We weren’t expecting to have a fire threaten the mill. The photos below tell the story.
I added this sketch of the firefighters after “Z” at Zeebra Designs called for folks to draw in her post Time Out For Art – YOU CAN DO THIS. Here you go Z!
The rain has been replaced by wind and dry conditions once again. Fire returned, only this time instead of in the woods, it was at the mill. With winds blowing 25 to 30 mph a fire broke out at the mill next door and was being blown right at our site.
It was all hands on deck. The crew poured in from all over the plant site to fight the fire.
Hoses were laid and water was flowing onto the fire. Soon, the regular fire crews arrived on scene.
We were afraid the fire would spread into the pole stacks, or God forbid, the chip pile.
Our dozer was building a fireline in case the fire tried to jump the canal.
The air tanker arrived ready to drop fire retardant.
The effort continued on the ground and we held the fire at the edge of our mill site.
Then the Helicopter arrived with the Bambi Bucket.
The helicopter was scooping water from the Sacramento River to dump onto the fire.
With the spread of the fire was stopped, mop up operations began.
Our crew moved fast to get water on the fire and the fire department responded quickly. Together we were able to stop the fire before it could get into our yard. As a result of everyone’s quick action this wasn’t a big problem for us. I’m not certain how the neighbors fared, but I think they did okay also.
This is just another reminder that we are in for a long fire season this year.
Wow glad you came through that one ok. Does the fact that you’ve now had a fire burn so close mean there is less of a risk for the rest of the season? Or is that wishful thinking? Good luck for the next few months anyhow.
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Actually, you are absolutely right. Now we have a big black line between their chip pile and our mill for the rest of the season. A silver lining.
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Very glad to hear it
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Very glad to have it. Feel free to write a song about it.
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I think right now the best protection comes from yours neighbors. Everyone must be alert and ready to work.
Here on Brazil we have a simple way to fight the fire . Depends on the amount of water that you can use.
We stick a garden hose and left on for hours to soak the ground, thus preventing the fire from spreading to the homes.Good luck poet.
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We need all the good luck you can send our way Mirna!
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Your sketch looks better than the photo!
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Oh no! Are my photos that bad! :0
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No, that means your sketch is that GOOD!
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No, that means your sketch is that GOOD!
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Thanks Derek, that is nice of you to say.
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Amazing photographs and I like your sketch. But, best of all I’m glad everyone is safe.
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Thanks Mary. We were fortunate that all turned out well.
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Oh gosh that’s a lot of fire and smoke… Lot of effort went in there!!…
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There was indeed a lot of smoke. Nothing like a threatening fire to liven up ones day! As long as we can put it out.
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Thank you for documenting the fire with photographs. I felt like I was there – but safe.
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Perfect, being there but safe. I like that Shelley! In my posts I will endeavor to have you be here but safe.
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Stunning images Tim!
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Thank you Elena.
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Love the sketch… and the photos…whew close call, glad everyone is OK
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Thanks Scott. We were glad it turned out okay too. Makes for a great post subject though.
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Job well done in more ways then one!
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Thank you Susan!
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The potential for massive damage is incredible. Good to hear it was averted!
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It truly could have been disastrous, but everyone did what needed to be done and all turned out well.
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Tim, my Dad worked in a sawmill for 40 some years. The biggest fear was fire. In fact my younger brother, who was 12 at the time, learned how to drive a truck so that he could go and get help when a fire flared up in the sawmill or planer. I can’t remember where it was. Every hand is on deck for that situation.
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Sawmills do tend to burn fast and hot. The modern mills are better at clearing the wood debris, but there is still plenty to catch on fire. It is an occupational hazard of working in the wood products industry. Your dad knew there was no messing around when it came to fire.
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Wow, what a scary time. My husband had a timber framing company for many years. Here in the midwest we don’t normally have to worry about such dry conditions, but the thought of fire in the wood chips is nasty. We never had a smoker in the shop and the sawdust was hauled off fairly often by horse stable people, but there were times when the chips were thick on the floor during production. I wouldn’t like the idea of sparks around that.
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Chip pile fires are notoriously hard to put out. They smolder for days. Our neighbor had another fire the next day after the one in this post. It was in an overhead chip bin and it dropped embers into a chip trailer. It burned the trailer to the ground. I think if they didn’t have bad luck they would have no luck at all.
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well drawn and a great choice to illustrate your post. all fires are horrible, and this one was way too close for comfort for all of you. the smoke must make it really difficult.
i’m glad that everyone worked together and put it out for good.
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Definitely, made for a little bit of excitement.
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Tim like to see the intuition to paint such an event glade it all turn well at the end. Stay safe.
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There was plenty of drama and excitement to inspire, plus I took a lot of pictures.
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Fire is really scary, and one like this must make you feel very small. I´m glad it ended well, it must have been some extremely intense hours for you all!
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It was pretty intense for a couple of hours, but settled down after that. Fire is something we live with here on a big scale because of our climate.
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It sounds so scary. Glad it was sorted out.
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We had some tense moments, but it did turn out fine.
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Glad to hear you contained the fire. Your sketch is great!
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Thank you Elizabeth.
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Whoah, that looks like a huge fire! Amazing how everyone rallied around to help.
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It looked big, but when all was said and done it was only about 3 acres. It did put up lots of smoke. Fortunately, no building or wood products caught on fire. That would have been bad.
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Wow – intense.
But I read the comments & it’s good to hear now you’re looking better for the season, having had fire.
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It is true, we now have a fuel break. Most of the grass and debris on the West side of the mill are gone.
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Looks terrifying…
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It was exciting to say the least, but we have to live with wildfire here. It is very common. Many of our crew members are volunteer fireman or like me used to be firefighters, which is quite helpful.
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You are telling a very dramatic story here. I am glad it went well after all.
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Me too!
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Your sketces are nice! Very good presentation of the dramatic sitaution, I’m glad you’re all fine.
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Thanks Dina.
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Wow! I’m glad you all are okay! Wonderful sketch and photographs. It’s nice to hear about the silver lining of the fire burn helping for the rest of the season. Hoping that it is not a busy fire season for you all!
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Thanks Kira. I hope it won’t be busy too, but I think it will.
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Fire has always fascinated me. I participate in prescription burns for our forest preserves. That is a bit different than what you’ve going on there! No helicopters or planes dropping water! I couldn’t imagine having to battle those blazes. Great drawing!
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I too have been involved in many prescription burns. They were fun to be involved with and generally had great results. The wildfires tend to be quite the opposite and destroy forests. My wife and I used to live in the Sierras. On our property we thinned the trees and underburned the debris for the purpose of reducing the fire risk and creating a healthier forest. As a result we had an explosion of wildflowers. It was awesome.
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Gosh, it was an important fire.. amazing pictures! you are living dangerously! I am glad that you contained that fire. Love your drawing!
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Thank you so much.
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Whoa – how scary! Exciting images and lovely sketch. Glad you are safe!
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Nothing like a good fire to liven things up around here. Although, we could have all used a little (or a lot) of that Jesus Beer afterward.
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You can say that again! I’d go get you a case. Or two.
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Whoop..Whoop! It’s never to late or to early for a Jesus Beer!
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You d
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Sorry for posting an unfinished comment ! Great sketch , Tim.
Looks terrifying…but glad everything is ok.
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Thank you Violet. It isn’t so scary when everyone is working together.
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Reblogged this on lost creek publishing.
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Fasinating… fires never cease to amaze me with their power sort of like water it never ceases to amaze me either. Together these forces of nature fight quite often. As much as we humans try to contain fire and water it is just a temporary harnessing of the power. I think that is why it fasinates me so much… something that never plays by the rules… yet manages to rule us. Anyway… happy you are safe& great photos
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Yes, fire never leaves us. It is always a presence we have of be aware of. We never think of it around here as “if we have a fire”, but “when and where the fire will occur.”
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What a story, Tim. I was feeling anxious just reading your photo-narrative. Wonderful tribute to the firefighters, and your own crew. Well done all, I’m very glad you suffered no real damage.
Must tell you, that drawing you’re now using for your blog header is an absolute gem– beautiful work, sir!
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Thank you so much Mark. I had been mean to put that piece up for a while. finally got around to it.
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