|
East of Broken Bow | Skyhighballoon (MO ) - 4/18/2025 14:42
We lost our deputy chief a month ago to a heart attack the evening after he responded to two wildfires during the day. First was my neighbor 1/2 mile from me to the NW which was small and I think an accident (and their son is the FPD board treasurer, I'm board secretary). The second was much larger and got to I-70 and jumped to the median near exit 89 and was a burn off by farmer during a NWS red flag warning day.
https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/flags-to-fly-at-half-staff-for-fallen-pilot-grove-firefighter/article_25db05d2-00fd-11f0-9007-e3033729deb6.html
We passed a bond issue last year (75% yes) to upgrade our equipment. We have a 1993 3000 gallon tanker but our only real pumper engine is I think a 1981? Older 1000 gallon tanker is from the early 70's. We have a new 3000 gallon tanker/pumper on order to be delivered early summer. We plan to get a 2nd pumper used and a new(er) brush truck as the current one just a plain early 2000's 3/4 ton Chevy with small tank/reel hose/pump in the bed. Immediate Lebanon area not unlike are area around my area (Pilot Grove) just not crop farming as pointed out so more pasture = more dry grass in the spring. Not far away are some pretty heavy Ozark forest areas.
If you have a 3000 gallon water tanker, and it has a transfer pump capable of any amount of pressure, get some 1-1/2" hose and put one of these on the end. You would be amazed at the good you can do with it. 1-1/2 hose is heavy, so make it a manageable length, but for the price there isn't much you can use to put out more water in any kind of decent pattern.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2JS1JBH/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0...
Our risk of fire danger has gone down considerably since we started doing controlled burns. Fire does not cross something already burned, and in areas we burned in the past, we did it right and cleared brush and scrub, as well as rebuilt access roads so firefighters can get around much better to fight a fire. I will add we will NOT light on red flag days, but there are idiots who will, and IMO repeat offender 'firebugs' should start to feel a bit of pain when they have fires get away. | |
|
Mid-Missouri is ground zero for a Los Angeles-style wildfire crisis
