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

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

 INCIWEB CURRENT FIRE REPORTS:  #CougarCreekFire       #waWildfire

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

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 LINKS:

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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

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

http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/fire_info.aspx

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

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

http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/land/fire.html

WASHINGTON DEPT. OF ECOLOGY  Air Quality

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/

OREGON DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx

LANE COUNTY, OREGON AIR QUALITY

http://www.lrapa.org/216/Todays-Current-Air-Quality

AIRNOW (Government)

http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?

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

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

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/

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 7 DAY FORECAST FOR GLENWOOD

(you can type in your own city or zipcode for your area forecast)

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-121.09572&lat=45.90243#.VdSjyBRVjDt

USFS BLUE SKY DAILY RUNS ANIMATED SMOKE MAP

http://viewer.smoke.airfire.org/run/standard/PNW-4km/current/

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

Wildfire Tracks for the US

http://wildfiretrack.com/

Real Time Lightning Strike Map

http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en

Mapping Support for Meeks Table Fire west of Naches, WA; Updated frequently, showing current fire activity:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=46.811900%2C-121.061783&z=11&t=h%2CMODIS_from_GeoMAC%2CFire_perimeter&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.propertylinemaps.com%2Fp%2Fpublic_land_map%2FUSA%2FUSA_wildland_fire_3.txt

Mapping Support for Cougar Creek Fire; 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/#

GOOGLE EARTH FIRE WATCH PLUS:

Facebook group by retired firefighter

Charles Elliott Dudley Jr.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/gefwp/

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OTHER PRIMARY EMERGENCY, GOVT AND FIRE PAGE LINKS

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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

SKAMANIA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

http://www.skamania-dem.org/

SKAMANIA COUNTY LIST OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS:

http://www.skamania-dem.org/Fire.html

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/

National Interagency Fire Center:

https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm

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

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

http://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/fire.aspx

Washington Wildfire Resources from

WA Governors office (Jay Inslee):

http://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/washington-wildfire-resources

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EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMS

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KLICKITAT COUNTY

Register for Emergency Alert Notifications

via phone, text, email: 

https://member.everbridge.net/index/1772417038942633#/login

Fed. Gov. Emergency Alert systems, info and links:

http://www.ready.gov/alerts

Localized Ready Alert systems, by town or state:

http://www.ready.gov/localized-ready-programs

FEMA integrated public alert warning system:

http://www.fema.gov/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:

http://www.fema.gov/integrated-public-alert-warning-system-authorities

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BLOG Rick Wimberly:

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/alerts

NIXLE BY EVERBRIDGE,  commonly used:

http://www.nixle.com/

Yakima County Emergency Management Services:

http://www.yakimacounty.us/OEM/links.htm

STEVENS COUNTY FIRE UPDATES 2015:

http://www.co.stevens.wa.us/EMS%20-%20Stevens%20County%20Fire/Stevens_County_Fire_updates.htm

INCIWEB ALL WASHINGTON INCIDENTS:

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/49/

NWCC INTERAGENCY FIRE UPDATES:

http://www.nwccinfo.blogspot.com/

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      LOCAL NEWS PAGES AND WEBSITES

 Gorge News Center:

http://gorgenewscenter.com/

Yakima Herald

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

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/

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     FACEBOOK PAGES

WASHINGTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

https://www.facebook.com/WashEMD/timeline

CHELAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chelan-County-Emergency-Management/188543097925415?sk=timeline

OKANOGAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management/timeline

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

CHELAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chelan-County-Emergency-Management/188543097925415?sk=timeline

WA STATE DEPT. OF ECOLOGY FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/EcologyWA

WA STATE DNR FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-State-Department-of-Natural-Resources/273352136518?sk=timeline

WA STATE NATIONAL GUARD facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/washingtonguard

Wildland Fire Leadership Development

https://www.facebook.com/WFLDP

NORTHWEST FIRES (Facebook page):

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwest-Fires/121452794539844

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE NET (Facebook page)
https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWildfireNet/timeline

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/

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       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

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      LOCAL NEWS PAGES AND WEBSITES

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

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

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     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

PIG BOWL 2013

PIG BOWL 2013….September 28th….7pm Wahtonka Football Field….. The Dalles

The pig bowl is an annual Benefit football game between Washington and Oregon law enforcement agencies. This year two families will be helped. In Washington a family in Goldendale whose husband died and the wife and young mothering 2  had back surgery that failed. She is now the sole breadwinner for the family. In Oregon a young man named Donovan has stage four Hodgkin's disease. He will be going to Seattle for a four month treatment involving bone marrow transplant. You can attend the game in The Dalles for $3 dollars an individual or $10 family. All food being sold at the game was donated and sales will benefit the families. 

This is a flag football game, with a twist. Points for both teams may be purchased at the game, or online at 

www.pigbowl.net

Right now Oregon is ahead so come on Washington, $5 gets a point plus an oink sound over the PA system at the game, $25 gets a field goal, and $50 gets a touchdown seven points. 

At the game itself there will be a bounce house for the children, displays and information by search and rescue, and other such fun

Wildflowers At Bird Creek Meadows

Marsh Marigolds Along the 9 trail to the meadows near Mount Adams. 

 

Several shades of Indian paintbrush

Bear Grass was prolific this year. 

Shooting Stars

Heather

Pussy Toes

Big Orchid

Bear Grass by Bird Creek Falls

Flight of the Red Tail Hawk

I happen to be very fond of Raptors, and especially Red Tail Hawks.  Recently I caught one in a tree by the road where I was able to stop, and got this series of shots, in Bingen, Washington.

 For more interesting information on these Hawks you can look here

Wikipedia source...  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk

Winds that Recharge the Soul

As my old-timer dad used to say "Colder than a witches tit" out here in the wind on top of the mountain last night. I watched the storm come Racing up the gorge far below, blowing streams of fog up the river and right up the hill at me and the trees were swaying in the wind and the wind was howling. Just a few raindrops at sunset though but they were giant raindrops three of them covered my lens. Hard to do any kind of justice of an event like this with the camera. Some things are just meant to be felt, to be witnesses.
As I left the hill last night there were a few snowflakes mixed with rain. This morning I look up from below and see a thin white blanket on the upper slopes.

Sometimes standing out on a hill in a fierce wind I imagine I can feel the wind through my fingertips as though they were Eagles wings
When I was a child my mother said I would stand on her lap by the open car window with my face in the wind, just happy.
I have always liked those Exhilarating kind of storms that blow through fast and capricious and I often would stand out in the wind Letting it blow through me as though it was cleaning out any shadows in my mind. Such capricious winds recharge me and make me feel so alive and alert, tingling to my fingertips.
Sometimes standing out on a hill I imagine I can feel the wind through my fingertips as though they were Eagles wings
Shall we go spin like tops in the wind Holding hands and laughing while our hair flies behind us?
And ride wild horses galloping across the hills, and Soaring On the wings of Eagles full of joy just being alive,
Above all the cares and worries of the world .

I DO catch occasional Sunrises

I recently posted about the amazing sunset of January early February this year, and now I'm pleased to Now that I do occasionally get sunrises as well!