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Big Wicked Spooky Monster!

leanin' H

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Messages
7,286
Location
Western Utah Desert
Well, here we go again! :mad: Dry lightning came rolling through on Sunday afternoon and started 4 fires. We got called out on one burning due northwest of town about 10 miles. I wish the anti-grazing folks could of rode along. The area had been grazed this spring and early summer and the fire was just creeping along. We had it out in about 5 hours. But the one up the canyon that BLM worked is a different story! Thick junipers and sage brushand rested grass quickly helped it explode. The Terrain and fuel made the fireboss decide to keep the volunteers away and have the pro's attack so i am a disgrunted observer at this point. The view from my front steps as it started building.


Zoomed in a little. This was monday afternoon. It was just getting going after starting Sunday. This is about 10 miles from the house.


As it got dark it kinda layed down a little as fires tend to do. But it had no intention of going away.


Tonight it exploded as it went west! :shock: If it had continued north, my neighbor had cattle above it. Thankfully it took a left turn and headed over the mountain.


I took a loop on my motorcycle to assess the situation and check for any lost bovines that might try to get in the way. It was pretty smokey and hazy.


On the west side of the mountain it was spooky big. They were trying a backfire but i do not know if it worked.


The fire's leading edge looked to be about 6 or 7 miles across. It's a dozy. That black smoke is junipers exploding as the pitch boils. From a half a mile away its enough to stand your hair up. When your closer, what your hair does is the least of your worrys!


I looped back east and then north up Rock canyon and dropped in on the fire from above. It can't burn where it's already been so i was safe even though it looks like the end of days.


It must'a covered atleast 15 miles since Sunday. Over some steep, rough country. Dang near impossible to fight except from the air. The firefighters are working thier guts out even if the leadership is suspect. :roll:


It was quite the sight to see where it has gone and is heading. Hope this as close to hell as i get but i am not counting on it. :D I should be in fine company down there though. :wink:


Just skeleton trees left now. Thankfully no cows or people. Lots of wildlife are effected i'd bet.


I don't know if the pictures do it justice folks! It is simply overwhelming to witness. I hope ya'll get the moisture you need and the fires keep away from your ranches, homes and livestock. I know the Lord will send us rain in His own due time. I pray for the patience and understanding to wait. :?


As i headed back to the house, i was overjoyed to see our little valley was still safe. It's awful smokey tonight and the monster is still lurking just west, but God has kept us and our livelyhood under his care. Many Thanks Sir! :D Stay safe guys and have a fine evening! :D
 
That big low pressure splash of rain couldn't come soon enough for you H. Takes brittle to a new meaning.
 
Mother Nature can sure show how insignificant we are when she takes a mind to.

When I saw the title I thought you had inherited a billy goat. :wink:
 
On the way home last night I watched a storm build to our north west and that weird cell came down and built on top of us and looped around and headed northeast.
Started a big fire west of us about 30 miles. Had so many calls coming in about it our 911 system was confused as to where it really was. Heard tonight it burned 3000-4000 acres. Had 5 volunteer departments on it and I have no idea how many people just showed up to help.

Fires of H*ll came to mind last night. Got off it around midnight I had to respond to a possible fire in my own district and had to leave.

DNRC came out and baby sat it all day.

Had 4 or 5 more fires today while I was at work.
 
:shock: Very scary!! Guess you can't say if the picture's do it justice if your not there, but I sure hope it isn't worse than they show it to be!!
Wish we were seeing your valley in better cirumstance's.
Stay safe H.
 
Wow, that is spooky for sure. Glad it's staying away from you. Still praying for rain for all who need it. Stay safe!
 
If these "fire bosses" on the federal fires would utilize the trained volunteer help at their disposal, lots of these fires, including Waldo Canyon, could be unnoticed flare ups. A sore spot with me, too.
 
Stay safe H! I haven't been close to any of the big ones around here, and that suits me just fine.
Right now you can count on a fire, if we have any kind of a thunderboomer roll through.
 
Crazy pictures, leanin' H! Thanks for sharing, but does give me flashbacks...lol.

Crazy how fire can take your oxygen away. A few years ago....lived in Iowa.....world's smallest ditch fire....sudden flare up....took my breath.... fell into the fire...lol...singed all my face hair, including beard and stockin' cap.....I looked funny!....lol....smelled funny!....lol... was a mighty weird feeling not being able to move a muscle there for a few seconds until the fire moved on....I'm glad it was just a tiny fire! :D
 
Tonight things suck to put it mildly. I spent the afternoon and evening trying to help get cows down for a friend. I rode my motorcycle to the end of the road and then hiked into the head of Faust canyon. We knocked as many cows as we could down but are sure we did not get em' all. We had 2 hour window we stretched into 5 and there was simply no time to trailer horses. The fire was raging just west over the ridge and burning north while we hoped to take the cattle south. Suddenly ash started landing on my arms and i knew things were getting western. When the wind shifted and the lights went out, we were in trouble. I ran out of the canyon head and jumped on my bike. Let's just say i didn't stick around to sign autographs. I met Rick and his wife and we had to leave 50 pairs and just go. We made it or i wouldn't be typing right now, but it was as close as i ever want to be! Now tonight, the entire canyon is blowing up and i know there will be dead cattle tomorrow. I am tired and sick and pissed and hurting for my friend. We will try again in the daylight and could use your thoughts. The forecast calls for south-southwest winds between 5 and 10 mph tomorrow. That means my cows are dead down wind and about 18 miles away. I have an emergency plan and if it heads our way, we will load them and bring them home. It went 15 miles today and jumped from 5000 to 17000 acres. It could and probably will do as much tomorrow. Life's always an adventure, but after this BS i could use a month or ten of smoother sailing. I will update ya'll sometime tomorrow evening. Til then, God Bless and good luck.
 
Just got in from baling ahead of a rain storm.

I'm at a loss for words friend. :( Glad you and yours are safe tonight.
Makes me sick thinking about the cattle out there and the financial losses for those involved.

Don't waste around tommorow, get your stock home. They can go back once things settle down.

You know I would send you rain if it was in my power, til then all of you folks that need moisture are in my prayers.

Stay safe and God Bless.
 
Dang man....what a deal! Glad you are fine! Hoping your friends cows ended up making it through!
 
Praying for you, my friend! You can ignore all my PMs. I'm sure you have your hands way to full right now.
I can be out there in about 10 hours if I need to. Have a 26FT trailer and WILL travel!!
 
I'm with Gcreek, just bring your cows home for now. Hope it goes well for you today, and that some of Ricks cows found a safe spot. Major prayers going up for all of you!!! Hang in there buddy.
 
I agree with the others, get them home! I am soooo sorry you're having to deal with this, it has been a crappy summer for most of us. Stay safe out there today!
 

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