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I just got back from another smaller fire roll. 9 days out this time, so I have been calling pretty much everyone I know to say hello. Today, we were cutting snags out of a particularly nasty patch along a road. My saw partner Mik was cutting a snag and one of the other guys was on his way up to be a lookout for us, when all of a sudden CRASH! Here ( Read more... )

My lord, people! Thanks for all the support on my last post about me being bored with my job, wanting a change of pace, etc. etc ( Read more... )

I've hit that point in my work where it doesn't matter how cool or fun or exciting your job is, you just don't really want to go anymore. I can't understand how someone could ever have a career. I thought having an exciting, mile-a-minute job would keep away the duldrums, but instead it has just left me physically and mentally exhausted. Maybe as ( Read more... )

There are lots of fireworks going off in our neighborhood here, and I need to get up for work in less than 7 hours. Fuck. I had one day off, and now I am back on for another full week. Oh, well. I am getting paid a lot to do this.

So, last week I finished my (seriously intense) wildland fire training. I am now qualified to do the following ( Read more... )

I leave for Montana in three days. I'll be there for three months. I got a call from my boss today who said I need to check in as soon as I get there so that they can issue me my PPE (personal protective equipment including: gloves, hardhat, goggles, nomex clothing), my tools (chainsaw, files, gas cans) equipment (wildland pack, turnout gear, ( Read more... )

Today, I was going over some more firefighting paperwork (I'm basically buried under a mound of it at the moment) and one of the things they want me to do is a Designation of Beneficiary. This is so the know who to send the money to in case I die in Montana. I'm not scared to be a firefighter at all, and I'm certainly not afraid of dying, but it ( Read more... )

I got called back today about wildland firefighting in Livingston, Montana. It's going to be very rough work, but it will also be very rewarding to me. I leave straight from Monmouth on the 17th, so I won't be coming back to Bend at all this summer. Wish me well, everybody!

Last night, I had the most spectacular dream I can remember ever having. Usually, I don't remember my dreams, so it is already fairly notable that I recall this one so vivdly ( Read more... )