This next post is quite long but once you read it you will know how all wifes of wild land firefighters feel including yours truly. This post is from an amazing wife that is part of a support group I am in. Thank you Alysen It’s quite unfortunate that the Arizona tragedy inspired me to sit down and put my thoughts in writing. Yes, I could have typed my thoughts without having such a dramatic prelude. But honestly, out of nothing but deep respect for the 19 men who won’t ever get to read these words, I’d like to honor them myself for bringing the nationwide level of respect for wildland firefighters to the level it should have always been. Let me just say, the respect should stay at this level. I am SO thankful that it is finally realized by the general public that wildfire crews don’t just dress up as Smokey the Bear & teach Cub Scouts how to pitch a tent. They obviously undergo massive amounts of training, work in extreme conditions for long durations, don’t get beds to sleep in 95% of the time they travel on assignments, and definitely harbor a bit of guilt for missing major milestones in their own child’s life/family events (let alone their spouse’s birthday). They work for the government. If the entire population was in that position, the need to say more would be obsolete. But, not many people understand how very slight the level of understanding IS for government employees. Basically, there is zero understanding. Yes, the crews love each other (maybe even more than they love their own siblings), but the majority of government paperwork goes through a system in some state you thought was only populated in 1924. Yes, the captain is a captain. But he has a captain who also has a captain who also has a captain, who you’ll probably never meet. If you’re looking for a flexible career that accommodates your personal interests, I HIGHLY recommend for you to NOT apply for any type of wildfire crew, anywhere. Ever. There is no schedule in wildfire. Yes, at the beginning of a season, the captain will mastermind some schedule (that ends up being re-mastered at least 7 times within the first six weeks to try to calm the invisible fire brewing amongst his crew), but because no memo is sent from the atmosphere regarding planned lightning strike at “latitude-X/longitude-Y”, this “final schedule” ends up being a complete waste of the captain’s time. Crews end up being on Mother Nature’s schedule. They are on call 24/7. There is no such thing as planning ahead in the world of wildfire. I highly doubt that I am speaking for only myself by saying this: It is my biggest pet-peeve of ALL for someone to ask me, “When is your husband coming home?” If you are planning to ask me (or any fire-spouse) that question in the future, here’s your answer: NO IDEA. At this point I may have come across as a wildfire crew member myself. I’m not. However, I am the wife of one. There have been (&will be) many summers where we feel lucky to see each other two days in a row...even one. On many fire assignments, there is zero cell service for ALL wireless carriers, preventing phone calls to be made to any spouses, by any phone…sometimes for weeks. Someday, on planet perfect, trees will have payphone apps. But, we’re not on that planet & that’s something all fire families adjust to. Many nights, fire families at home consider hearing “no news” as “good news”, since there’s an unspoken/silent fear that an odd phone number on caller ID might be something that you’re not ready to hear. Unfortunately, AZ families had to experience this bottomless feeling recently & I have nothing but high respect for them. I can’t imagine the depth of that fear being forced into reality. To be a fire spouse is something that I could try to describe for days. I don’t plan on taking up that much of your time, mostly because it would do no good in the first place. The only people who do understand fire-life are those who have lived it. The unfortunate AZ incident puts an extreme amount of pressure on wildfire crews (not to mention weight in their hearts) to not only complete current assignments as they always would, but to work under the magnifying glass of the American eye. They know what they’re doing. They are beyond capable of defeating something the rest of us would gladly run from. Continue to give them respect by giving them the sanity they need to work efficiently & safely. I’ll be surprised if America steps away from the vending machine of American Media. Sometimes there isn’t a need to “find an answer”…and honestly, in this case, maybe you should take a walk & chat with Mother Nature. She might surprise you with something the same way these heroes were surprised & that might make you understand/respect their heroism a bit more. To close out my saga, I want to remind people that the level of public compassion that I have noticed toward the families/friends of the lost men should stay that way. No, it won’t help ease the heartache. It won’t improve another firefighter’s safety. It won’t prevent another extreme fire from happening. But it will make the AZ fire families smile from within knowing that this country (finally) considers their heroes as…well…heroes. They always have been & will forever be. Granite Mountain Hotshots, rest high on that mountain. You will continue to inspire & guide. All I can say is, “Thank you.” -Alysen McLemore
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 04:46:52 +0000
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