posted
This year has been one of the worst fire seasons in years, and now our little part of the world is hosting one of the largest fires we've had in over 10 years. With over 70,000 acres burning within 25 miles of here, we're starting to get a little concerned. Has anyone else been close to the recent fires in the western United States, or Canada? We have a pending evacuation alert notice for about 40,000 people to be ready to be out of their homes anywhere from 30 minutes to 48 hours. Man, this is the first time I've seen this and been able to look at it from a distance. ( I was a firefighter for 6 years)
There isn't a cloud in the sky. That is all a giant smoke plume.
-------------------- Jeff Bailey Rapid Tac Inc. Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 231 | From: Grants Pass, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thank you Kathy. I'm pretty sure this will never reach the Grants Pass area, as we have several natural fire breaks between here and the fire, but rain would be nice because as it looks now this fire will probably be active through November. Fun Fun..... We're just hoping the small towns of Selma, OR and Cave Junction, OR don't get hit.
-------------------- Jeff Bailey Rapid Tac Inc. Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 231 | From: Grants Pass, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
We've been lucky, so far, only one small lightning fire. We've also gotten smoke from fires burning farther west. I hope you get some rain over there, Jeff; if you do, send what's left to us in NE Oregon. Stay safe!
-------------------- Eric Barker Rosewood Design LaGrande,Oregon Posts: 107 | From: La Grande, OR | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
If I remember correctly, Jeff Bailey was a fireman before starting at Rapid-Tac!
The fire in the Illinois valley has alot of persons concerned and since I'm alot closer to Selma and Cave Junction, the smoke is very heavy towards those towns as I can see it. Evacuation has hit alot of folks there living in the rural sections along with a few friends of mine. What some people don't understand is that their home insurance may not cover " natural disasters " such as fires like this.
What a bummer!
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Jeff our thoughts and prayers are with you and all those in the path of those fires. Living in Jackson Hole, I have seen my share of fires. In 1988, when Yellowstone burned, the sky most days here was totally gray. It was like twilight at noon. Last year we had the Green Knoll fire which was only about 4 miles west of me. It wasn't as large in acreage as yours but just as scary. Every morning before I come here, I check out the fire sites. Hang in there and again our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
posted
I saw on CNN that 14 brave souls have been killed fighting these fires- I had no idea that many were! My prayers go out to the families of those firefighters- They died helping others. What a shame.
It must be scary- we have had a pretty wet summer here in Nova Scotia, but last summer was the driest in along time, and we had some doofus start a fire right on the edge of town...makes you wonder.
-------------------- Steve Burke Cascades Inc NS Canada
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you Posts: 359 | From: NS Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
I am a fulltime firefighter and my partner just came back from fighting wildland fires. The stories he had told....rest assured, they are doing everything possible!
-------------------- Mike Berry New England Posts: 534 | From: New England | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Michael, they are doing everything thay can and then some. Formerly CPFA, and IAFF 2881. Nice to meet another fellow EMS person. Wildland fires scare the $%^& out of me. I'd rather be in a burning structure any day of the weak, than in a burning forest. Too many variables involved.
The main fire closest to us is a little over 70,000 acres now, and still isn't threatening Grants Pass, but there are over 1000 Firefighters now assigned, 6 helicopters, and something like 15 dozers. What we need up here is some CDF inmate crews and engines. ( Sorry.. I'll always love my former department, and no.... I was not on an inmate crew.. haha.!!)
[ July 30, 2002, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: Jeff Bailey ]
-------------------- Jeff Bailey Rapid Tac Inc. Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 231 | From: Grants Pass, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, I'm sure some of you have seen on CNN that this thing is still getting bigger. It's being called 160,000 acres now, and is still only 5% contained. We'll have to see what happens this next weak if the temps come back up....
-------------------- Jeff Bailey Rapid Tac Inc. Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 231 | From: Grants Pass, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic