Forest Fire too close! PICS #1 Priority Fire in the US

[jon f]

Hang in there Matt, We had massive fires here in Victoria, Australia last summer, our last line of defense was " The great southern fire break" That's the Tasman sea.
Our thoughts are with you, Jon

[dw06]

Any updates Matt?Are the ground crews making any dent in containing the fire?Stay safe.

[mattparliament]

Not much new really, that front showed up yesterday afternoon/evening but it was pretty weak.  There were a couple of "teaser"raindrops and currently there is zero wind, it is supposed to come from the NW but max out at 10 mph.  Just heard on the morning news that Helena touched 90 degrees 28 days in July, new record 

A neighbor spoke to the fire chief and he was feeling pretty good about our safety.  They have a really good fire-break set up on the south and SE of the fire which is good for us.  We are pretty much packed and ready to go at a moments notice.  This fire is now second in the state for importance and they have 122 firefighters working on it, along with a bunch of helicopters and bombers, it has grown to over 15,000 acres.  We have a pump with water rights to pull water directly from Trout Creek in our back yard so my yard is pretty much saturated and if we do get evacuated I'll just hit the switch and let her run.  The fire is still about 6 miles as the crow flies.  There is another group of homes exactly 3 mile in the center of us and the fire, they were evacuated but have since been allowed back.  Their status gives us a nice warning.  Here are some pics from Google earth to give the proximity of the fire.  Also, a pic from the local paper, they did save that house!

[Siskiyou]

With that pump working for days I would think you have things nicely saturated.  If the fire gets across York road into those timber stands it could be a rather nasty show. (I am looking from Google Earth.)

The picture of the burnout around the log home shows how outstanding defensible space can make the difference.  The space allows the home and fire fighters to survive.  Last week I stayed at a friend’s home and there was a bunch of new stumps around it.  His insurance company inspected his home and told him it was not insurable, and he needed to take action to keep his insurance.  He had to remove seven large Ponderosa Pines, and a couple large oaks.  To pay for the work he had to give up an additional three Pines to the logger so that he had a truckload.

Last year a five man Forest Service engine crew was burned over and killed trying to save a structure while assisting CAL FIRE.  It is now known that CAL FIRE had an in-house map identifying the house as not defensible.  According to the press OSHA has cited the Forest Service because the crew tried to save the red-tagged house.  I am sure this will have an effect on fire fighting tactics across the country.  I am sure that realtors, homeowners, and other interest will be going to war over property determined non-defensible.  The real power will be with the insurance companies.

My wife came to the conclusion that I could cut back some trees she had planted a few years back.  When she planted them it was a battle I could not win.  Now I have the task of trimming and disposal of the slash during the heat of fire season.  But that is life.

I wish I had a stream to drop a pump in.  A good thing in our favor is that the wife has put in a sprinkler system out back.  It should provide us some protection because the vegetation is kept moist.  I look at the neighbor’s house as fuel, and his propane tank as a big bomb that can clear ten acres. 

A week ago I was at a gathering with a couple from Wolf Creek and they were on the phone with friends because of a fire burning in that area.  The good news is that fire is controlled now.

[mattparliament]

the fire just hit #1 status in the Nation

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/871/

http://www.helenair.com/flashpoint

[goodwrench6710]

Haven't heard anything in a few days, hope you're still with us. Hope the family, pets & home are ok. Please let us know.

[quickdtoo]

Matt was online yesterday morning, hope all is well.

Tim

[mattparliament]

All is well, the fire is 75% contained and pending something really out of the ordinary happening all should be safe.  It's been a "ride".  They expect it won't be completely done until some substantial rain happens or it gets snowed on.  Thanks for all the prayers and concerns.

[quickdtoo]

That's certainly good news, and I hope your hunting area bounces back soon!!

Tim

[Silvertp]

Matt...I just ran into your post and think that you must live near my son Marc, in the Eldorado area.  He too was evacuated by the Meriwether fire.  In fact I drove up from Idaho to help him get his household valuables moved out and I took his dogs to my house while the fire was threatening.  Sounds like you folks have made it past the biggest threat.

Now for the good news.  Hunting for elk for the first several years following a fire can be awesome.  In my part of the world there were more and bigger bulls harvested after the nasty fires of 2000 than had been before for a   l  o  n  g  time.

The best to you.

Silvertp

[Tony Gable]

take care Matt...i had that experience one time while living in Burney, CA...very scary for a flatlander such as myself..

Hey Eskimo 36,

 I work with a friend of yours here in Reno/ Sparks. I'll bet you know him. His name is Denny Kot. His lady is Billie Linenberger. I've known Denny for 10 years. He lost all of his posessions in that fire your are speaking about. He and Billie are A#1 standup people. Helped me and my wife out when I out of work for medical reasons. He lives down the block from me about 12 houses. Do you go to his Street Vibrations yard parties. If you do then I've probably met you at one time or another. Just wondering.

Tony

[Siskiyou]

Meriwether, Helena NF. Thirty-four miles northwest of Helena, MT. Timber, brush and grass. Smoldering

Must be thinking of a different fire or the numbers are wrong.  The Sit Report shows zero structures lost in the Meriwether fire.  http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

There are so many fires burning in Montana that it could have been a different fire.

[mattparliament]

Matt...I just ran into your post and think that you must live near my son Marc, in the Eldorado area.  He too was evacuated by the Meriwether fire.  In fact I drove up from Idaho to help him get his household valuables moved out and I took his dogs to my house while the fire was threatening.  Sounds like you folks have made it past the biggest threat.

Now for the good news.  Hunting for elk for the first several years following a fire can be awesome.  In my part of the world there were more and bigger bulls harvested after the nasty fires of 2000 than had been before for a   l  o  n  g  time.

The best to you.

Silvertp

Silvertp~
yup, that's the one, elderado is just a couple of miles away

[cwlongshot]

Matt,
 VERY GLAD to read your family and family home are safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 CW

[NONYA]

The fire has basically burned itself out,i was out there on Holter today and there was no smoke to be seen anywhere.43,000 acres burnt,that means 43,000 acres of new habitat and green grass over the next 120 years.BTW there were 0 ZERO structures lost in this fire and a very small piece of Chase Hibbards ranch burned,very little private property involved,this area has needed a good burn for 20 years.BTW Matt i live on the shore of Hauser lake just south of york bridge,where are you?