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of 2000 saw some of the most destructive fires in U.S. history in the
western states. United
States Forest Service (USFS) and California Department of Forestry (CDF)
firefighters traveled throughout the west, fighting blazes that sometimes
reached 200,000 acres. CDF firefighter Jennifer Neely saw action on
the Concow Fire in Butte County, and the Hunter Fire in the rugged Merced
River canyon in Mariposa County. Husband Rod, with the USFS Sierra Hotshots,
put in 21-day work periods in Idaho and Montana, as well as shorter
assignments on fires in California and Nevada.
In Idaho he joined crews from throughout the country including military units on the Clear Creek fire, which grew to over 200,000 acres. It was contained only when rain and snow began to fall in September. Crews were called from New Zealand and Canada as well as the United States to fight the many blazes in Montana. Rod saw action on the Nine Mile Complex and the Alder Creek fires. In mid-October, Rod and the Sierra Hotshots returned to Montana on a rehabilitation project, building water bars and working on other erosion control efforts. Above: Flames dominate the landscape at the Hunter Fire. |
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Francoise Tremblay, Jennifer Neely, and Dan Patchett at the Hunter Fire near Bear Valley, Mariposa County CA, Aug 2000
(Click to enlarge any of the photos on this page)
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Jennifer at staging center; town of Bear Valley in background |
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Dan Patchett & Francoise Tremblay at the Hunter Fire |
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Hunter Fire |
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Rod in Montana (or maybe Idaho) |
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Richard Bush, Rod Neely, Matt Cooper in Montana |
