Fireline Safety Classes Start Now

[2dogs]

For those who plan on being fireline fallers contracted to Cal Fire the annual safety classes are beginning. You can not be on the fireline without the proper safety training. Cal Fire's website lists dates for these classes under Fireline Safety for the Hired Vendor.

Office of the State Fire Marshal - Pipeline Safety

 

[Gologit]

For those who plan on being fireline fallers contracted to Cal Fire the annual safety classes are beginning. You can not be on the fireline without the proper safety training. Cal Fire's website lists dates for these classes under Fireline Safety for the Hired Vendor.

Office of the State Fire Marshal - Pipeline Safety

Have fun...honk as you drive by on Hwy49. I'll be sitting in my favorite rocking chair cheering you on. :msp_wink:

I'm learning how this semi-retired stuff really works.

 

[slowp]

Yup, I woke up at 4, and was able to go back to sleep and sleep in to the wicked time of 6:30!:msp_scared:

Do you have to do the pack test?

 

[wyk]

Yup, I woke up at 4, and was able to go back to sleep and sleep in to the wicked time of 6:30!:msp_scared:

Do you have to do the pack test?

State of Cal requires a 45lb, 3 mile 45 min test, I think. I think they also have a medium and light version as well. I was notified by my old boss to show up if I wanted back in on the firefighting this year(I ran in to him not long ago since I am back in Clovis area). I hadn't done it in 25 years or so. I took a pass. That was real work. In the Sierras it was 100-115*, 0% humidity, smoke, wind, dust, altitude, and ya get to wear heavy gear to boot. And then, there's fire. It's something I would say ya gotta do at least once.

 

[slowp]

State of Cal requires a 45lb, 3 mile 45 min test, I think. I think they also have a medium and light version as well. I was notified by my old boss to show up if I wanted back in on the firefighting this year(I ran in to him not long ago since I am back in Clovis area). I hadn't done it in 25 years or so. I took a pass. That was real work. In the Sierras it was 100-115*, 0% humidity, smoke, wind, dust, altitude, and ya get to wear heavy gear to boot. And then, there's fire. It's something I would say ya gotta do at least once.

I have done my time on fire crews. The most memorable tour was as part of the infamous Randle Mopshots. "Good for 21 Days!"

 

[madhatte]

Waitin' for this year's seasonals to show up. Always interesting to see who turns out for the gig.

 

[RandyMac]

You get to fall some very interesting trees on fires, sometimes while they are on fire.

 

[madhatte]

Word to that!

 

[Gologit]

You guys go right on ahead...I ran out of adrenalin a couple of years ago.

 

[madhatte]

I really wish a certain someone hadn't crapped himself and ran when I dropped that nasty burning fir across a road and into some power lines a couple of years ago. It would have made a great video. I'm still getting ribbed about it. I swear it wasn't supposed to go that way! Jokers even flagged the stump with "Killer Tree" tape after the fact.

 

[RandyMac]

I have many vivid memories of interesting fireline trees. Few things are as exciting as a DF bark shed, when burning.
Voucher payments bite.

 

[Jacob J.]

I have many vivid memories of interesting fireline trees. Few things are as exciting as a DF bark shed, when burning.
Voucher payments bite.

You and Slowp both got to see a side of firefighting that no one will ever experience again.
21+ day tours, no work-to-rest ratios, 40-hour initial attack shifts, metal piss cans,
fire shelters the size of rolled up sleeping bags, etc.

 

[RandyMac]

What is a fire shelter?

 

[wyk]

What is a fire shelter?

We called em Shake-N-Bake bags. Stew in your own juices...mmm....

 

[RandyMac]

Yeah, baked potato bag. I saw them on the Federal level around 1985, by then I didn't do crew work, didn't carry one. They made dandy covers for motorcycles.

 

[slowp]

C rations, not MREs. With cigarettes!

Shake and Bake is what we called them, and as I posted before, at a safety meeting, the lecturer on them said they were only good to wrap your head in so your mama could come and identify your body...

 

[mile9socounty]

Easy Bake Ovens is what I call them, or dead weight. No news on when any of our classes start. This weekend inbetween cutting oaks. I have to read my pre-work for my Task Force Leader. Joy...

 

[forestryworks]

I must be the newbie fire guy here. Well, not a full on fire guy.

For the fire ecology class we are required to do I-100, S-130 and S-190, as it counts for 1/4 of your final grade.

No pack test though - that's on our own dime/time.

 

[Brian13]

I just took the S-130 and S-190 class last month. I took it because it is one of the classes I can use for promotion, and ended up liking the class a lot. Going to start working on the faller certs and take the pack test now. Looks like a helluva lot of work, but a lot of fun to. Only one way to find out.

 

[madhatte]

Looks like a helluva lot of work, but a lot of fun

It's both. I can put you in touch with a TNC burn boss in FL if you want to work on RX burns.