2018 Remembered (partially)

2018 Remembered (partially)

As December creeps ever towards winter, from where the southern Rockies meet the high plains, we bid you good tidings and the warmest of 

SEASON’S GREETINGS,

We are in relatively good health: family and a few fine friends & neighbors to help us along. 

So, life is good…

Trunk Bay, U.S.V.I.

Phil’s past two Novembers were spent on fire assignment in Kentucky (2016 Daniel Boone NF) and post-hurricanes in Virgin Islands (2017 St. John). This year allowed a little more time for reflection (that can be good).  For those of you that have followed this update over the decades you’ll have noticed that we’re no longer regaling you with tall-tales of Justin’s 6^thgrade basketball scholarship to Princeton and pre-select for Harvard Med, or Meme winning the tennis Grand Slam (yep, all 4 majors in same calendar year) while being named USGS’ Water Employee of the Decade, or Phil leading the Denver Broncosto Super Bowl glory then the Dodgersto World Series supremacy in consecutive years, or one of us playing a duet and harmonica with Jimmy Page & Led Zeppelin on “When the Levee Breaks” (*- that timeless Holiday classic of comfort, hope & cheer: it can be heard at the link at the bottom of this message) and “Dazed & Confused” for the “Royal Family” at a New Year’s Eve concert: London’s Palladium. Must be that age is slowin’ us down, and for some reason we just can’t find a publishing house interested in our Memories of Underachievers. However, just to show we haven’t lost ALL our mental faculties, Phil wants to salute the Dodgers & Saints for their back-to-back championships.

Our solar panels

WE actually WENT SOLAR early this year: we have a roof mounted system from ”SUNPOWER by Positive Energy Solar” and we’ve enjoyed watching the electrical meter spinning clockwise with the monthly bill being just for the system connection fee. Love banking those energy credits.

The end of APRIL saw us in Pacific Beach for a 40^thwedding anniversary trip, and touching base with step-brother Charlie Jaramillo (Capt. with Alaska Airlines): we always enjoy that.

 

Hal Marcus and his work

In MAY, even though retired from USTA & College tennis umpiring, Phil once again helped at the State High School. Tennis Tournament and chaired the Girls 5A singles final (long 3-set match). The next week we were visited by Phil’s cousin Steve Riley and his girlfriend Pat: part of their 4-Corners area trip from Redding, CA.  This was followed by our El Paso trip to see Meme’s sister Pat Medici and her husband Hal Marcus:  Hal had a new art installation at a local medical center (some of you might recall he has pieces in numerous locations around El Paso, including Chamizal National Memorial).

Maple Canyon, Utah

In JUNE & AUGUST, Meme enjoyed rock-climbing trips to MAPLE CANYON (Manti-La Sal NF, UT). These were sandwiched around fire Safety Officer (SOF) assignments for Phil at Ute Park/Philmont Scout Ranch (Eagle’s Nest, NM), Weston Pass/Chateau (Fairplay/South Park, CO), and Texas Initial Attacks (primarily in-&-around “Hill Country”). So, two Texas trips: “What I like about Texas” (Jerry Jeff hits it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9otXXx_Zr3M).  

Unfortunately, while on Texas assignment, cousin Steve lost his home (as did all but one on his cul-de-sac) to the Carr Fire that consumed his part of northwest Redding – he had very little warning or time to flee, but he made it to safety “with the clothes on his back and his health.”  

In the latter part of August, Phil was at the Cougar Creek fire (Wenatchee/Leavenworth, WA), followed by late Sept./early Oct. at the Roosevelt fire (Bridger-Teton NF/ Bondurant, WY). Sometimes he was ordered as a “Team Safety” (like the last two), and other times as a SOF for a Division/Group on the line. With each one, he continued to marvel at the skilled & talented folks he was privileged to meet and work alongside; the Aussies he worked with at Cougar Creek were great assets. He is sometimes asked why he keeps going on these assignments, and the answer is “SERVICE- as long as I can be contributing and help emergency responders.” Of course, the money is very good too, but after a career it is sometimes just hard giving up being a Ranger.

 

Roosevelt Fire ICP

Uncle Bruce, Patrick, Phil & Steve

While at the Cougar Creek incident, Phil received word that his maternal AUNT VIRGINIA (“Auntie Ginny”) had passed away in Ventura. In between the last two assignments he was able to join family for a memorial service and a bit of reflection. Phil was fortunate to have vacationed as a kid with her and his cousins at seaside and national park locations, including Sequoia-Kings Canyon & Yosemite back in the 1950’s.  Many great memories: she was a bold doer, and will be greatly missed…

Meme - ascending wall

In October we journeyed to KENTUCKY, for a week at the Daniel Boone NF’s Red River Recreation Area. Meme enjoyed many days of rock-climbing with compadres that had driven, or flown, from Santa Fe. The areas around Slade & Beattysville have grown the past couple of decades into a world-class rock-climbing destination and we got to experience it during the “Wooly Worm Festival” no less: I don’t know if we’ll ever be the same, but bourbon helps Phil try. 

Senator Udall & Phil
(more in the Rangers pointing series)

He also continues to volunteer in archaeology & history with SiteWatch (stewards): in early May he got to co-lead a tour of La Cieneguilla petroglyphs for U.S. Senator Tom Udall and some of his office staff. The rock images are on BLM lands (public land just outside Santa Fe), and it is always good to be back in touch with our lawmakers (plus, he & Phil go back a ways to when he was the NM Attorney General & Phil was with the Interagency ARPA Task Force).

YOGA: Meme & Phil continue to study periodically with the greatest yoga instructor this side of the Pecos. Oh yeah, that is really close isn’t it: so, maybe she is the best this side of the Mississippi. That would be better…

NEXT YEAR (Feb., 2019): We have an opportunity to watch Phil’s sister Chris Erickson judge the Terrier Group at Westminster Kennel Club (aka “The Garden” - Madison Square Garden, NYC), followed by a trip to Cayman Brac (CB), BUT Greece is calling. Instead of NYC in February (the view on TV will probably be better) followed by CB (which we’ve been to before), we’re gearing for climbing, diving and arch-history in Greece and one of their Aegean islands.

Kalymnos - Greece (near Turkey)

JUSTIN has been doing some legal writing and appears to be on verge of starting a job with the NM Human Services Dept. as an attorney. He was happy that a law school classmate (Xochitl Torres Small) was elected to Congress. He says she is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. 
May our thoughts-n-prayers be with both of them. 

No matter where the holidays and 2019 find you, we hope you the very best of health & Happiness.

*- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwiTs60VoTM

"Happy Trails to you..."

Texas Wildfires and flying home DFW to SAF

As I took seat 17A on AA #2848 from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Santa Fe  (SAF)last Wednesday morning, I noted that I was completing the last row and sitting next to a young lady and her two pre-adolescent sons that were across the aisle in seats C & D. I’d been gone for 16-days and looked forward to being home again (singing the Byrds tune “Get to You” in my head). The fire assignment had been an O.K. one, which I’ll tell you about in a few moments, but I had already identified those early signs of post-incident reintegration funk that often clouds my world: it often rears its ugly head the worst when I’m getting home and readjusting. Talking with the mom in 17B made a noticeable positive difference. I forgot to give her THANKS, but am way ahead of myself – more later…

Arriving at DFW on my travel day I found I had to wait (and wait) for the van to the Rental Car Center. Of course the van was standing room only with little room for my 4-bags: traveling with line & safety gear for a firefighting assignment is not a “light” adventure. The customer service rep for Enterprise was “super” getting me into, as requested, a 4x4 Silverado pickup. Then a quick departure to McGregor, Texas: where I checked-in at the ICP (Incident Command Post) for the “Texas A&M Forest Service” (TFS) 2018 Initial Attack assignment. For months Task Forces of firefighters and equipment had been staged at different locales around Texas. I was reporting to relieve the Safety Officer (SOF) that had been with Task Force 19 in the Hillsboro area. However, first I had to go through a PowerPoint “In-Briefing,” along with some engine relief personnel also headed to TF19: we’d become friends (OK, they put up with me over the next fortnight). I was provided a written & e-copy as well. That night I tied-in (fire speak for “met with”) with Ron, the SOF I was replacing. Ron had worked with me in 2002, when he was a SOF Trainee on the Rodeo-Chedeski fire in Arizona.

Ron & I met up with TF19 the following morning. It was comprised of a Division Supervisor (Div. Supv.), a Task Force Leader, 2-dozers (and “swamper”/ support), 3-engines, a facilities/logistics person and myself. By early afternoon we were off-to-the-races and the County Road (CR) 308 fire in south of Llano, while Ron started his demob/checkout process. I had heard for decades about some of the peculiarities of firefighting in Texas, as compared to “out west.” On the fireside of the equation the local VFD (Volunteer Fire Dept.) usually provided the Incident Commander (IC), with TFS providing operational leadership as aircraft (slurry bombers & helicopters for bucket drops) are brought in. The TF Div. Supv.  & I are to establish Unified Command with the above, which sometimes results in taking over a division instead.  Our logistics contact in the mean time arranges for motel rooms and meals. The rooms allow us air-conditioned rest at night after battling fire in 108-100F temperatures. Meals are brought out to us on-the-line was we work so we don’t use energy supplying ourselves (we’re expected to be self-sufficient when in standby at staging, but not when engaged in active firefighting). I give the Comfort Inn in Llano two-thumbs up for taking care of us while on the CR308.

The CR 308 fire was interesting for its work around a ranch’s herd of longhorns. After several days there, and fire containment for the most part, we were released and reassigned directly to the Harmon Road fire north of Copperas Cove, Texas.. It had blown-up growing tenfold. We were able to help contain and check that one. TF19 had a handcrew added to it. The Los Diablos  are a Type 2 Initial Attack crew, an international crew from northern Mexico with  leadership & sponsorship from Big Bend National Park. I had worked with them the previous November on St. John, V.I. They’re a very good crew.

While on the Harmon Road fire I saw several instances of a “only in Texas” fire apparatus: a small chair strapped to the bumper of an engine (brush or pumper truck) or water tender with a firefighter and hose sitting in the chair squirting the flames ahead. Fortunately, “Attack from the Black” is the safety rule of thumb they go be there, but it still rang of for a potential “Darwin Award” to me.  

After several days of progress we were again reassigned directly to the CR 108 fire north of Burnet, Texas.  There we were met by the TFS Operations Chief (Shane) we’d worked with/for on the 308. We also had John Philbin, a ICT3 that had been an ICT2 in Arizona: good guy. As we arrived on the line my Silverado received a light misting of slurry on one side as a SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker) finished his pre-treatment at the fire heel (near point-of-origin). NOTE: it comes off with some vigorous cleaning (windows easier than paint though). Much of the CR108 fire was on a ranch that specializes in exotic (African) game animals. Some very tall fences & gates to navigate. I found myself thinking: “Are these truly African animals without predators in the mix?” I decided they weren’t, being more zoo-like.

From the CR108 fire we drove north back to being staged in Alvarado near Hillsboro. When in staging you have to be ready for response, 12-hours per day. Though they were technically shorter than the 16-hour days when assigned to a fire, I can testify that the staged days were much longer. Geesh, they were long… 

After 14-work days I was sitting on a plane going home: why was I feeling down? I could probably blame years of concussions (primarily work related), but that is another post altogether. I already identified that I was coming from primary focus emergency operations to a world of what I’ll call “trivial pursuits.” So many focused on their phone. It didn’t help that the night before I’d waited 1.25 hours at the Rental Car Center waiting for a shuttle back to the Holiday Inn Express at DFW (was supposed to take 15-minutes; instead 3-calls and 5X as long + then they cruised all the terminals). Plus, during my Texas deployment my cousins Steve (Riley) in Redding, CA lost his home (and some pets) to the Carr fire. I just wasn’t in a “Happy Camper” place. Then some kind words and later a wave at the Santa Fe terminal turned my day-week around.  I learned she was a violinist, whose husband was in finance, living a short way west of DFW. Her sons were going for a weeklong visit with her parents that lived in Taos. They were all going to Meow Wolf that day, until her return flight home that afternoon; her mother had lived in Woodland Hills, CA while in high school (class of ’68 or ’69), just like Meme (class of ’75), and her father (Canoga Park) had worked as an engineer for Lockheed (ah, the Burbank connection). Anyway, many THANKS to the lady that sat next to me, for helping me to a better place. Hope everyone has a great day/week/month…

https://sierranewsonline.com/what-happens-at-the-incident-command-post-on-a-wildfire/