Yeah, Glen. Though you haven't provided your bio yet (in "Introductions," below), I know you were previously a CDF firefighter. I tend to not be very emotional, but find that this incident, as with other previous multi-fatality wildland fire incidents, is effecting me rather strongly. Largely perhaps, because I spent a great deal of time fighting fire in that area, and fought alongside USFS firefighters throughout my whole career. I have the greatest respect for their firefighting abilities, and the USFS work ethic. USFS firefighters are especially poorly paid, despite having jobs considerably more dangerous and difficult than those of municipal firefighters. Their morale in recent years has been particularly poor as their compensation has dropped further and further behind that of other firefighters. Perhaps this incident will be of some help to them in their current negotiations with the exceptionally unsympathetic administration in Washington.

Michael Williams
Arroyo Grande, CA USA