My Pacific NW tour July 2014 (Burns OR, Prineville OR, Winthrop WA

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One of the helibases for the Ochoco complex

 

 

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From the Ochoco Complex I was reassigned to the Carlton Complex in Northern Washington.

 

 

 

 

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Here I was assigned 4 Washington Department of Natural Resources Engines and one USFS Type 3 engine.

 

 

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The first few days were spent trying to hold our section of line in a drainage bottom.

 

 

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Hotshot crews put in handline along the fires edge while the engine crews followed with hoseline cooling the heavy fuels. The crews put in 2000-3000 feet of hose.

 

 

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working the heavies

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more

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Air support was used to cool the fires edge ahead of the hand crews. Here a National Guard Chinook carries a 2000 gallon Bambi bucket.

 

 

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National Guard Blackhawk with a 1000 gallon bucket.

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Hotshot buggies line the road

 

 

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Engine crews improve the road to create fireline.

 

 

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Engines working the road

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Engine crew eating lunch, the tops of engines give a little bit of a break from the smoke and dirt.

 

 

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Typical fireline sack lunch

 

 

[Aaronw]

One of the things I enjoy about wildland fire is the variety of "people" we meet. Here is #107, this guy met us each morning and evening in the same spot in the road. He became something of a landmark when giving new arrivals directions.

[Aaronw]

Fuel depot at Carlton Camp

 

 

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One of the sleeping areas. At its peak the camp housed more than 3000 people.

 

 

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Part of the engine parking lot

 

 

 

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Watertender helping mop up the road with a side sprayer.

 

 

[Aaronw]

S-58T with a 420 gallon bucket. The S-58T is a late 1950s Sikorsky design. Originally powered by a piston engine, the -T replaces this with a modern turbine engine. The S-58T is becoming fairly scarce but they are a workhorse with lots of lifting capability.