From: jakeyphil
Another great ride and time was spent at the Fresno Burn Run. Many new faces rode to Champ Camp this year. hope they will continue to go. A special thanks to Warren, the Smerdel brothers and to Big Bob. As always thank you Gino for the work you do for AARBF and including us in your year-round efforts. Johnny V touched us all and the kids are reaping the love we are able to share.
E-Hugs go out to all from Racey. She is very thankful and appreciative for helping her get to Champ Camp. She was where she is supposed to be during camp week. The club helped her achieve her plans on being there. Hannan is still collecting donations on her behalf. Thanks to all that contributed.
The backpacks, the glasses and bandanas were a great hit, the smiles and joy will always be remembered.
Fresno did a great job at the Picadilly this year. The beer and food from the hospitality was unending. They wanted to keep us in quarters as soon as we got there. The Fresno PD was out in force and wanted to nail someone no matter who you were. They even had the radar out during our procession out to burn camp the next morning, hehehe.
But Scotty put the word out stay in place. It was great to see all the other chapters again, old friendships were renewed and laughs abound. Ole' Daniels and Mark had made their mark as Barbary Coast ran them out early of another establishment again, oh well. Ole' Jack and Mark paid them back the next morning.
This was the first year I had made it out to the Bass Lake BBQ. What a feast they put on. Rib Eye steaks, 1" thick with all the fixins. If you haven't been, make it next year it is worth the ride, let alone the view.
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum (BBQ). An Suv ran off the road into the tall high grass. It was like a scene from the Sopranos. The grass around the catalytic-converter caught fire. But to the rescue...The baby blue was 10-97. Dressed in the new OSHA approved bunker-wildland attire of leather and beanie helmets the W&FMC first responders rescued, extinguished and mopped up the area before transferring the scene to the now arriving CDF crew.
To my amazement it was great to see unity and teamwork of many jurisdictions (chapters) in action. All as one; textbook in execution.
Saddlebags emptied tools abound, the resource officer was trumps, cardboard boxes, fallen signs, leather jackets and steel-toed boots were put into play. Hi-jacked extinguishers, a garden hose and shovels were acquired from many now on-lookers. A beautiful sight to behold. It was great seeing Simoni cutting that fire line in the next county.
As Barbary Coast checked the perimeter for possible structure exposure.
None was noted, they waived there expertise of structure firefighting to the grass-eaters.
It was great to see our leader JR as the IC. Setting up the command post ready to call for an air drop if needed, checking the weather and conditions, always knowing where his men are at all times. Truly a conductor of a great symphony. Myself, knowing I was just a junior chief on board. grabbed my flashlight and a bandana (SCBA) ready to go down a dark hallway to take over forward command, but Smitty from Rescue 1 (The Alley) reported to me that no structures were involved. So I grabbed my camera and took pictures.
Strength - Unity - Brotherhood
W&FMC always
Another great ride and time was spent at the Fresno Burn Run. Many new faces rode to Champ Camp this year. hope they will continue to go. A special thanks to Warren, the Smerdel brothers and to Big Bob. As always thank you Gino for the work you do for AARBF and including us in your year-round efforts. Johnny V touched us all and the kids are reaping the love we are able to share.
E-Hugs go out to all from Racey. She is very thankful and appreciative for helping her get to Champ Camp. She was where she is supposed to be during camp week. The club helped her achieve her plans on being there. Hannan is still collecting donations on her behalf. Thanks to all that contributed.
The backpacks, the glasses and bandanas were a great hit, the smiles and joy will always be remembered.
Fresno did a great job at the Picadilly this year. The beer and food from the hospitality was unending. They wanted to keep us in quarters as soon as we got there. The Fresno PD was out in force and wanted to nail someone no matter who you were. They even had the radar out during our procession out to burn camp the next morning, hehehe.
But Scotty put the word out stay in place. It was great to see all the other chapters again, old friendships were renewed and laughs abound. Ole' Daniels and Mark had made their mark as Barbary Coast ran them out early of another establishment again, oh well. Ole' Jack and Mark paid them back the next morning.
This was the first year I had made it out to the Bass Lake BBQ. What a feast they put on. Rib Eye steaks, 1" thick with all the fixins. If you haven't been, make it next year it is worth the ride, let alone the view.
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum (BBQ). An Suv ran off the road into the tall high grass. It was like a scene from the Sopranos. The grass around the catalytic-converter caught fire. But to the rescue...The baby blue was 10-97. Dressed in the new OSHA approved bunker-wildland attire of leather and beanie helmets the W&FMC first responders rescued, extinguished and mopped up the area before transferring the scene to the now arriving CDF crew.
To my amazement it was great to see unity and teamwork of many jurisdictions (chapters) in action. All as one; textbook in execution.
Saddlebags emptied tools abound, the resource officer was trumps, cardboard boxes, fallen signs, leather jackets and steel-toed boots were put into play. Hi-jacked extinguishers, a garden hose and shovels were acquired from many now on-lookers. A beautiful sight to behold. It was great seeing Simoni cutting that fire line in the next county.
As Barbary Coast checked the perimeter for possible structure exposure.
None was noted, they waived there expertise of structure firefighting to the grass-eaters.
It was great to see our leader JR as the IC. Setting up the command post ready to call for an air drop if needed, checking the weather and conditions, always knowing where his men are at all times. Truly a conductor of a great symphony. Myself, knowing I was just a junior chief on board. grabbed my flashlight and a bandana (SCBA) ready to go down a dark hallway to take over forward command, but Smitty from Rescue 1 (The Alley) reported to me that no structures were involved. So I grabbed my camera and took pictures.
Strength - Unity - Brotherhood
W&FMC always
