Hey, Firemen

[dirty old man]

I know you won't see this for a few days, but you're doing a heck of a job considering the conditions. Winds blowing up to 100 mph - wtf. Two (of many things to comment about; 1) TV coverage. Your leaders used to let the TV news coverage up into the fire areas where we could see the work you do. Now, they're held off in some remote place where all they show is 100 or so firemen waiting for assignment, and 2) it show a lack of preparation by our city planners/engineers in that are are not enough firehydrants to get more hoses in (thus the 100 guys waiting for assingments ?). By the way, how many hoses can one hydrant feed? Going to be a rough day today (Mon). Good luck

[phebus]

Brush firefighting is a mobile operation due to ever changing conditions. The last thing you want is to be tied to a hydrant. The engines carry their own supply of water and the hydrants are used for refilling the tank.
Base camp is where all resources coming in or going out check in to. It is a place where resources are pooled until the incident command deploys them to where they are most needed. It is also a place where personell are fed, hydrated and allowed to rest between assignments.
I know it all looks like a cluster fock, and often it is, but there is more organization then meets the eye.

[Throttle]

the media could really use some lessons on how, what and why we do the things we do...
its great to have the media there for lots of reasons, however they are at risk and add more liability to us when we are working in these adverse conditions.

[clownpuncher]

The media can be our friend. But, at times like these (wildland fires), they're better off staying at basecamp. All the good info comes from the PIO's from basecamp so they might as well stay there. Trying to get video coverage on the fireline can be way to dangerous. If the fire fighters have to worry about protecting an over eager camera crew then their attention to protecting themselves or the homes they're assigned to will deminish.
We have a lot to think about in split seconds such as weather conditions, water supply, your crew, structure protection etc etc. Adding a camera crew, complete with annoying reporters and cameramen, is something we shouldn't have to worry about.
Fire hydrants are never used as a water supply for wildland fires. Like Pehbus said, it's only used to refill the engine's water tank.
Hooking to a hydrant will basically anchor the engine and it's entire crew to that spot. Not a good thing. Mobility is key and sometimes our only escape.

[dirty old man]

Thanks guys, learned a lot in just a few minutes. Guess its time to go out and hose down some TV people, OK