. Watch out for the ash holes. lol.
Compliments of Luke's camera. Cool shot.
The tankers dropping retardant next to the torch base
where the fire crossed the line.
More tankers.
Our torch base where we staged for PSD and helitorch on the
More tankers.
Our torch base where we staged for PSD and helitorch on the
east end of the fire.
Dozer cutting line to keep the fire from spreading. Yay, save our ship. lol.
This is when the dozer first appeared as he came out from the smoke and started
Oooops, accidently deleted a cool pic of the dozer cutting line
around the torch base.
Dozer cutting line to keep the fire from spreading. Yay, save our ship. lol.
This is when the dozer first appeared as he came out from the smoke and started
cutting line around our base as the fire jumped the line.
Ron Bollier(the firing ops guy) and myself at our base shortly after the
Ron Bollier(the firing ops guy) and myself at our base shortly after thefire jumped the line.
The torch base.
Our fuel truck support vehicle and the ship at the
The torch base.
Our fuel truck support vehicle and the ship at the
torch base.
Billy fueling the ship after our flight.
Tankers laying retardant nearby structures.
Cool pic of an S61 dropping water the day the fire
Billy fueling the ship after our flight.
Tankers laying retardant nearby structures.
Cool pic of an S61 dropping water the day the fire
made the big run towards the 33 in Ojai.
A spot over the line on the big run day, dozer came in and cut around
A spot over the line on the big run day, dozer came in and cut aroundit keeping it from spreading.
Another spot over the line on the big run day.
The big run!
The plume laying down from the big run.
Miles of flame line running east towards the 33.
Another view of the mad run. You can see
Another spot over the line on the big run day.
You can see hand crews in there cutting line
around the flames.
The big run!
The plume laying down from the big run.
Miles of flame line running east towards the 33.
Another view of the mad run. You can see
the line that it there to stop it.
The big run vs. the helitorch ship trying to stop it.
More big run pics
Interesting pic of the inversion on a typical
The big run vs. the helitorch ship trying to stop it.
More big run pics
Interesting pic of the inversion on a typical
day on the zaca
One of our psd crew photos.
Looking at the sun through the smoke from
One of our psd crew photos.
Looking at the sun through the smoke from
our helibase in New Cuyama.
Fom the helibase.
More smoke pics.
A good visibility day! lol. Actually this is
Smoke floating over the mountains and rising to the sky.
You can see the wind carrying the smoke across
Fom the helibase.
More smoke pics.
A good visibility day! lol. Actually this is
how it looked on most days of the fire
trying to fly around in the smoke.
Smoke floating over the mountains and rising to the sky.
You can see the wind carrying the smoke acrossthe mountains.
More smoke swirls.
One of many helitorch ships on the fire.
Luke Abell and I psding one day.
More of Luke and I.
Luke working the PSD machine.
You'd think I was having fun or happy or something.
Some of the backfireing ops going on the north end of the fire.
Smoke, Sun, Blue Sky
Richardson Helibase in New Cuyama
More helitorch
The sun shining through the smoke flying up canyon.
More rays of sun through the smoke.
More smoke swirls.
One of many helitorch ships on the fire.
Luke Abell and I psding one day.
More of Luke and I.
Luke working the PSD machine.
You'd think I was having fun or happy or something.
Some of the backfireing ops going on the north end of the fire.
Smoke, Sun, Blue Sky
Richardson Helibase in New Cuyama
More helitorch
The sun shining through the smoke flying up canyon.
More rays of sun through the smoke.
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8 comments:
Great shots, being an east coaster don't see this kind of stuff very often
I think you are having fun and you are happy or something!?!
The images you present are nothing less than amazing!
Hollywood SPFX can't hold a candle to what you are experiencing.
Drink it in darlin, you have a front seat to natures workings. Nice to see one drinking it in.
Tried to get to WHP today but friends found out I was at home and they came over and the rest was history.
I'll be at WHP tomorrow or bust.
Fantastic stuff Desiree.
Hi, Desiree! I've really been keeping a close watch on the Zaca fire (since I live in SB) and I thank you for your blog here. I've learned a lot! Not being a firefighter myself, the closest I get to exciting and firefighters is just watching the ones at the firehouse around the corner when I go for a walk! Seriously, I hope things are good for you while on other fires as lots of others seem to be around, too. Blessings to you.
Be safe!
AD in SB
Hi Desiree,
You sure have a great blog! You've really outdone yourself with the pictures this time--the fire, you on the trail, setting fires with your helicopter--all of them.
Think they'd better keep an eye on you though. I bet no one has looked that happy starting fires since that Glendale arson investigator was setting fires himself and then impressing everyone with how great he was at determining how and where they began.
Seriously, it is great to see someone who enjoys her job as much as you do. Doesn't seem like that many people do today.
When you guys are walking along the trail in the burned-out areas, why does the guy in front of you carry a tool that looks like a rake on one end and a hoe on the other? Does he just use it as a walking stick or is it used for something else?
And the bicycle on the fueling truck. Is there a firefighting purpose for it or is that just for fun?
I notice everyone has on long sleeves except Desiree. Don't you get burned a lot by flying embers?
Final question: those dirt fire roads sure look like a lot of fun to ride a dirtbike on. Never allowed though, right?
Great pictures "Chopper Chick" - You go girl!! Awesome to see the fire from you perspective, thank you so much.
Here's a shot from the ground:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/2948258_dab48b2c96_b.jpg
Desiree, a couple of those shots are Pulitzer material. Surprised if Getty doesn't try to buy them from you.
Tremendous display, I pointed my readers to your photos, hope you don't mind I borrowed one to profile the post.
Be safe!
Amazing Pictures! Keep up the good work.
Desiree,
Just answered my own question about my old buddies after finding these pictures. That looks like Dave Mettam in the picture sitting on the ship. If you are still in touch with him, please tell him Arthur Burns says hi! I followed the Zaca fire pretty closely because my wife and I had just moved from Santa Barbara down to OC in 2006. My dream all 3 years at Helitack 525 was to do a fire in Santa Barbara (I went to UCSB) but the closest I ever got was Santa Paula and Castaic Lake. Now I am jealous!
Arthur
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