You Have Good Neighbor Folk...

[monkeyswrench]

When ya'll get the flames put out before the first fire crew can get there!
I'm babysitting the neighbor's shop...figuratively to put out fires while he's headed home from Glamis. Guy who lives across the road from me calls to let me know there's a fire in the field east of my house. Well, I make tracks, dirt road daredevil, and meet up with him, and several other neighbors. Somehow, a few with shovels(myself included), see it as a good time to breath smoke and start cutting lines. More like scoop dirt, toss it on flames and pat down. Somewhere in the fray, another neighbor starts cutting a line with his little Kubota, and another pops up with an old John Deere backhoe. Wind was blowing good, and most of us were worried about the closest house on the east, older retired couple.
We done good. Flames out when the first rig got there...about 40 minutes from the call...we're out a ways. They watered the smoking dirt...got the easy end today.
Don't know what started it, but glad it's out. No property damage, but my lungs are on fire!

About 6 or 7 acres all said and done.

Sorry, no action shots of the flames...Was a bit busy at that point!

 

[Crazyhippy]

Nice Work!

 

[blown32]

Wow...that could have been really bad, it got really windy today!
Nice to know there was no structures involved and everything is good.
Good to know you have neighbors that got your back!

 

[RichL]

Thumbs up to you and your neighbors.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Good job in the hood

 

[rivermobster]

When ya'll get the flames put out before the first fire crew can get there!
I'm babysitting the neighbor's shop...figuratively to put out fires while he's headed home from Glamis. Guy who lives across the road from me calls to let me know there's a fire in the field east of my house. Well, I make tracks, dirt road daredevil, and meet up with him, and several other neighbors. Somehow, a few with shovels(myself included), see it as a good time to breath smoke and start cutting lines. More like scoop dirt, toss it on flames and pat down. Somewhere in the fray, another neighbor starts cutting a line with his little Kubota, and another pops up with an old John Deere backhoe. Wind was blowing good, and most of us were worried about the closest house on the east, older retired couple.
We done good. Flames out when the first rig got there...about 40 minutes from the call...we're out a ways. They watered the smoking dirt...got the easy end today.
Don't know what started it, but glad it's out. No property damage, but my lungs are on fire!

About 6 or 7 acres all said and done. View attachment 945385 View attachment 945386
Sorry, no action shots of the flames...Was a bit busy at that point!

You've had a hell of a week!!! Good thing I didn't call you today!!!

Nice work.

 

[EmpirE231]

crazy! how does dirt like that just go up in flames?

 

[monkeyswrench]

Wow...that could have been really bad, it got really windy today!
Nice to know there was no structures involved and everything is good.
Good to know you have neighbors that got your back!

The wind was a major motivator for all of us! On our side of the valley it can change direction rapidly. At one point it shifted west, which actually helped us stop it on the north side...then the wind changed again and it turned on itself enough to stop it all together. Odd feeling for sure, never had the mustache or the need to be a fire fighter

Just showered the smoke off, and clothes are in the laundry. Smelled like I passed out by the campfire.

 

[monkeyswrench]

crazy! how does dirt like that just go up in flames?

The dirt had 2ft tall prarie grass on it...it's dry and burns fast right now. Don't know what started it for sure, but started real close to the neighbor's shop building...

 

[Carlson-jet]

The world needs more neighbors like you have including yourself mw. Nice job.

 

[ltbaney1]

nice work, for sure earned some good karma.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Well, wind blowing like hell, and power goes out. One of my boys looks out the window, and sees smoke.

About a half mile down from us, good plume laying low with the wind. Looked moving fast, and towards homes. Hop in the 85 chevy, and haul ass. Followed another neighbor down a driveway, nobody home yet. Allan, a chiropractor in his late 60's is who I followed. I grabbed a shovel that was against the barn, and we both hopped the fence to the back field.

Lungs hurting, we both cut off the finger burning toward the house. Other neighbors got there and hopped other fences...cutting of the flames headed towards the fields and another barn. Firemen got there, and cut fences. Their truck was watering hotspots when I left.

Allan and I hopped the fence, and went back to our trucks. I returned the shovel to it's post...homeowner still not home from work. Maybe 3 or 4 acres total burned.

Powers back on, time to shower. Smell like a beach fire pit...without the fun.

 

[500bbc]

Well, wind blowing like hell, and power goes out. One of my boys looks out the window, and sees smoke.

About a half mile down from us, good plume laying low with the wind. Looked moving fast, and towards homes. Hop in the 85 chevy, and haul ass. Followed another neighbor down a driveway, nobody home yet. Allan, a chiropractor in his late 60's is who I followed. I grabbed a shovel that was against the barn, and we both hopped the fence to the back field.

Lungs hurting, we both cut off the finger burning toward the house. Other neighbors got there and hopped other fences...cutting of the flames headed towards the fields and another barn. Firemen got there, and cut fences. Their truck was watering hotspots when I left.

Allan and I hopped the fence, and went back to our trucks. I returned the shovel to it's post...homeowner still not home from work. Maybe 3 or 4 acres total burned.

Powers back on, time to shower. Smell like a beach fire pit...without the fun.
View attachment 1005184

Certified BadAss.

 

[LazyLavey]

Monkeyswrench Volunteer Fire Department...

 

[Taboma]

Spontaneous combustion sucks OR ??
Regardless, great job between you and your neighbors getting it corralled before it got up a full head-o-steam.

 

[nowski]

Monkey Wrench aka First Responder.

Well Done Guy's Well Done...

 

[monkeyswrench]

Spontaneous combustion sucks OR ??
Regardless, great job between you and your neighbors getting it corralled before it got up a full head-o-steam.

The current thinking is a bird, or bird's nest in the utility pole. Big nest up there, and three big transformers. The nest looked to be eagle or hawk...branches and sticks, not twigs. Didn't see any crispy critters though, and no burning nest. Maybe they tossed a cigarette? Fanned out from that pole though, no denying that.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Certified BadAss.

The certifiable badass is Alan. No young pup, but not afraid to get down to it. He's my wife's chiropractor. Heard from others he's a really good guy for helping out folks in need as well. He didn't recognize me, as this was slightly abnormal. His home would have been in the path if it were allowed to grow.

 

[Taboma]

The current thinking is a bird, or bird's nest in the utility pole. Big nest up there, and three big transformers. The nest looked to be eagle or hawk...branches and sticks, not twigs. Didn't see any crispy critters though, and no burning nest. Maybe they tossed a cigarette? Fanned out from that pole though, no denying that.

Point of ignition, power pole + you lost power when it started, pretty good indication something caused a fault up at the transformers.

 

[TomD]

Your not just a good neighbor, your a GREAT NEIGHBOR!

 

[DILLIGAF]

Great job! reaction and jumping into action.

you have a good hood there and as they say it starts at home

 

[monkeyswrench]

Your not just a good neighbor, your a GREAT NEIGHBOR!

I have to make up for lighting off motors after midnight...fair trade

 

[DILLIGAF]

I have to make up for lighting off motors after midnight...fair trade

Heck ya it is.....

 

[DLC]

Dude that is BAD ASS! Nice to have good neighbors like that and watching out for one another

 

[KevinR]

Thumbs up to you and your neighbors.

I’ll say!

What started it?

 

[monkeyswrench]

I’ll say!

What started it?

I don't really know for sure. The ignition was within a few feet of a big utility pole that had a big nest. My first thought running up was a downed line because of the wind. Rumor mill on area FB group said a bird. Utility company was out quick. I assume they were called by people about the outage, and then got the FD call.

 

[Kachina26]

You're a good man Charlie Brown.
























Seriously, good job.

 

[AZmike]

Nice job man! The wind was crazy in the high country today. I was south of Holbrook this afternoon and couldn't even see the highway I was driving on from all the dust.