Thursday, August 27, 2015

Letter from a Cougar Creek Fire Firefighter

I have a special treat this evening, a personal letter written by a firefighter with 12 years of experience packing for a 14 day run of fire camp, packing their heavy pack up on the firelines, and coping with all the wildfires in many places.  They have also been camped in many small towns as well.  This Firefighter asked to stay anonymous, but asked me to share especially with those who think fire camp looks like a prison or a military camp. #CougarCreekFire  #WaWildfire

     "I speak on behalf of myself when I say that all firefighters in camp fully understand this job.  We all pack our 14 day bags, and expect to be at a camp in the wilderness for two weeks. We prepare for this and do not need laundry services.  This is a self sufficient, smooth moving machine that we choose to live in and we take pride in our careers.  We eat like kings and queens.  Our supply unit carries wet wipes, sunscreen and any other necessity you could think of. We have unlimited access to boxes of various fruits and snacks to supplement our amazing lunches.  Today's breakfast consisted of blueberry banana pancakes, sausage patties, eggs, hashbrowns with a bar full of toppings. Not to mention the option of granola, yogurt, cereal, cottage cheese and fruit, fresh fruit, milk, chocolate milk, various juices, teas, coffee, lemonade and iced tea.  This is our job. If we accepted all donations that came our way, we would waste an unfathomable amount of time, money and especially food.  The outpouring of support for the wildland firefighting community this season is something we don't generally see to this extent.  If only the community knew how much we appreciated the offers!  PS - we also have mobile laundry services. ;)  We are always willing to set up a public tour of camp!  It's open!
     Additionally, these crews will throw a fit when presented a shift under 16 hours.  A majority of these firefighters work seasonally.  We make a years worth of money in 3-4 months.  And love every minute of it. ;) "
~ anonymous long term firefighter

I want breakfast with them!
I know that everyone really wants to help in some way.  Folks in Glenwood are doing their best at making at least some of the FF feel at home and cared for, with homemade cookies and postcards, but most especially with signs and conversations and appreciation, even hugs.  The Firefighters were happy this morning thanks to some folks in town that made kind gestures. Locals also spoke of watching a couple Firefighters walking around town this morning picking up trash.  That meant a lot to the townsfolk, as did the FF acting as crossing guards for the kids going back to school.  It is the conversations, the waves and thank you notes and other encouragements that really make the big difference.
~darlisa


Fire, Emergency, Mapping Links




Fire, Emergency, Mapping websites and Contact info Links
*****************************************
Cougar Creek Fire information office at (509)364-3369
 INCIWEB CURRENT FIRE REPORTS:  #CougarCreekFire       #waWildfire
   ****************************************  
 LINKS:
*****************************************
YAKAMA NATION.  Much of the fire is on their ancestral lands.  Here is the Tribes website to learn more about their culture:

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE (USFS) main page:
http://www.fs.fed.us/

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/

Incident Information -- Northwest Large Fire Information Summary

KLICKITAT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE:
http://www.klickitatsheriff.com/KCSO/KCSO_Home_GD.html

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:
https://www.doi.gov/

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS:
http://www.bia.gov/

CHARITIES: An informational video for those who solicit charitable contributions from Washingtonians FROM SECRETARY OF STATE:
http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/

WANTED!  PEOPLE TO FIGHT FIRES IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON
http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/322770721.html?mobile=y

****************************************
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AIR QUALITY, SMOKE PATTERNS, HEALTH ISSUES, WEATHER:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
****************************************
NOAA Fire and Smoke Products:

WASHINGTON DEPT. OF ECOLOGY  Air Quality

OREGON DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

LANE COUNTY, OREGON AIR QUALITY

AIRNOW (Government)
WILDFIRE SMOKE DETAILED BREAKDOWN AND HEALTH PROBLEMS:

AIR QUALITY NOW HELPFUL LINKS:    http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/p/state.html

“9” P’s of PREPAREDNESS” FOR EMERGENCY PREPARATION:

WASHINGTON SMOKE INFORMATION:  includes map and tips for people with respiratory illnesses

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 7 DAY FORECAST FOR GLENWOOD
(you can type in your own city or zipcode for your area forecast)

USFS BLUE SKY DAILY RUNS ANIMATED SMOKE MAP

*********************************************
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

       MAPPING WEBSITES FOR THE FIRES AND LIGHTNING
***********************************************
LARGE PDF MAPS from #CougarCreekFire Incident Command
https://deptofnaturalresources.app.box.com/s/7s5p5rj8sz7kx1xv4lbkto5p5op6t2c8

Wildfire Tracks for the US

Real Time Lightning Strike Map

Mapping Support for Cougar Creek Fire; Updated frequently, showing current fire activity:

US Wildfire Activity Web MAP

Forest Service Modis MAPS:

USDA Forest Service Active Fire MAP:

GOOGLE EARTH FIRE WATCH PLUS:
Facebook group by retired firefighter
Charles Elliott Dudley Jr.

**********************************************************
OTHER PRIMARY EMERGENCY, GOVT AND FIRE PAGE LINKS
**************************************************
Klickitat Emergency Management has an emergency alert system that will send specific emergency information such as evacuation notices to those in the affected areas. Please sign up to receive this information:

SKAMANIA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

SKAMANIA COUNTY LIST OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS:

Washington State DNR Fire Resource Contact information by region:

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center:

National Interagency Fire Center:

Incident Information -- Northwest Large Fire Information Summary

larger area fire website:

live broadcasts of scanners:

Oregon Dept. of Forestry... Fire in the Forest:

Washington Wildfire Resources from
WA Governors office (Jay Inslee):

********************************************
EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMS
********************************************


KLICKITAT COUNTY

Register for Emergency Alert Notifications
via phone, text, email: 
Fed. Gov. Emergency Alert systems, info and links:

Localized Ready Alert systems, by town or state:

FEMA integrated public alert warning system:

IPAWS public alerting authorities (from FEMA page): 
includes WA state emergency management system
and a few WA state counties by locations:

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BLOG Rick Wimberly:

NIXLE BY EVERBRIDGE,  commonly used:

Yakima County Emergency Management Services:



STEVENS COUNTY FIRE UPDATES 2015:

INCIWEB ALL WASHINGTON INCIDENTS:

NWCC INTERAGENCY FIRE UPDATES:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      LOCAL NEWS PAGES AND WEBSITES

 Gorge News Center:

Yakima Herald

OPB interview "What Happens When Wildfires Return?
http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/when-wildfires-return/

Seattle Times:  How to help — and 9 other things to know about the wildfires
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/how-to-help-and-9-other-things-to-know-about-the-wildfires-2/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


     FACEBOOK PAGES

WASHINGTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

CHELAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

OKANOGAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

US National Weather Service Boise Idaho facebook page:

 Columbia Gorge wildlands fires and emergencies:

Cougar Creek Fire

Facebook page "Northwest Stormtrackers":

Washington Wildfires And Emergency Situations: 

Goldendale Sentinal Facebook page:

CHELAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

WA STATE DEPT. OF ECOLOGY FACEBOOK:


WA STATE DNR FACEBOOK PAGE:

WA STATE NATIONAL GUARD facebook page:


NORTHWEST FIRES (Facebook page):



Monday, August 17, 2015

Fire, Emergency, Mapping websites LINKS

Fire, Emergency, Mapping websites and Contact info
         Also found here:    https://www.facebook.com/notes/cougar-creek-fire/fire-emergency-mapping-websites-and-contact-info/459995557513530

Cougar Creek Fire information office at (509)364-3369  #CougarCreekFire

Inciweb current fire reports, The federal level large fire website:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

YAKAMA NATION.  Much of the fire is on their ancestral lands.  Here is the Tribes website to learn more about their culture:
http://www.yakamanation-nsn.gov/index.php

NOAA Fire and Smoke Products:
http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/land/fire.html

WILDFIRE SMOKE DETAILED BREAKDOWN AND HEALTH PROBLEMS:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires/WildfireSmoke

AIR QUALITY NOW HELPFUL LINKS:    http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/p/state.html

Use the nine “P’s of Preparedness” to get ready for major emergencies:
https://washingtondnr.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/be-ready-for-wildfires-with-the-9-ps-of-preparedness/

Washington Smoke Information:  includes map and tips for people with respiratory illnesses
http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
       MAPPING WEBSITES FOR THE FIRES AND LIGHTNING

Wildfire Tracks for the US
http://wildfiretrack.com/

Real Time Lightning Strike Map
http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en

Mapping Support; Updated frequently, showing current fire activity:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=46.136284%2C-121.420298&z=11&t=h%2CCurrent_fire%2CWind_in_6_hrs&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.propertylinemaps.com%2Fp%2Fpublic_land_map%2FUSA%2FUSA_wildland_fire.txt

US Wildfire Activity Web MAP
http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-response/wildlandfire/latest-news-map

Forest Service Modis MAPS:
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/imagery.php?sensor=modis&extent=conus

USDA Forest Service Active Fire MAP:
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/#

OTHER PRIMARY EMERGENCY, GOVT AND FIRE PAGE LINKS

Klickitat Emergency Management has an emergency alert system that will send specific emergency information such as evacuation notices to those in the affected areas. Please sign up to receive this information:
http://www.klickitatemergencymanagement.com

Washington State DNR Fire Resource Contact information by region:
http://wa-dnr.s3.amazonaws.com/publications/rp_fire_statewide_contacts.pdf

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/

Incident Information -- Northwest Large Fire Information Summary
http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/fire_info.aspx

larger area fire website:
http://www.wildlandfire.com/

live broadcasts of scanners:
http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/stid/53

National Interagency Fire Center:
https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm

Oregon Dept. of Forestry... Fire in the Forest: 
http://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/fire.aspx

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      LOCAL NEWS PAGES AND WEBSITES

 Gorge News Center:
http://gorgenewscenter.com/

Yakima Herald
http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/news_watch/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

     FACEBOOK PAGES

US National Weather Service Boise Idaho facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/NWSBoise

 Columbia Gorge wildlands fires and emergencies: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1619846594937912/

Cougar Creek Fire
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CougarCreekFire/

Facebook page "Northwest Stormtrackers":
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NWwxTRACKERS/

Washington Wildfires And Emergency Situations:  
https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonWildfiresAndEmergencySituations

Goldendale Sentinal Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/goldendalesentinel/timeline