PHOTO JOURNAL FROM MI WUK THIS MORNING, August 27th

As you might imagine, the roads are full of fire rigs from all over California as well as sheriffs vehicles and bull dozers.  I went out to the Mi Wuk Sugar Pine fire station just before 8:00 this morning to get photos of the rigs in the station parking lot as well as across the street.  Here's the way the morning progressed.

Actually we'll start with last night.  Russ and I are on the CAST Team for the Fire Dept.  CAST = Citizens Assistance Support Team (or something close to that).  When an incident comes up we do what we can to help our department.  So far, for the Rim Fire incident, we have been answering phones to give the Duty Officers a break so they can vegetate for half an hour or go about their business of writing reports.   Our 'shift' is 6-8 p.m. this week so we take our dinner to try to eat there.

Right along with the Rim Fire Incident maps we're eating our sausage soup and salad.  On the right are fruit, cookies, donuts, granola bars and a few more cookies.  The door is open to all emergency aid personnel to come in, sit down, use the restrooms, enjoy a hot fresh cup of coffee or check out the latest maps, use the copy machine, etc.  And the public can come in as well to hear or pick up information regarding evacuation status or just have general concerns responded to.

This morning:

 Coming up the hill between Mi Wuk and Sugar Pine

 More rigs heading up to their staging areas

 Rigs from all over the state 'resting' and getting their morning briefing in front of the Mi Wuk Sugar Pine fire station.  Note that early morning sun trying to shine through the smoke.

  More rigs across Hwy 108 in the former Kelley's Kitchen parking area

 Bull dozers heading up the hill, possibly headed for the Long Barn area where they're scheduled to cut more swathes along the previously cut 'shaded fire break'.

This strike team is getting a briefing from their leader (don't know the title)

On my way home I came upon the Roseville crew (who were by our house yesterday morning when the dozers were cutting the swaths), in back of the Diamond Jim's parking lot by the message board.  Of course I stopped to say HI!

John, Ryan, John and Joe from Roseville

Joe has a message for the community:

"The welcome and generosity and the bringing of fresh homemade cookies by the children really makes them think of home and their families.  Thank you Community!"

Joe couldn't say enough about you folks.

We sure do know how to come together and support each other as well as those who come to help us. And that's a good thing.