Hello all,

A friend of mine sent this to me...I got to see this from a distance. Not this close. This video was shot when the fire was going at it's largest. When I got here the planes where down to 25 to 30 passes a day.

Check out this video

https://youtu.be/4KGdP9_DHwY

Glad to see you're doing alright, Hunter! Last time, it was, "Stay safe" - today, it's, "Stay warm!" 

Hello everyone,

Will it has finally calmed down here at Seeley Lake (Rice Ridge) at things are getting back to normal. The first crews in have rolled up and moved out. Right now at the operations location where we have been staging up, eating and sleeping has cleared up. Right now there is about 40 of us left to "mop up" and watch for any hot spot that might start back up. Thank you mother nature for stepping in and giving us a hand!!

Sadly though, 2 young firefighters lost their lives in this blaze...my thoughts and prayers are with those families.

For myself, I am grateful this is almost over....not because I want to get home, because of all the destruction and lose. I am just sitting here on my rest period reflecting on how fast someone or thing can disappear. I love Montana...it's my home, and when someone suffers a lose, we all suffer. 

I am immensely grateful for everyone in my life...family, friends and all of you. I think back, almost a year and a half ago a lot of you were there for me and got me into a awesome hobby. Thank you very much everyone.

Hunter

Hello Jeniffer,

I am not sure what type of modeling you are interested in....but if you scroll through the main forum page you will see on the right hand side all the different genre's of modeling. Once you see what it is that interest you click on it and enjoy. Hoped this helped.

Tanker - Builder

Hey Toshi !

 I am glad to see the credit you give your Missus . Many of us that have a wife that lets us have a model world ought to be thankful too . Have a good day my friend . T.B.

 

She still has radiation and chemo therapy to go through.  Mrs. Toshi is staying strong.  She still is interested in my builds especially in the last kit.  The F4U-1D Corsair.  Thank you Tanker - Builder for such kind words for Mrs. Toshi!

Toshi

Hey Toshi !

 I am glad to see the credit you give your Missus . Many of us that have a wife that lets us have a model world ought to be thankful too . Have a good day my friend . T.B.

I can't imagine what a fire of this magnitude would be like.  Just come home safely!!!!  

Toshi

Tanker - Builder

Hunter ;

 I say this . You have to respect someone who runs toward the fire and not away .That takes guts ! I hail all of you and PLEASE , stay safe for your family at home and your family here . T.B.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Glad to hear you're safe. Just keep safe and keep your head down, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

modelcrazy

Hunter,

Good to hear you will get to go back to the homestead soon. These cold fronts lately have really cleared out the smoke in the valley here. Its good to not smell burnt pine all the time.

Thanks for what you do.

 

I thought I told you to stay inside Steve during this!! LOL LOL. And yes, it's a huge help that mother nature helped us out. The huge flame areas have calmed down and we are really gaining ground here. We are not seeing scenes like those of the photos I sent you. 

Hunter,

Good to hear you will get to go back to the homestead soon. These cold fronts lately have really cleared out the smoke in the valley here. Its good to not smell burnt pine all the time.

Thanks for what you do.

Thank you everyone,

Thanks for the well wishes and prayers. It's getting better out here and I was informed I will get to go home on September 28th or 29th. I might get to be home on my birthday.

Stikpusher and I have been PMing about a different subject, and during those PMs we talked about Montana's fires and those of California, and he also has had to work in these conditions as a police officer in Southern California. SoCal gets a good amount of wildfires each year due to drought, arson and the "Santa Ana" winds that really cause a boat load of trouble if a wildfire is going. 

Again, from all of us out here....thank you.

Yeah, Oregon, Washington and Idaho are getting a little rain as well.  Not enough to really help, but will slow them down a little and give the folks on the lines a better chance to play catch up.

Stay well and safe out there, and thanks for your efforts.

Hunter ;

 I say this . You have to respect someone who runs toward the fire and not away .That takes guts ! I hail all of you and PLEASE , stay safe for your family at home and your family here . T.B.

Hey Hunter,

Glad your safe and hope you will be getting your discharge from the line soon. I just left Great Falls today to go back to Kansas.

At least the weather is turning for the best, although I hate the feeling of mopping up in cold sleet and drizzle.  Seems if your not slowly dry roasting, your being soaked and frozen.

Thank you for your hard work Hunter, glad you are safe too. Hope Mother Nature continues to ease the fire danger so all us Nr'westerners can breathe easier.

Hunter, a couple of years ago, the Roaring Lion fire almost took out my brother's house and land off Roaring Lion Road, south of Hamilton. My brother's daughter and her family live in Missoula. She can look out the back door and see the fire in the Lolo Peak fire. Whenever I would land at Missoula International on my way to Hamilton, I always marveled at the P2V Neptunes fire bombers parked across the airport. You fire fighters and smoke jumpers do heroic work. I stand in awe of your efforts and accomplishments.

KnightTemplar5150

Be safe up there, man!

Double that boy-o.

Very best wishes to you and yours, Hunter. All of you guys on the Rice Ridge fire are very much in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you all for helping to save a very precious part of our Treasure State. 

The photos we're seeing from that entire area have been nothing short of apocalyptic at times and this fire has jumped around in some pretty spectacular ways all over the place. Be safe up there, man!

Ah.... I thought you were on a forced evacuation.

I ran watertenders for the Halloway fire in Nv. back in 2012.  I was stationed at the helipad for dust control for 2 weeks, ( got some cool pictures and vidio of the helicopter's.) Was also A water tender driver in Wy. Cant remember dates but it was about the same time. They had me somewhere North of Cheyenn for 3 weeks 16  hours a day 7 days a week with 2 days off after the first 2 weeks. HATED to be that far from home but the missus LOVED the $30 an hour!

littletimmy

Hope all your stuff is still there. I'm sending "GOOD" Karma vibes your way.

Thanks littletimmy.....my stuff is fine, I live in the Northwestern mountains of Montana. I am on loan to the southwestern fire division of Montana. Thank you for the good Karma.

Glad to hear you are ok. My wife and I have been through a few ourselves so I know what a PITA they can be.(Ever tried to get a herd of 8 goats into a  Ford Bronco at 1 in the morning? )

Hope all your stuff is still there. I'm sending "GOOD" Karma vibes your way.