WildFire Tales with YouRjzTruly

This blog is on the fire assignments I Participated in as a WildLand Firefighter with Type 2IA Crew 60 of the Highlanders, under the Angeles National Forest. From The Hood to The Woods since 2013.

[yourjztruly]

"Hindsight" #poem #rjthepoet #spilledink

[yourjztruly]

This was a video retrieved on the team building activity we did. Both teams were split into 2 groups of 6-7 people. There were 3 steel buckets; the one in the middle had water.  

The object of the team building was to come up with a plan on how to use the 4 small steel buckets per group and fill the big steel bucket with water until a tennis ball fell out.

We definitely had fun and made sure everyone was soaked with water before leaving. hahaha. Ending this Initial Attack assignment on another positive note. Until the next assignment, this is YouRjzTruly thanking you for reading and checking out these WildFire Tales.

[yourjztruly]

At the end of every assignment, we close out by cleaning the bus and the overhead’s Trucks. And as always the Crew leaves it to the FNG’z to handle the task. Gotta love crew traditions. 

Afterwards, we put away the tools and equipment we use.

Before closing out on this assignment we also conducted a team building exercise the crew really enjoyed.  All in All the assignment was a success and I’m looking forward to the next assignment for this 2015 season.

[yourjztruly]

We came, We saw, We conquered the first fire we were first on scene to! I got some nice shots of the fire and the Saw team, and retrieved a photo of someone catching myself as well as other sawyer sharpening our chains. Old habits die hard. Saw life.

[yourjztruly]

As we approach our closing days on our initial attack assignment, we come the last 30 minutes of our shift for the day... at least that’s what it appeared to look like until we witnessed smoke coming from near the 14 freeway that way we were on. Time for some action!

[yourjztruly]

Got in a pretty good hike here. My brother and I came back down to get one of the guys.

[yourjztruly]

Shots from the Lopez Fire. Hydro mop-up and grid performed. Knocked that out and made our way back to the base. Mission complete for the day.

[yourjztruly]

This was another fire we came on scene to. The Lopez fire was said to have been caused by fireworks. Nonetheless we made it to this fire at the back end and punched in a scratch line and performed a grid as well as mop-up of the burned area.

[yourjztruly]

Some footage of the photos during the time of the St. Francis Dam.

[yourjztruly]

While we were out on scene at another base, some of us we able to catch a look at a piece of the St. Francis Dam.  Only lasted 2 years and considered one of California’s worst architectural failures killing over 450 people. 

[yourjztruly]

The plague was so bad, someone was even able to catch me sleep! Lol

[yourjztruly]

As the days went by, minor injuries and fatigue began to plague the crew. From blisters, cramps, and arguing, to sleep, hunger, and disarray.

Work Hard Sleep better. haha. Our bus Driver and crew boss’ were feeling the effects too haha

[yourjztruly]

On this particular day one of our rookies had made it through our entire PT and had a hard time recovering. So much to the point where the person needed to be helicoptered off the mountain to be treated and recover.

[yourjztruly]

Another day, another assignment.  This day we were assigned to take care of some project work at a park in the local area. Keeping the area looking nice and natural.

[yourjztruly]

Before popping in on the Tula Fire, this young lady wanted to take a photo with firefighters! You know the Highlanders love the kids!

I also retrieved a few photos from when we got off the bus and were in route to the scene of fire. Nice.

[yourjztruly]

Hours after the 4th of July parade, we received a call for a fire that had broke out in the local residential area.  Unfortunately but Fortunately, when we came on scene to where the fire had began LA County firefighters had sprayed the acre flame down before it took off any further. This fire was called the Tula Fire.

To ensure there would be no return potential, the crew conducted a grid to which crew members line up a number of feet from one another and check for hot spots. If a hot spot was detected, crew members with hand tools mix the wet soil with the dry hot soil or request some water (if available) to cool the area.

[yourjztruly]

Before we got to Physical Training (PT), the crew attended a parade that was taking place in the Santa Clarita area.  Smokey the Bear came threw to say what up and this happened!