There was a Fire Here

My former boss, Rusty Palmer, now Fire Chief on Whidbey Island in Washington State, used to say, as he strolled up to a fire scene and people were barraging him on what happened - he would ponder there perstering inquiries, pause, and calmly reply, "There was a fire here."

I use this phrase now all the time!!  It started on Sunday afternoon, ignited by a lightning strike and it was a big deal.  Next to a high-traveled road, creating a visible smoke plume, throwing 20' flames up at times and threatening the treasured Wildlife Museum, and causing an evacuation of a high-value subdivision, this one got some attention.  Of course, I was on duty!  Our Emergency Operations Manager sent out the public notification, reaching everyone's phone within a local distance as evacuations were announced.  He noted that the five times he has sent these public notifications, I have been incident command each time.  Hmmm....

There are two articles in this week's Jackson Hole Newspaper.  Here is one on the Museum and how the folks reacted to the fire which was, literally, right out their back door.  You can read it by clicking on this link Museum Fire  I will try to get the other link as well.  It's a much different type of story.  Oh, here it is!!  I think the opening paragraph will make you laugh!  Making Jam!

There are some great photos from the fire.  I snapped this picture as I helped jump a dead pump on the wildland truck.  It was a short, but impressive fire storm that Firefighter Cranston and I weathered; wind gusting so strong it was difficult to open my truck door, the heat radiated hot on my unprotected face, ash and embers pummeling our eyes and face, smoke choking our airway.  We were safe, but we were close and it was impressive.

This was a good fire.  There was one minor injury, no structures loss.  The fire was kept to 80 acres.  Because of its visibility, the fire provides a great opportunity for the public to become more educated on wildland fire.  It shows them, a fire can happen pretty much anywhere around the valley and it can take off fast. 

It has also been a great opportunity for those of us who worked the fire to learn.  This fire was very collaborative and highlighted the solid interagency relationships we enjoy in this valley.  Working alongside Forest Service Andy Hall, he and I managed the fire in a collaborative effort that was seamless and effortless.  A strong relationship has emerged for our work together and I look forward to our next Unified Command experience.  There are details and accounting and a pile of work to do now, but the fire is contained, a rain is predicted tomorrow and we are all better for this event. 

There was a fire here.  And it was a good one!