Dalmation90 sent us a link to this photo that is from an article on the Wildfire Lessons Learned web site. It was taken in Minnesota by Peter Willis, State of Minnesota.
The photo is missing one thing. A caption. In order to fix this oversight, we are have having a Caption the Photo contest. The person who submits the best caption will receive a Wildfire Today travel mug from our little Wildfire Today store.
The rules for this contest are relatively simple. To enter, put your Caption in a Comment or Response below this post. There is a limit of three entries for each person. We reserve the right to change these rules at any time. The winning caption will be selected by us, using completely arbitrary and capricious criteria. By submitting your entry, you agree to have your real name published here. Include your real email address in the Comment, but it will not be made public. If you win, you will send us a photo of the mug taken at your place of work which we will publish here.
The contest will end Monday night at midnight, 11:59 MT, May 10.
Hey, anyone grab a map?
Better than a school bus
PTP=Portage to Portage
Joe always made fun of firefighters who wore googles on their hardhats until he realized that if he just had a set of goggles and a snorkel he would have one hell of a story when he got home.
“There were a hell of a lot things they didn’t tell me when I signed on with this outfit”
I just can’t get this test fire to take.
“No thanks, I’ll walk in, its safer”
Okay, now that we’ve had our shore lunch it’s either fight, flight or freeze…and by the way, where is the IC and Ops Chief?
Looks like Minnesota’s finest (MIFC CREW), getting ready to do what we do best, FIGHTING FIRE FROM BOATS!!!
With the recent rise in Forest Service health benefit costs, American firefighters flee to Canada by any means possible.
Taking the WCT in Minnesota: paddle/portage a 45 pound canoe for 3 nautical miles in under 45 minutes.
hey guys, looks like ‘modified response’ on this one for now….anyway, hope the fishing is good here in the meantime!
Lewis and Clark meet NFPA 1977
1. OK folks, we need someone who can serve as a lookout today – anyone here qualified as a lifeguard?
2. Dispatch, IC – cancel the order for the dozers, but we’re going to need five more type 3 canoe strike teams.
3. Despite their heroic efforts, the firefighters’ efforts were hampered by lack of water supply, and the fire escaped containment.
LCES = Life vests, Canoes, Empty bailing buckets, Squito repellant
Because the fire was burning in a Wilderness Area, the IA crew had to leave the Fire Boat 1 at the dock and paddle in by canoes, designated Fire Boats 0.1 through 1.1.
At last the Keystone Crew got its big break and a chance to prove themselves a worthy wildfire brigade. Alas, they fared no better than their bumbling city cousins, the Keystone Cops, as soon after this photo was taken a water fight ensued, and the only thing they managed to get water on was each other. The good news: the smoke was only Smokey, Yogi, and Boo-Boo having the local ranger and a few of their forest friends over for a cookout.
The Safety Zone is,by definition, a place where you will be safe without deploying your fire shelter.
This fire is hot and smokey. Let’s borrow these resort canoes and cool off while the IC is away.
“Paddles, I thought you had the paddles”
Watch out: Bambi bucket
Up the creek without a paddle
No convoy driving here
1. “Are you sure those guys are red-carded as canoe operators (CAOP)?”
2. Nomex shirt $95, aluminum canoe, $699, commuting to a fire in the BWCAW, priceless.
3. Rush-hour traffic.
I told you Ma, my rubber ducks would grow up someday!
Look, a flock of Wa Wa’s
It’s spring and yellow is blooming in the BWCAW.
How many of us is it going to take to carry these new dual purpose water tenders when they’re full?
Is this a Strike Team or a Task Force?
Do we get Hazard Pay or Sea Duty Pay?
Where is the captain.
This must be a Park Service Fire, they don’t allow motorboats.
Oh my, what did I start?
O.K. Who brought the worms?
Firefighters flee like rats from a sinking ship.
“Recent budget cuts in the Minnesota DNR have forced firefighting crews to consider other methods of travel when fighting fire. Spokesman Peter Willis said ‘Our main issue is getting the dalmatian to stay in the boat.'”
I must have missed the day they taught this in 130, 190.
“What ever you do, don’t bump up!”
1. Dispatch send me an additional two strike teams of canoes.
2. “Somebody row back to town and get a Sh_t load of dimes!!!”
3.Which side did they say was starboard or port???
4. If we can get this Mark III started we can really make good time!
5. After we get this wrapped up were headed to oil spill duty folks
Fire crews put new IA vehicals into action.
1)MIST Strike Team working on passing the basics before starting their task books.
2)Synchronized paddling team paddles the fire’s seat.
3)So boss, really, how are we going to identify where to put that wet line?
1. How many canoes does it take to put out a fire….
2. Remember to maintain your 10 ft. spacing while rowing around the fire.
3. Nobody gets the job done like the Type II row crew!
Risk Manager (IC) to the Firefighters at briefing: “Before you head out, we need you to identify the swimmers, the floaters, and the sinkers”.
aka….
“Ah, what the heck. Never mind. What was I thinking that we might need lifeguards, WSI’s, or EMTs for this mission. What could go wrong?”
Drills for the new eco-friendly first responder vehicles!
When the only way “in” is across or around . . . strategy matters, communication key, and planning is paramount.
1. Dave’s plan fell apart when the supervisor caught sight of the fishing rod.
2. When the cooler box and refreshments failed to materialize, Dave began to suspect he had misread the memo.
3. This time they hoped that stealth and the element of surprise would allow their “lake-side attack” to give them the upper hand.
Locate
Canoe
Establish
Stroke
“Dude, I feel like we’re forgetting something…”
Now where did I stow that pack rod??
Well no short hauling allowed, so…
Can you hear the banjo music???
Yellow Ducks flyin for the fire season.
Portage to Portage? I thought it was Portal to Portal.
So these are the new “rapid” response vehicles the chief promised?
Boy Scout troop attempts to fulfill their wildland firefighting and canoe skills merit badges in a single day.
1. “Marine unit to dispatch, we have heavy smoke showing, “canoe” send us a full first alarm assignment?”
2. What we have here is a smoke jumpers near miss.
3. Darn, this incident will have a boat load of bad news when the press sees what the budget cuts have done to our response times.
The old “Can Do” attitude has been replaced by “I can, canoe?”
1. Aim the pointey end toward the fire.
2. I can see the fire, CANOE ?
3. Canoe also use this as a fire shelter ?
“The Forest Service fire boat contingencey engages”
This fire is hot and smokey. Let’s borrow these tourist canoes and cool off for a bit while the IC is away.
Can’t resist, one more:
Even though there were 22 firefighters and just 11 canoes, no one wanted to ride with the Safety Officer, so Dave had a canoe to himself.
“Remember, burning embers can be blown miles away from the main fire. Your responsibility will be to patrol this area, protecting the lake from dangerous ember attack.”
1. does this count for a “safety zone”
2. canoe 521 respond to a floating log on fire.
3. Deployment to the offshore controlled burn.