July 17th

Scotch pairs in the am, very hot most of the day was over 30c.
To Costco then continued the tournament at Lakehill. Played very poorly 1st game and lost but after the first 2 ends of the next game stated playing well and we won handily.
18C, had a brief shower (rain) now clearing.

  “Hey that you Jules?” I yelled as I skidded to a stop.

  “Yep, I’m me, whaddya want?” He didn’t turn around.

  “You and your cat, we got a fire just down the road, it’s in that blowdown.”

  He backed out and turned around, “Sure thing, but I’ll have to walk ‘er down and she sure ain’t very big.”

  “Good.” I replied. “Anyone else here with you?”

  “My boy, he’s hackin’ ties a piece that way just pass the shack.”

  I thought for a second, “You get fueled up and get going I’ll go get him.”

  I took off without waiting for a reply and followed down the trail from where they had been skidding the ties. In a couple hundred yards, I came on the his eighteen year old son, “Hey, I just sent your Dad down the road to a fire, we need you too.” He started to argue so I cut in, “No no discussion, I need you so drop your axe and c’mon.”

He followed but didn’t look too happy.

  When we got back to the tie pile the cat was just disappearing around a corner. “Grab a chain saw and get in the truck.” I ordered. “You are on the payroll as of now as a saw operator with saw.” He brightened up and scurried off to get a saw and fuel.

  While I was waiting I tried calling Vanderhoof again and did get a few garbled words in reply. Then suddenly loud and clear came, “9Bravo, this is Fort St. James, we can read you about three square can we relay for you?”

  I quickly replied, “You bet XLV51, please advise Vanderhoof that the fire is located twelve miles in on the Blue Mountain Road. I have a D2 cat and one saw operator on their way, I need a minimum of eight more men plus hand tools and two men with chain saws . If a tank truck can be found, will need one with water and pump. Break.” I waited a few seconds then went on,  “The fire situation is approximately one acre, burning in heavy blowdown, quiet at this time. No water within a least two miles. We’ll need food for a fifteen man crew, don’t worry about tents or blankets. Over.”

My message was repeated with a “Vanderhoof did you copy?” A few seconds later, “9 Bravo, Vanderhoof copied.”

  I put the truck in gear and accelerated down the road, passing the cat in half a mile.

  When we got to the old skid road, I said to Jerry (the son) “Just follow down this old road, cut out any trees that are in the way, make sure the pieces for part of the way are small enough for me to move then after that a little bigger as the ‘cat’ should be here by then. I’m going on ahead and see if I can knock down any hot spots.”

  I shouldered one of the back pumps, debated for a moment between a pulaski tool or a shovel then settled on the pulaski and headed back for the fire.