I can't believe how fast this forest catches fire. On the fire line Aug. 17, Runkel sprayed down flames and burning twigs and brush, and several soldiers gathered around the burning embers to smother the fire with their Pulaskis, which are firefighting tools with an ax and hoe combination. Many of the soldiers have camouflage or black bandanas around their neck. They use these to cover their nose and mouth when the ashes splash into the air from the spraying water. Safety has been the focus of the task force commanders and civilian firefighters who have been assisting the Army in training the troops and fighting the fire.
Soldiers face many dangers while out on the fire line.
Although fighting fires is foreign to most of the soldier, they have been able to shift gears effectively, said Don Black, the deputy assistant commander, Northern Rockies Incident Management team. When the forestry service reaches their limit, crews start to rotate from one fire to another. The day starts for the fire-fighting soldiers around 5 in the morning. Someone will point out a deer or a moose and everyone will lift their heads for a second and then go back to sleep. Back at the fire base camps, the Army and Air Force Excange Service has set up mobile stores and the USO is sending a troupe of performers to entertain the soldiers.