The water hauling business was not much different. We noticed a significantly different approach when the feds assumed control of operations on the Rudloff fire. Thank God the weather turned, or the other half of the country would have burned I'm afraid.
Sunday afternoon while volunteers had their hands full on scene, we loaded water in Harrison by the school. Across the street enough vehicles were present at an "orientation", that at the rate of one shovel per, five or six miles of fire line could have been dug by hand that afternoon. I realize there are time and distance logistics involved in getting this type of team assembled and working, but I couldn't help but think of some guy named Nero.
If the team hadn't brought their checkbook, I think the welcome mat would have got hidden pretty quick. I guess everything has to be a "big deal" if Uncle Sam is involved. To their credit the first thing they did was to unburn 11,000 acres on that particular fire! The smoke was so bad on Sunday I guess it was hard to tell how big a fire actually was.
9 News from Denver left Monday afternoon, and I met the Red Cross leaving yesterday after lunch. Both of those are good signs I would think.