(dramatic music)
- We're on our way.
Hey, Charlie!
Meet me at the truck with your tools!
Pass the word!
- Hey, Goober!
- Peanut! Meet me at the truck, bring your tools.
Pass the word.
- Hey, Howard! Jim wants us at the truck, bring your tools!
Pass the word on.
- Hey, Hal! Jim wants us at the truck, bring your tools!
Pass the word on.
(thoughtful blues music)
- I just got a call from the fire dispatcher.
They've got a big fire up on Black Mountain.
Well, men, this is your first fire
and an opportunity to show what we can do.
Now, I expect everyone to show initiative
and pay attention to the job to be done.
I know you'll do your best.
All right, let's load the tools on the truck
and be on our way.
(clanging and banging)
Leave the headlights on the pickup, Johnny,
I don't think we'll need them.
- OK.
- Coming through.
Hello, Manual.
- Howdy there, Hal.
- I'll take the lead, Manual, you bring up the rear.
Now, let me know if I'm going too fast.
- OK.
- Keep at ten paces and hold it up there.
- OK.
- Move out, Al. Keep it up there.
Keep it closed up.
- We'll start our line here
and build it straight up that hill into the ridgeline
that the dozer crew is building.
Now, we've got to finish this line before the winds come up.
You'll be safe here but watch out for rolling rocks.
Now, we're anchored tot he road,
so we'll cut through this pine stand
to the edge of the fire,
then we can burn it out.
Our relief should be here around 1600 hours,
so pace yourselves.
Any questions?
OK, let's hit it.
(hacking on wood)
Building the fire line is tough, grueling work.
It's chop, trim, scrape, dig,
shovel, sweat, and sweat some more.
Over and over again until the line is completed,
and it has to be built right, too.
It's my responsibility to correct,
supervise, train, and show.
Building a line is not very glamorous work,
but it's mighty important in fighting fire.
I was glad my men were well-trained
and that I didn't have to give them
fundamental instructions on fire line building
when we started on the fire.
(hacking and scraping)
(crackle of fire)
Manual, post a man over there to watch for spots.
- Hey, Dick, get up there in the un-burn and look for spots.
Get out about 25 yards, 50 yards, look for 'em.
(crackle of fire)
- Hey, spot fire over there!
- Dick, Leroy, get out there!
Hurry up, move it out, don't be so slow.
(crackle of fire)
- Wind speed and direction are right
for burning off this light fuel.
The wind is blowing on our backs at about 10 miles per hour.
It should continue blowing in this direction.
I've asked one of my squad bosses, Bill,
to come along to gain a few pointers on the fusee
since he and his squad will be doing the burning out.
Bill, here's how you use a fusee.
See this tape here on the end?
Well, pull it up and over the end,
exposing the striking edge.
Twist the cap off and then strike the two ends together,
but be sure you hold the firing edge away from you
so you won't get burned.
(roaring fire)
After burning out the finger and mopping it up,
we were troubled with two more spots,
which were quickly put out and duly posted.
We were now getting into heavier timber
and I noticed that the wind was blowing a bit harder,
blowing up from the side of the hills.
- If we didn't have more water in the pickup,
I wonder if he'd be doing that.
Bill, he's in your squad, you'd better talk to him.
- OK.
- Now, it's gonna be real hot,
especially right here.
The wind's picking up.
Now, just in case it makes a run,
we can backtrack down to the road
and hit the fire from this trail.
Or we can cross over the burnt-out area
and go around the fire this way,
up to the ridgeline here.
Bill, we need two of your men to help hold the line,
stop burning out.
And send Howard up to the top of the ridge.
Have him report any changes in the fire to me.
Any questions?
OK, let's get back at it.
Hey, Paul, you'd better put your shirt back on.
Keep your sleeves rolled down.
And that water's for drinking, not washing.
(hacking wood)
Shortly after lunch, we tied in with the dozer line.
It was a welcome relief to see our friends.
The crew felt reassured to see that dozer.
(hacking wood)
- OK, it's moving up, let's go, up ten, let's go.
- Who's got line change?
- First objective accomplished.
Second objective, burning out our line.
Wasn't much left to be done in that department,
the fire had consumed most of the fuel.
Mopping up and keeping an eye out for spots
would keep us busy until relieved.
(engine working hard)
It's been a rough day all the way around
and they're tired.
Bit more experience on the fire line
and we'll be professional.
They're gaining confidence now,
in themselves and in each other.
(hacking and scraping)
Shore, this is Norris.
- Go ahead, Jim.
- Night crew's taking over, we'll be 10-eight to fire camp.
- 10-four, see you in camp.
- There's an old snag down there.
There's another further on down the line there.
Spot fires are out but they should be checked.
Oh, and watch out for rolling rocks.
(indecipherable shouting)
(engine cranks to life)
(thoughtful blues music)
Well, I got myself a team after all.
A good firefighting as well as a good projects crew.
Yes, sir, a real solid team with no cracks in it.
Understanding, patience, and awareness
of the problems of my crew members is my business,
just as important as building a fire line.
Now we're ready for any job.
(dramatic music)