Off days cut short .. four lightening fires in my sector (pic heavy)

[DemoTex]

I got called back early from my second day off. My boss and his boss (the fire battalion commander) spotted four fires from the abandoned Fox Butte lookout tower (157' tall!). Fox Butte is to the ESE of my lookout. What they were doing there, I have not a clue. But they are the bosses (and damn good bosses!).

They called me on the forest service radio that I now have in my truck, put me on fire code, and scrambled me to my lookout to get cross azimuths on their shots. I was on the way back down the FS 18 road anyway, but I planned a leisurely afternoon doing some kayak repair and truck cleaning. It was not to be.

I got back to the lookout and immediately went to work searching for their fires. By that time fire #113 was contained and controlled. I scanned for the other fires and never saw a thing. Neither did the fire crews who hiked the mountains for several hours looking for fires #114, #115, and #116. The poor guys on engine 31 are sleeping in the woods tonight near the No Name Buttes (where 114 was originally spotted). I'm monitoring the tactical frequency all night in case they get in trouble.

Fritos and peach/orange/mango juice for supper. Yum.

BTW: The pics are disjointed and unrelated to today's developments

Several rainbow pics (same storm a couple of days ago):







A few pics from the drive back in from last week:





The start of my driveway (1.5 miles long) .. always locked!


A long-range shot of Pilot Butte in the Bend city limits after the big hail storm last week (6/9) that I posted about. This was a couple of hours after the storm and after I had returned to the lookout. I thought, "What is such a low peak in the Cascades doing with snow still?" Then I realized it was Pilot Butte covered with several inches of hail! It was reported on NBC Nightly News.

[MADem]

1. Great pix!!!!

I see someone couldn't resist plinking at the direction sign!

What do you suppose happened to the other fires? Were they just smoky campfires or might they have just died out on their own?


You should probably just figure you're going to be on call--maybe get yourself some pop-the-top Chef Boyardee type food or something and leave it in your truck with a plastic spoon or three, along with some energy bars or what have you. It ain't grand cold, but it beats fritos for dinner! If you can find a place to buy MREs, they're not bad either.

[DemoTex]

3. I bought $100 worth of MREs at REI in Bend yesterday ..

Too tired to boil water tonight. Besides, I had a big turkey wrap from Whole Foods on my way back out here.

I think there should be a new Olympic event: Road Sign Marksmanship. It is a ubiquitous sport! I associate it with rednecks, so I must now assume that there are rednecks on Oregon too (I have spotted some Confederate flags out here too). But, perhaps, any such Olympic event should be limited to good ole boys and gals with hyphenated names like Jim-Bob, Willy-Mac, and Billi-Jo.

[MADem]

11. Stay safe, now! Glad you got some chow today! nt

[Trocadero]

2. Much of Oregon is still totally wild - it's really breathtaking to look out over an expanse of

forest like that



lava field south of Bend

[DemoTex]

5. And I am living in those wilds south of Bend (great pic, BTW)

It is, indeed, awesome. I love this wilderness. Leaving Bend on US-20 east, towards Burns, is a sign which reads: NEXT GASOLINE 99 MILES. Never, ever, leave town without a full tank!

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. You know I do look forwards to your reports

and I second the MRE suggestion.

[armyowalgreens]

6. Looks like Northern Arizona.

Thanks for the pics Demo Tex!:fistbump:

[proud patriot]

7. Great Pics , hang in there

stay stafe

[MauriceCobert]

8. nice wide open expanse

I used to think we had a pretty good idea about weather forcasting but even with the new technology I am not sure whats going to happen the summer. Concerned the earth was just taking a deep breath and we are going to go to another level of heat very soon. Looking at your photos shows he how important it is to have spotters.

[elleng]

9. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Nick OK???

:grouphug:

[DemoTex]

10. Always check my DU Journal for back-issues!

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/DemoTex

[DFW]

12. Spectacular pics!

Thanks for those!

[Thothmes]

13. How many manned towers are there on your forest.?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. Nice Photos, thanks.