Ute Park fire

[encorehunter]

I figured you would be working it. We haven't been deployed yet that I know of, but we are technically in a different region. Good luck and stay safe. Get some much neefed rest.

[BPTactical]

Stay safe down there.
Everybody be conscientious of how dry we are when your outdoors recreating.

[thvigil11]

A little fun from day 1 through day 2. That's when I was still getting to play and get dirty. Been spending alot more time at the ICP since we went to the Type 1 Team. Still get out a little, but its just not the same. We've has some good progress, but this thing is far from over.

By the way, those little glowy things at night are not city lights, those are each tree on the hill torching. The cell camera at night does little justice to how it really looked.

[thvigil11]

Fires like this are nothing we ever wish for, but I have to admit, I still live for this work. It helps that this is the best fed team that I have ever worked with. Top notch professionals that are also the friendliest and easiest to work with I've been around in my career. We are well over 1000 pairs of boots right now and I'm surrounded some of our nations finest human beings. Smelly, but finest.


Thanks for your well wishes. Just thought I'd post to let ya'll know I'm still kicking down here.

[Gman]

Good luck to all of you folks. Smelly, yeah. That smoke permeates everything, then add in some sweat. Was able to get some time in a fire simulator and work a controlled burn down in TX many years ago. Yaupon holly is an amazing thing when it explodes in flame.

Wildfire is an awesome thing, and is very rewarding when you can bring it into submission with your smarts and will. Keep up the good work and stay safe!

[thvigil11]

As of last night all my evacuees are safe back in their homes. Not 1 residential structure loss. Some cabins and outbuildings. But tonight civilians get their own beds. Great feeling. A lot of work to go but we are looking to be on the glide path now. Still a long way to our monsoons. Heavy 10,000 hour fuels are at 3% humidity. Dangerous times. Stay safe out there people.

Side note. The ground teams here went to some old school ground tactics that really saved us from growing into an expected 150,000 acre fire. That was the safe determination earlier this week. Their confidence and hard work stopped that scenario. You all come across any firefighters in any of your travels, thank them on my behalf.

Tom Vigil
Colfax county Emergency Management