Barley Fire

Barley Fire, originally uploaded by craptastica.

This last few weeks has been overwhelming. The boss left and I'm currently the District Ranger. I'm in charge of over 400,000 acres in the Jemez Mountains during the height of fire and field season. I'm also still expected to do my other job as a project manager, and have been given extra responsibilities in Recreation because we currently have no warm bodies in that staff area either.

So it goes in the government.

Regardless, I can still sometimes manage to have fun. Last week a dry lightening storm dragged itseld across the mountains leaving about a half dozen forest fires in its wake. When these situations break out, it's all hands on board. Since I'm redcarded as a Type 2 firefighter I had to go.

By the time I got there most of the fire was already lined and we were starting 'mop-up' by spraying the 'hot spots' with water and mixing the coals with dirt and mud. It took hours, but before sundown the area wasn't smoking too much anymore.

As we waited for the last water tank to arrive, the crew took a break to joke around and have a bite to eat. We watched the sun go down slowly over the mesa, and I felt proud of my crew. I looked out over the pine covered landscape and was happy to have a day among friends out of the office.