Danny Mills of St. Johns River Water Mgt Dist in Volusia Co. FL, ignites Rx fire from a horse http://t.co/ZVWXyIy9eR pic.twitter.com/IpNpt1nELG
— Wildfire Today (@wildfiretoday) June 1, 2015
I have seen horses used on wildfires as a means of transportation for Division Supervisors and for hauling supplies, but never have I seen a firefighter igniting a fire while riding a horse.
An article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal had the above photo with this caption:
Danny Mills, a land management specialist with the St. Johns River Water Management District, starts a prescribed burn in Volusia County earlier in the year. Mills and his wife Ruby, Volusia County residents, train horses to work fires. Photo/ St. Johns River Water Management District.
I’ve run across this quite a few times, meeting up with landowners or assisting them on Rx burns that they can get into places on horseback far easier than on foot or ATV to spot fires or string out, places that you couldn’t get on foot (or even in a tractor). Though it’s not something I’ve seen any agency use in Florida
Somedays it is easier to get in the saddle, with a trusted horse, rather than deal with HR issues and politics…
Next time I go out as a IGSP, I will ask if I can bring my big red mare 🙂
Nomex Saddle? And how well does it get into a shelter?
;o)