Wildfire Aftermath

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Sorta revisiting an old build.  The Uranis 375 Tree Grapple.We're clearing a fire break around the house after the fire came through here going on 2 weeks ago.The cedars are approximately 30 feet tall, and just about the same in diameter, AND THEY'RE WITHIN 10-40 FEET OF THE HOUSE.  So it's time to do a little surgery.Let the mayhem commenceThis is a good sized tree, about 30ish feet in diameter.Sorta clogs up the driveway when it's being pulled out of the yard.It all began on a Saturday afternoon, 2pm to be exact.Saw the fire start around 3 1/2mi to the South, and decided to move the trucks and other rolling stock out to the highway for an escape should the fire come into our section (we're set up in mile sections here, and intersection each mile).  At this point the fire was 1/2mi from the house.Wandered down to the next section to view the progress of the fire.  It was MOVING FAST.Kelly decided it was time to move the trucks to the next mile North.  We shuttled everything up the road."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:The fire came onto us within around 15 minutes, and burned about 150 yards to the East of the house on the other side of the highway[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80IkxlgN058[/ame]The oil tanker going by was being used to haul water.  They were flying up and down the highway to keep the brush pumpers full of water.After the fire passed us by, the wind shifted, and brought it back down on us again.   This time it actually hit the place after it came across the pasture on the other side of the highway.  I could only stop a few seconds to record the video as we were haulin azz back down South to get out of the way[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYYqbbaIyxs[/ame]The fire burned within a few yards of the pasture fence on the North side of the house.  How it bypassed the house we'll never know.Now we had to deal with the rest of the fire"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Your links don't work Samm.Glad to hear your house was spared. How bad did you get hit?.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:After the fire was knocked down, the firefighters had to concentrate on other areas heavily involved.  This left us on our own to knock out the hot spots threatening the house.We were able to borrow a tanker from her place of employment, and fight what was left of the smoldering trees which would have reignited with a little wind, or collapsed as they burned out on the inside.  When trees collapse in this manner they start the unburned trees on fire.This is an 80 barrel tanker.All it had on it was 2 and 4 inch hose, but it was a lifesaver.  Kinda hard to drag those heavy transport hoses around This is a vacuum truck, the heart of the system is the pump.  It can pull vacuum on the tank, or put pressure to the tank.  No actual fluid goes thru the pump, it's strictly a compressor.The National Guard also brought in Blackhawks to help fight the fire.  They were worth their weight in gold."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:We lost an 80 acre hay meadow, old "homeplace" 160 acres, and about 15 acres in the quarter section I own on this side of the county line.  So about 260 acres out of 400 acres is a complete loss.I hate to see what happens when the rains come.  There's gonna be some serious errosion."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Almost forgot...........The truck caught on fire under the frame on Sunday morning around 3am.  Wires had rubbed and grounded on the frame.  We thought the thing would burn down right in the middle of the highway   Chemical extinguisher, and all was well, but it wouldn't start cause the relays had been burnt too.  Shop dood got out of bed and came to set it right.  He's a prince of a man, as well as the other people she works with.  A real good bunch of people"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Glad you and the lil woman made it through unscathed Sam.  Fires can be scary and amazing at the same time. Despite if the destruction they can and are doing you can't help but watch and wonder at the raw power inside the head of the fire."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Can you redo the fire videos? Fire on the truck you used to fight the fire ??? REALLY? Don't take this the wrong way but I'm just wondering (due to the heat and dry weather) how good the crops you lost were? Because if the crops were were big it could have been much worse (hotter). Last year we had a spontanious fire out in the field on the family farm. We dumped fruit and the the tennant put grass on top...Fruit rotted and grass kept in the heat. The flames were up trees and luckily we got rain that night  (as we were fighting it) because we didnt have a big enough tank to get it under control. Ours was not your size but they all gotta start small. Also remember that fires do happen in nature and that fire is usually good for the soil, if it doesnt rain and wash it all away.Last edited by dumb as a stump; 08-14-2012 at 11:41 AM.Reason: bad speelingMiller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:how did it start do they have any idea?Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpCan you redo the fire videos? Fire on the truck you used to fight the fire ??? REALLY? Don't take this the wrong way but I'm just wondering (due to the heat and dry weather) how good the crops you lost were? Because if the crops were were big it could have been much worse (hotter). Last year we had a spontanious fire out in the field on the family farm. We dumped fruit and the the tennant put grass on top...Fruit rotted and grass kept in the heat. The flames were up trees and luckily we got rain that night  (as we were fighting it) because we didnt have a big enough tank to get it under control. Ours was not your size but they all gotta start small. Also remember that fires do happen in nature and that fire is usually good for the soil, if it doesnt rain and wash it all away.
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumphow did it start do they have any idea?
Reply:Sorry to hear about the fire. Thankfully your house was spared and you and yours are safe. I am sure a big thanks goes out to all who helped. Best wishesMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammWe lost an 80 acre hay meadow, old "homeplace" 160 acres, and about 15 acres in the quarter section I own on this side of the county line.  So about 260 acres out of 400 acres is a complete loss.I hate to see what happens when the rains come.  There's gonna be some serious errosion.
Reply:Wow.More than 50% of your land/crops/fields are completely burned out?  Wow.Glad you and the Ms. and the house survived.Did I mention "Wow" yet?  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Holy Crapola!Close one eh?The fields may be toast now but they will be back better than ever in a little while.Pray for rain!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:That's unreal. Good luck getting everything cleaned up.IW Local 580 NY, NY
Reply:Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours Sam.  I take it the stock was safe?  Hug the Misses and wait for the green flush after the rains.  I know the drill well of hauling hay down the road and home.  Hang in there.Charlie
Reply:Good to hear you and Kelly are OK, you guys were my first thought when I seen the fire on the news.
Reply:Hope things get better samm."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:WOW !  Really glad you guys are ok. Boy that really left a mark !  Nature can be H*** !Boy, that land is gonna need some work . Is insurance gonna do anything ? or act of nature clause. Good luck !
Reply:Sorry to hear it Sam.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Sorry you had to go through all that, Sam. Good luck to youSafety 3rdGump
Reply:Man!  Earthquakes, tornados, wildfires . . .You guys are getting the full tour and I'm really glad you're all OK and the houses too.Is that the family property you showed me a couple miles south of the house in post #5?MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:WoW your one lucky feller.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:I went to Stillwater to get my trackhoe today, finished a job up last week, but there were oversize restrictions on 51 due to the fires.  Came back on Hwy 51 thru Mannford, and I have never seen that kind of fire destruction in Oklahoma.  Saturday before last we were on the turnpike coming in, and it was literally a blanket of smoke from Stillwater to Sperry.  Glad you made it thru the inferno Samm, wish you hadn't had the damage you do.  Any idea how much livestock was lost from the fires?Hey Sam,I am sorry for your losses and will keep y'all in my prayers.How can we help?Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:As you probably heard, we went through this big time in Texas last year.  It's very sobering to see one of these monsters coming right towards your home. Everybody around here had an emergency plan, in case it happened. Had extra cash, important papers family pictures, etc. in a couple boxes ready to throw in the car, knew where all the prescription medicine was, had the pet carriers ready, and so on.  Some people had sprinklers set to spray their houses so they could turn them on just before they left. It's astonishing how much a little planning can help, and you will NOT remember all this stuff when TSHTF. Good point about it killing weeds. Our neighbor lost 90 acres; now its a gorgeous pasture of coastal.It also killed a lot of cedar, too. Now when the baby cedar comes up it will be easy to control.Glad you came through this pretty much intact! And like one poster said, there are some good sides to it.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:It sounds as if the fire moved quickly. Glad your safe. Do you plant any winter crops?
Reply:Wow thats sobering for sure.      The downside to clearing all the trees out from around the house is there goes all the shade trees.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Glad you and Kelly came thru safe and sound. That's a good idea clearing the cedars around the house. They create tremendous heat when they burn, as you know all too well.                                          MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw