2026 Wildfire

[Irrelevant]

Looks like we're in it for good now.

a couple of those are really cooking, and a couple have already burned homes.

 

[El Jason]

 

[Perlodid]

Yeah that didn't take long. 20+ mph wind predicted every day for the foreseeable future up here too, 40-45 this saturday. The next few months are gonna be brutal probably

 

[Salmonchaser]

We’ve only had a couple of small ones nearby but we’re already making plans to head for the coast. Once it gets too Smokey I think we’re just going to put the sprinklers on auto pilot and go to the beach. It’s dry as a popcorn fart in Ne Oregon right now.

 

[Southern Elk]

I’m not looking forward to all of the smoke that will surely head this way.

 

[kiwi hunter]

View attachment 410652

Are they still using pfass?

 

[El Jason]

Are they still using pfass?

No idea

 

[INMT]

Wet in my microclimate for now. Warming up and drying out though. Still a decent amount of snow on trails in the high country.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Hope you all are out of harm’s way.

I was at another meeting Tuesday with our newly reorganized fire staff. They are still describing disorganization, massive unfilled positions, and general confusion. I had hoped they’d be farther along by now. I think the PNW is going to be the preview for the rest of us in the coming weeks.

 

[IDFireLass]

It's unreal the amount of big fires already happening. Those usually don't start until the end of June first of July here. Don't make your hunting plans in cement this year. Dry lightning type storms starting tomorrow in Idaho. Not looking forward to it. I'm just thankful I'm out of that type work. But I can still spot columns of smoke anywhere any size too.

 

[mtmiller]

Help is on the way.

 

[kwyeewyk]

Hope you all are out of harm’s way.

I was at another meeting Tuesday with our newly reorganized fire staff. They are still describing disorganization, massive unfilled positions, and general confusion. I had hoped they’d be farther along by now. I think the PNW is going to be the preview for the rest of us in the coming weeks.

I feel like things are better here staffing and level of confusion-wise, the issue I'm seeing is the WFS operating units in WA are unit 1 west of cascade crest, unit 2 east side north of I90 and unit 3 eastside south of I90. The BLM FMO became the new chief for unit 2, US Fish and Wildlife FMO became chief of unit 3. So now none of the BLM crews are responding to fires in unit 3 even though roughly half of WA BLM is in unit 3. And of course unit 3 has been getting hammered, and I've seen some frustration with the BLM fire crews not being able to respond on those fires. Hopefully adjustments will be made as things move forward to solve problems.

 

[BuzzH]

Got an email yesterday...stage 1 fire restrictions in the Routt National Forest. NFS in Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties.

Was working just inside the CO border yesterday and even though things are somewhat green, everything felt dry. No soil moisture to speak of 100 and 1000 hour fuels seem very dry for this time of year.

Unless we get timely rain, I'm guessing things are going to be on fire around here pretty soon.

 

[El Guapo]

Hope you all are out of harm’s way.

I was at another meeting Tuesday with our newly reorganized fire staff. They are still describing disorganization, massive unfilled positions, and general confusion. I had hoped they’d be farther along by now. I think the PNW is going to be the preview for the rest of us in the coming weeks.

FYI those of us on the ground are just continuing to do business as usual and get things done. It's more of a PIA at this point and the positions being filled or unfilled are 14s and above.

 

[Hunting Wife]

FYI those of us on the ground are just continuing to do business as usual and get things done. It's more of a PIA at this point and the positions being filled or unfilled are 14s and above.

Our folks are trying to continue business as usual as well. However in my location, apparently the org chart calls for six engine crews stationed through the state. But with retirements and losses of half of the collateral duty red carded staff, there aren’t enough folks left with engine boss quals I guess? So scratching heads about how to staff those engines, or so we were told.

Just sharing the info that is being shared with us. Sounds like some areas are better prepared than others.

 

[BuzzH]

The group I work with, we are fully staffed at 120, by the end of August we will be down to 52 give or take.

There is talk of multiple rounds of VERA/VSIP for the 6200 that received letters regarding the reorg. I got a letter and I qualify for both, so if or when the opportunity presents itself, I'm going to call it good after 38 years. If not, I'll play it out another 2 years and to get to 40 which was my plan all along. This operating via full-time triage is not a good thing for anybody.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Help is on the way.

Gotta have a sense of humor