Page 19 - The Silver Fire

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The Silver Fire - As It Happened - Part 8 (Con’t)
as I faced into it. Steady and strong from the north, hence, the advancing fire. Of course, there were already vehicles and men here at the crossroads. I can hear some of the radio conversation.
I have not unpacked a single item out of my car, and I’m watching. My phone is at 32%. I must charge it and it’s hard to leave it. I tell myself, “It’s right there.” It’s the only possession I have to keep track of. Joey is still at my mom’s. I get my keys off the counter, back up my car (it’s in a waterfall from the sprinkler above it on the deck), and leave the keys in the ignition. I find paper and pencil and go up on the deck, dodging the sprinkler.
I begin to hear the fire.
Telephoto of Italian south of the crossroads. (photo top right)
I hear radio conversation:
“...about a mile and a half north, place with the gold roof.”
“Gold roof, yeah, I saw that up there.” “It’s getting smoky in there.”
Telephoto of Italian north of the crossroads.
I have to eat something. I have to charge my phone all the way this time.
Back on the deck. Silver City Hotshots have arrived. This column is the fire in Ladrone, farther to the west.
More personnel in place.
Globe Hotshots arrive.
Helicopters and airplanes. I’m guessing seven or eight aircraft total, some spotters, some retardant droppers, some water droppers. The water dropping airplanes are quiet, sleek, and graceful. The spotter planes are monitoring all the fire activity and reporting back via radio.Most of the suppression activity from the air is not on the fire that you can see in the pictures—the near fire. This is farther north and a little to the east. So I know fire has crossed the forest road. I think it’s near Pickett Springs Canyon. If there is
suppression on the near fire — the
IN MEMORY OF THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS
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