BuzzH
Well-known member
Cali,
I'm more than pretty sure you dont know what you're talking about...maybe you need to catch up with the times...2008...not 1960.
I can tell you for 100% fact that the only BLM, FS, NPS employees that are not concerned with the current budget situations are likely only short-term seasonals...and of course...fire-fighters.
Anyone with a PFT appointment is very aware of budgets...or lack of a budget.
With that said, I'll now continue to school you on your lack of knowledge regarding government employees.
I've worked in a wide range of disciplines for the last 21 years, including fire, fuels management, silviculture, timber, BD, tree planting, wildlife, etc. etc. etc.
I can tell you for 100% fact that fire-fighters milk the living shit out of every fire they fight. Its gross, it really is. Been there, done that, and like Pointer said, its become part of the "culture".
I cant tell you how many "fires" I've fought that amounted to nothing more than a single tree burning from a lightning strike and a spot the size of a living room floor smoldering.
Typically these types of fires can be turned into a "garden patch" in about 3-4 hours. But, the way its done in the "fire culture" is to put a "scratch line" about 90% of the way around the fire. Rarely are fires called "contained" the day they are first manned...amazingly most fires are called "contained" a few hour after midnight. That way "hazard" pay can be earned for 2 full days...which is 25% of your base pay. Not to mention that hours clocked are usually in excess of 12 hours...30+ hours in two-day stretches is common. The only risk you're taking on a fire like this is the risk of being bored to tears.
How about playing cards, horse-shoes, and sleeping on the clock? Dont know many timber crews, BD crews, silviculturists, range managers, etc. that get away with that.
But, to give credit where its due, there is...(more correctly WAS) about 10% of the time that fire-fighting can be dangerous and hard work. You initial attack a real big fire and put in a 40 hour shift as a pulaski motor...yeah, its tough. Yeah, you earn your money...but thats 10% of the time. Currently, with all the rules, regulations, and basically 'fraidy cat fire-fighting...its become a joke. We cant fight fire at night anymore, cant fight fire if its too steep, cant fight fire if we have red flag warnings, cant fight fire if we might get blisters. Its become a joke, a bunch of people standing around watching a fire burn...15 years ago...hell, 10 years ago it was much different. Aggressive fire-fighting is a thing of the past.
As to fire-fighters "risking their necks" and nobody else in the government...again you're clueless pal. Really you are.
My current job requires flying in small fixed-wing aircraft into remote places. In case you missed it, I got to see a plane auger in on one of the strips about 2 months ago.
Also, for the record a few years ago, 3 of the people I work with crashed in a tributary to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Five total on board, pilot, flight manager, and a very good friend of mine...all DEAD. Another friend and co-worker badly burned and a broken back...one was "lucky" and only suffered minor burns and an ankle injury.
You're right, its only the fire-fighters that are "risking" their necks...
Oh, and BTW, my job previous to the one I'm doing now...I was personally responsible for an $800,000 a year budget as the project manager. I had to account for every penny... from equipment, salaries, contract work, administration costs, etc. etc. etc.
To say I didnt "worry" about or wasnt "responsible" for the budget is just not true.
Cali, you're wrong on this one...big time. I've been there, done that, and have the T-shirt. You're making wild guesses.
I'm more than pretty sure you dont know what you're talking about...maybe you need to catch up with the times...2008...not 1960.
I can tell you for 100% fact that the only BLM, FS, NPS employees that are not concerned with the current budget situations are likely only short-term seasonals...and of course...fire-fighters.
Anyone with a PFT appointment is very aware of budgets...or lack of a budget.
With that said, I'll now continue to school you on your lack of knowledge regarding government employees.
I've worked in a wide range of disciplines for the last 21 years, including fire, fuels management, silviculture, timber, BD, tree planting, wildlife, etc. etc. etc.
I can tell you for 100% fact that fire-fighters milk the living shit out of every fire they fight. Its gross, it really is. Been there, done that, and like Pointer said, its become part of the "culture".
I cant tell you how many "fires" I've fought that amounted to nothing more than a single tree burning from a lightning strike and a spot the size of a living room floor smoldering.
Typically these types of fires can be turned into a "garden patch" in about 3-4 hours. But, the way its done in the "fire culture" is to put a "scratch line" about 90% of the way around the fire. Rarely are fires called "contained" the day they are first manned...amazingly most fires are called "contained" a few hour after midnight. That way "hazard" pay can be earned for 2 full days...which is 25% of your base pay. Not to mention that hours clocked are usually in excess of 12 hours...30+ hours in two-day stretches is common. The only risk you're taking on a fire like this is the risk of being bored to tears.
How about playing cards, horse-shoes, and sleeping on the clock? Dont know many timber crews, BD crews, silviculturists, range managers, etc. that get away with that.
But, to give credit where its due, there is...(more correctly WAS) about 10% of the time that fire-fighting can be dangerous and hard work. You initial attack a real big fire and put in a 40 hour shift as a pulaski motor...yeah, its tough. Yeah, you earn your money...but thats 10% of the time. Currently, with all the rules, regulations, and basically 'fraidy cat fire-fighting...its become a joke. We cant fight fire at night anymore, cant fight fire if its too steep, cant fight fire if we have red flag warnings, cant fight fire if we might get blisters. Its become a joke, a bunch of people standing around watching a fire burn...15 years ago...hell, 10 years ago it was much different. Aggressive fire-fighting is a thing of the past.
As to fire-fighters "risking their necks" and nobody else in the government...again you're clueless pal. Really you are.
My current job requires flying in small fixed-wing aircraft into remote places. In case you missed it, I got to see a plane auger in on one of the strips about 2 months ago.
Also, for the record a few years ago, 3 of the people I work with crashed in a tributary to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Five total on board, pilot, flight manager, and a very good friend of mine...all DEAD. Another friend and co-worker badly burned and a broken back...one was "lucky" and only suffered minor burns and an ankle injury.
You're right, its only the fire-fighters that are "risking" their necks...
Oh, and BTW, my job previous to the one I'm doing now...I was personally responsible for an $800,000 a year budget as the project manager. I had to account for every penny... from equipment, salaries, contract work, administration costs, etc. etc. etc.
To say I didnt "worry" about or wasnt "responsible" for the budget is just not true.
Cali, you're wrong on this one...big time. I've been there, done that, and have the T-shirt. You're making wild guesses.
