We have been accepted as help with a company that provides on site fire camp support for firefighters fighting wildfires. It is mostly in Ca but it could take us anywhere in the western states. We won't actually be employed until we are called so we will be waiting on wildfires to break out. The conundrum here is do we want fires for the work or do we not want fires because we really don't want fires, but then we don't work.
When we get the call we are required to be on the road, in route to the fire location in about 2 hours and arrive at the fire location as soon as we safely can. The company supplies laundry and shower facilities for the firefighters. So we will travel to a location near the wildfire and either be washing and folding cloths or cleaning the showers.
Rvs are welcome although full hookups may be iffy, as fairgrounds, ball fields or schoolyards are turned into small cities in support of the firefighters. Everything is brought to the site: food, kitchens, dining, laundry, shower, water and power. They say that these cities can support from 300 to 400 firefighters to upwards of 5000. The life of the city can be 2 or 3 days to 6 weeks or more. Everything depends upon the size and the length of the fire. The fire season runs from Aug. until Oct. and sometimes into Nov.
Pay starts from the time you get the call until you return home. We will be living in the city as part of the fire team and every thing, food, power, site, will be provided. Days are said to be 10 to 12 hours long and I don't imagine one would get a lot of breaks during that time.
Although I worked at Cape Kennedy and was part of the launch team that put man on the moon, this could be one of the most rewarding jobs that we have ever had and there has to be a lot of great stories, pictures and memories here. But for now we will sit by the phone and wait.
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