By James A. Bond
For Carter County Times
(Last week the crew from Kentucky arrived in Washington, and received their assignment, on a First Nations reservation.)
I was with my squad when we got pulled from mopping up, to cross division lines and assist an engine crew in fighting a rekindle fire. As we were finishing up, the IWI (Incident Within an Incident) was called over the radio. Someone from Bravo squad was injured, second degree burns to both legs.
“That’s Tim’s guys!” I said to one of my squad mates.
My heart sank with worry. We finally left and got back to our assigned drop point to regroup with the rest of the crew. I watched Bravo’s truck pull in, and as they piled out, tears began to flow when I didn’t see my friend. Tim’s a Carter County boy I fight with here at home, and my best friend.
I finally saw sullen faces mouthing “Timmy.” We were briefed on the situation. It was no one’s fault, and he did everything right, accidents just happen. The stumps and roots burn out so far underground that it’s hard to gauge. The ground gave away, opened up, and swallowed him up to his knees; sending a rush of superheated dust and air into his pant legs.
The next day at camp, I was pulled from line duty to go be with Tim in his hotel for the night. He was being sent home the next morning.
We spent the night at the hotel, laughing and recounting our time. He stayed in good spirits as he always does, but seeing his pain while I dressed his wounds was heartbreaking. I’ve wrapped a lot of bandages in my time, but it’s so much different when it’s your best friend.
But he’s safe, healthy, and is going to make a good recovery.
The following days after he left us were much of the same work. I was deemed the crew philosopher and given the name “Double-O Dundee” because of my hat, and my choice of using a lean-to instead of a tent for shelter. I was also tasked with giving daily words of wisdom at morning briefings.
One morning it was a Daniel Boone quote, “Fear is the spice that makes it interesting to go ahead.”
Later that day, those words resonated with my whole squad when we encountered a nearly 500-pound brown bear on the line. She showed zero fear or concern for us. At about 45 yards away, she squared with us, snorted, chuffed, and snapped her teeth.
My squad boss and our sawyer, Burke, had been raising their voices in the hopes she would leave. Finally, she slipped into the tree line without making a sound. We then had to tighten up and make our way back to the drop point in her direction and report it. Moving in a group armed with hand tools, keeping an eye out for a bear that could flank you at 35 mph is a rush. It really makes you feel primal. Then again, getting pulled off the line because of an active shooter gets the blood flowing a bit too.
I’d like to think Daniel Boone gave us what we needed.
The two weeks did seem to fly by though. We stayed busy with our work and assignments. I made friends that are irreplaceable. Good lessons were learned. Tears, blood and sweat were shed. Calluses were raised and Kentucky made a mark in Washington state history. I’d tell more, but we’d be here all day.
I wrote this for two reasons. The first reason is to shed light on this line of work and share the spirit of true fighting Kentuckians. The second is that I told Steve Burke that I would.
“Double-O, you write that and I’ll hang it up in The Mudhole.”
So here it is. I worked with some of the very best Kentucky has to offer and their story needs to be heard.
Charlie Squad: Jacob Bentley(SB), Nolan Webb, Gabe Carpenter, Devon Daugherty, James Bond, Steve Burke, Shane Slone, Brandon Russell.
My words of wisdom at Modrite.
“Crap goes in your garden.” -Uncle John-
“Always be grateful for what the Lord gives you, and seven times more grateful for what He spared you.” -Self-
“Fear is the spice that makes it interesting to go ahead.” -Daniel Boone-
“If you lower your standards to avoid disappointment, you’re already more disappointed than you realize.” -Self-
“Be always sure you’re right, then go ahead.” -Davy Crockett-
“Life is school. Sometimes class sucks, but flunking out ain’t an option.” -Self-
“Courage is the resistance and mastery of fear, not the absence of it.” -Mark Twain-
And finally, what seemed to be everyone’s favorite:
“The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” -Mark Twain-
Dedicated to all Wildland Firefighters, their families, and the 25 best the Bluegrass offered up to their neighbors in the Pacific Northwest.
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