Follow along, in my photo montage, and see what a DNR base camp is all about. I'm sorry I don't have any catchy photos of firefighters in action (yet). Personally, I like to keep as far away from that hot and dirty place as I can. There's plenty of work for me in and around the camp to keep me busy. Many times, multiple radio techs are dispatched to the larger fires (this wasn't one of them). During Firestorm '91, in and near Spokane, we had five technicians who seldom even saw one another with each of our radio systems operating as a separate entity. After the first couple days, we DO get time off and that's when I like to get out and snap some memories. So, let's get started.
Inside this motorhome, reside the brains behind the fire fighting efforts for which this camp was created. All of the communications: radio, telephone, fax and computer networking lines come into this vehicle, known as "Plans" or the "Command Trailer". Relatively self contained (note the "external" facilities), information is received, collated and disseminated from within these walls to the troops on the line and in camp. Our main radio dispatch center, for the camp, resides here and this is where one of the radio tech's primary responsiblities lies. With two independent radio systems and power sources (both AC and DC) things can sometimes get a little complicated.
Here is our "Fire Cache" known, in laymans terms, as "Supply". Here, crews can pick up hose, portatanks (look like a portable swimming pool) for storing water near fire lines, pumps and other assorted necessities. You can get batteries, radios, even sleeping bags and cots (if you're REALLY quick) but you must sign for any gear you get. And, you must go through the cache before you can be released from the fire. The radio tech assigned to this fire, has responsibilities here as well. There are some 50 portable radios, about 100 battery packs and 5 charging units that must be kept in operating condition in addition to all the equipment that comes with each fire fighting crew and overhead.
Of course, what small city would be complete without it's own minor emergency treatment center? Our EMTs are trained to handle most small emergencies and minor injuries and have the capability of calling for ground and/or air medivacs in case of the larger incidents. They carry portable oxygen, backboards and an assortment of medical supplies right up to the fire line. If there are enough EMTs available, one or two will actually stay on the line throughout the various shifts. Although few professional wildland firefighters suffer from self inflicted injuries or accidents, bee stings account for a LARGE percentage of our medivacs.
Here is our own "LakeView Cafe" where we sample culinary delights from such establishments as the Airway Heights Kitchen or Cedar Creek Kitchen. The "kitchens" are operated by inmates and run by their crew bosses in order to feed hungry firefighters at substantial cost savings to the State. Our breakfast and dinner meals are eaten, standing up, in the facility you see here. Lunch is normally not served as, since the crews are already on the line, sack lunches are made up and sent out to the fire. Camp personnel, such as myself, also get a sack lunch.
And here, of course, is where our "LakeView Cafe" gets it's name. This is beautiful Long Lake alongside which is the Long Lake Campground, managed and operated by the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources. Many of these campgrounds are occasional sites of our Project fire base camps. These locations are selected as many of them have power and phone hookups already in place. One drawback is that the campground must be shut down which can be an incovenience to weekend recreationers.
Before (or after) firefighters get their dinner, they like to catch a quick shower. Here is where the "portable" showers come in handy. Some of these showers are owned and operated by private companies who cater to temporary operations like our fires. With hot and cold running water, mirrors and sinks, these facilities are second in importance only to our "portable" potties which are, also, owned and operated by private companies. For the larger fires, privately owned, portable laundry facilities can also be brought in. Sometimes, crews leave one fire to go directly to another which makes these laundries priceless.
These miniature cities will sometimes house hundreds of personnel that work in and out of camp in support of our fire suppression efforts. This is only a small portion of the total camp...crews strike individual mini-camps all around the site. Kind of adds to the comraderie of the crews. After all, many of these folks have to live together, away from their families for weeks or months at a time during bad fire seasons. The yellow buses in the background are how inmate crews are transported to the fire. Like the kitchen crews, inmates also operate as firefighting crews.
A beautiful moonlit night, romantic for some, but for the night shift, a full moon makes for better working conditions as they can SEE where they're going in and around the fireline. Firefighting doesn't stop when the sun goes down...crews continue to locate and extinguish "hot spots" that may have been more or less invisible during the day shift. Also, it's cooler at night which can be a blessing in itself. After the crews feel that they've pretty much put out the "visible" fires, a "Probeye" crew goes out, with infrared viewing equipment, and marks the formerly "invisible" hot spots for the day shift.
At last, it's time to go home. This trailer houses the fire's "timekeepers" who keep track of your time (which determines how much you'll see next payday). This is usually the first AND last place you visit when you are assigned to a fire. All crews, overhead, private engines and equipment MUST go through here. If the timekeepers don't have you on paper, you don't exist. Timekeepers are an important part of every firefighting effort and have the latest computer technology working for them. This is the last view most people have just before they head down the road, either to their homes and families or to the next fire.
The Red Lake fire was caused by careless outdoor burning after that activity had been shut down due to a high fire danger. Many other fires are caused by lightning and other natural causes. The DNR, along with many other agencies, both public and private, stands ready to fight these fires in the name of resource protection. I hope you've enjoyed the tour.
