Two thoughts: 1) Though I'm sure unintended, this could be a low-key post about current politics. 2) There can be pockets of stability in the midst of larger instabilities--think planning P and the daily rhythm of response.

I straddle the line with a tweaked societal/personal combo of A and second half C:

The future WILL be better for all because of the changes we will force, but as we put in that work, I also need to plan and take actions to protect the ones I love.

Oregon says hello.

Friday's fire photo is of a reseeding plane flying over the Cerro Grande Fire burned area near Los Alamos, NM. We tried to get grass growing ASAP to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion even though there was a lot of hydrophobic soil.

Vista Fire, 2001 I believe. Yes, the photo is mine. Here's another:

Today's photo is an aerial shot of a Los Alamos, NM neighborhood after the Cerro Grande Fire of 2000. Note the green trees and yards--many of the homes were burned by wind-blown embers finding a receptive fuel bed in or near the structures and not from a flaming front.

OK, after googling, I'm sure it was the 2004 Sedgewick Fire, started during a campfire ban after some kids built a campfire & then put it out--but they leaned their stir stick against a tree & the tip, which was carrying just enough heat, fell on fine fuels.
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/13325...

This is from the oughts. I'm almost certain it was taken with this camera.

No, I think it was somewhere south of I-40 between Grants and Gallup. Memory is fuzzy, but it was probably near Mt Sedgewick.

Today's fire pic is a nice little flank of a managed fire creeping along on the North Rim:

First, no beans-they suck up the vital chili juice. Pick a substantial meat, not ground. Dark beer instead of water, more chili powder than seems prudent, and play around with your fav spices. Add jalapeño juice and some liquid smoke. Grated cheese on the side. Onions on the side is OK I guess.

Well, we're only three weeks away from the heaviest travel days of the year. If that happens, grandmas looking at empty place settings and the leftover turkey will get radicalized fast.

Day Three: Here's a Skycrane dipping out of a lake near Grants, NM. I don't know much about this helicopter, but I think it's a boy.

And as an extra added bonus, here's a shot from a helicopter above Navajo Mountain looking across Lake Powell towards Bull Ridge. Rainbow Bridge is somewhere down there on the near side of the Colorado. Note the retardant drop in the foreground.

As a bonus, here's the same fire at night. (I can't remember who took these, but it wasn't me.) Best fry bread I ever had came from two older ladies who spoke little English but had the greatest smiles. I do love that country and the people who call it home.

Day 2: Fire on Navajo Mountain, 2006. IIRC, this was the first time an IMT had been invited onto Navajo lands and it was a long ride from the main Arizona highway into Utah. We set up ICP at the Navajo Mountain High School.

Yes. One of the immediate tasks during a response to wildland fires that have destroyed homes is to work with groups and get the donation stream defined, set up, and communicated. Otherwise, you end up with literally tons of stuff being dropped off at a small VFD or overwhelming some local charity.

This first listen is pretty funny as they initially miss the main thing about Lola. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtOU...

Side note #3: It took way longer than expected to fool the snowmaking equipment into thinking it was below freezing, but we were able to wet the slopes in advance of the fire, which reduced the spotting potential. 12/12