DIRECT LINE OF ATTACK: Granite Mountain Hot Shots lead the charge on Doce fire
Lisa Irish
The Daily Courier
6/23/2013 6:04:00 AM
Prescott Fire Department Granite Mountain Hot Shots sharpened their chainsaws Saturday morning, then headed out to fight the Doce fire on the west flank.
The Hot Shots worked Saturday around Red Tank Hill to "create a greater portion of control to the most active side of the fire," Prescott firefighter and spokesman Wade Ward said.
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots were among the first firefighters to attack the human-caused Doce fire that began Tuesday, June 18, in the Dosie Pit area of Prescott National Forest off Iron Springs Road in Prescott.
"Their crews of 20 are typically among the first ones in there - they're on the front lines, and take a direct line of attack to the fire," Ward said.
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots and the Prescott National Forest's Prescott Hot Shots had just come off the fires in New Mexico when the Doce fire started, so they were nearby and able to help, Ward said.
Then four other Hot Shots groups from across the country, as well as firefighters from all over the state, joined them to fight the Doce fire.
"The Hot Shots may be fighting the fire with fire," Ward said. "They may be removing the fuels from the fire, or building a containment line that might be a trigger point for farther down the line."
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots, established in 2002, are an elite ground firefighting crew known for their innovative problem-solving and history of safe, aggressive fire suppression, Ward said. Members of the crew are highly trained, come from diverse backgrounds, and work long hours in extreme environmental conditions doing the most demanding of fireline tasks.
They carry 40 pounds on their back, may hike in seven miles or more to where they need to work, and work up to 14 hours.
"They have to be ready to leave for an assignment on two hours' notice, which sometimes means missing family events," Ward said. "They have to be prepared to be on that assignment for 21 days, get two days rest at home, and possibly be sent out on another 21-day assignment."
When it's not fire season, the Granite Mountain Hot Shots may help with other emergency situations, including removal of downed tree limbs during winter and spring storms - since they are experts with chainsaws.
Source: http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&ArticleID=120497Lisa Irish
The Daily Courier
6/23/2013 6:04:00 AM
Prescott Fire Department Granite Mountain Hot Shots sharpened their chainsaws Saturday morning, then headed out to fight the Doce fire on the west flank.
The Hot Shots worked Saturday around Red Tank Hill to "create a greater portion of control to the most active side of the fire," Prescott firefighter and spokesman Wade Ward said.
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots were among the first firefighters to attack the human-caused Doce fire that began Tuesday, June 18, in the Dosie Pit area of Prescott National Forest off Iron Springs Road in Prescott.
"Their crews of 20 are typically among the first ones in there - they're on the front lines, and take a direct line of attack to the fire," Ward said.
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots and the Prescott National Forest's Prescott Hot Shots had just come off the fires in New Mexico when the Doce fire started, so they were nearby and able to help, Ward said.
Then four other Hot Shots groups from across the country, as well as firefighters from all over the state, joined them to fight the Doce fire.
"The Hot Shots may be fighting the fire with fire," Ward said. "They may be removing the fuels from the fire, or building a containment line that might be a trigger point for farther down the line."
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots, established in 2002, are an elite ground firefighting crew known for their innovative problem-solving and history of safe, aggressive fire suppression, Ward said. Members of the crew are highly trained, come from diverse backgrounds, and work long hours in extreme environmental conditions doing the most demanding of fireline tasks.
They carry 40 pounds on their back, may hike in seven miles or more to where they need to work, and work up to 14 hours.
"They have to be ready to leave for an assignment on two hours' notice, which sometimes means missing family events," Ward said. "They have to be prepared to be on that assignment for 21 days, get two days rest at home, and possibly be sent out on another 21-day assignment."
When it's not fire season, the Granite Mountain Hot Shots may help with other emergency situations, including removal of downed tree limbs during winter and spring storms - since they are experts with chainsaws.
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Check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/
Read my blog at http://eclecticarcania.blogspot.com/
My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/derkimster
Linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kim-noyes/9/3a1/2b8
Follow me on Twitter @DisasterKim
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