Please join me for my next book talk at REI in Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday, January 15th at 6:30 p.m.
Interview on Out There Podcast
My segment on the PBS show "Arizona Illustrated"
ARIZONA ILLUSTRATED: EPISODE 604:
For behind a behind-the-scenes peek of the filming,
visit my prior post.
OR Watch on YouTube (I'm the last guest.)
Odyssey Storytelling "Disaster"
Here's the podcast link. (I'm the second storyteller.)
Firefighting dangers: Felling trees
Felling trees is a dangerous task to begin with, but that task is even more dangerous when the tree is on fire. In both cases there's a danger of limbs falling while you are cutting, the tree not falling the way you intended either because of hidden decay or other structural problems with the tree, and the phenomenon of 'barber chair', where the tree splits and kicks back at the sawyer, which can be fatal.
Why do firefighters cut down trees that are burning? Usually it is because the tree threatens to breach the fireline, or because it is close to where fire crews are working. The challenge of cutting down a burning tree is of course standing that close to flames, but there is also the risk of the gas in the chain saw catching on fire. Watch this video to get a feel for the danger and risks involved.
Firefighting dangers: Mopping up
"Mopping up" after a wildland fire is a tedious, dirty, and difficult, but necessary, job.
Once the fire is contained within a fireline, only part of the work is done. To prevent the fire from restarting later, crews now need to comb the burned area in search of hotspots--burning stumps, logs and other debris that could threaten containment. Every single one.
One would think the danger is over now. But that's where the danger lies: believing the danger is over.
Exhaustion plays a role. The firefighter may have spent 16 hours battling the fire, and after a short break, it's time to go back to work. With the rush of adrenaline gone, it's easy to fall into the belief that you can let your guard down. But you can't. Falling trees have been known to kill people during the mop up stage. You also have to watch out for burning stumps, with hotbeds of coals that are hidden by ashes. If you step into one, you could end up with serious burns. Rocks are loosened when there is no vegetation to hold them in place, and they can tumble at any time.
And then there is the risk that the fire restarts. In a heartbeat you go from mopping up to active fire suppression.
Here's a video to give you an idea of what mop up entails. This lucky crew was able to have water available. Quite often this is not the case. When there is no water, you are stuck with using dirt to smother the flames, removing oxygen, or by chopping the burning roots or logs apart so they cool down.
Once the fire is contained within a fireline, only part of the work is done. To prevent the fire from restarting later, crews now need to comb the burned area in search of hotspots--burning stumps, logs and other debris that could threaten containment. Every single one.
One would think the danger is over now. But that's where the danger lies: believing the danger is over.
Exhaustion plays a role. The firefighter may have spent 16 hours battling the fire, and after a short break, it's time to go back to work. With the rush of adrenaline gone, it's easy to fall into the belief that you can let your guard down. But you can't. Falling trees have been known to kill people during the mop up stage. You also have to watch out for burning stumps, with hotbeds of coals that are hidden by ashes. If you step into one, you could end up with serious burns. Rocks are loosened when there is no vegetation to hold them in place, and they can tumble at any time.
And then there is the risk that the fire restarts. In a heartbeat you go from mopping up to active fire suppression.
Here's a video to give you an idea of what mop up entails. This lucky crew was able to have water available. Quite often this is not the case. When there is no water, you are stuck with using dirt to smother the flames, removing oxygen, or by chopping the burning roots or logs apart so they cool down.
Firefighting dangers: Backfiring
 |
| Backfiring the 1977 Hog Fong Fire |
Using fire to fight fire has long been a technique to control a raging wildfire, and they can be successful.
However, these are also quite dangerous and can sometimes make the original fire worse.
The main danger: an unexpected change in wind direction can trap firefighters between the fire they are battling and the one they are setting.
For more on this technique and the use of prescribed fire, check out this article.
Firefighting dangers: Slurry
Back when I fought fire, I remember talk about men putting themselves in situations where they could be hit by slurry for bragging rights about being on the hottest part of the fire.
I always knew this was crazy, if not deadly.
Watch this video, and you will know what I mean.
Filming for PBS show Arizona Illustrated
What a thrill to land an interview on my local PBS station! I will be talking about my firefighting career and visiting the scene of my second wildfire and Florida (Flor-ee-da) Ranger Station, where I spent three summers on a fire suppression crew.
Here are some photos from filming on location.
Here are some photos from filming on location.
Never Give Up: My article on Outdoor Evolution
So
how did I, a woman, end up applying for a job on a fire crew with the U.S.
Forest Service...
Best selling author Laura Munson interviews me on her blog!
Forest History Today's review of my book
Summers of Fire captures
the brief firefighting career of a pioneer in the profession. Linda Strader was
twenty years old when in 1976 she became one of the first women hired on a
Forest Service fire crew, a career that ended in 1982 when an injury forced her
to resign. Strader is an excellent memoirist, conveying equally well her
harrowing experiences fighting fires in the woods in Arizona and elsewhere and
the sexual harassment and discrimination in the fire camps and offices of the
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Her attempts to advance her
career were undermined or thwarted at nearly every turn by those who believed
women did not belong in firefighting. She left the agency, married a member of
her original crew, and became a landscape architect. But the challenge of
pleasing a resentful husband while having a career took its toll; it took her
years to find a sense of purpose and resilience, as well as the courage alluded
to in the subtitle. Although it might be easy to characterize the book as being
for women because of its inspirational message about trying to make it in “a
man’s world,” men would greatly benefit from reading it, too, if only to learn
that it takes more courage to fight for respect and dignity than it does to
fight a wall of flames. (J.L.)
Forest History Today Spring/Fall 2018 Vol. 24 NOS. 1 & 2
Published May 2019
Camp Fury Event: Nontraditional job introduction
This program is awesome! It introduces Girl Scout teens to the world of nontraditional jobs available to them, with hands on experience in structural firefighting and other public service professions.
The girls were interested and engaged while I spoke, and asked great questions. I hope some of them decide to pursue one of these lines of work. We need more women in nontraditional jobs!
Book talk and signing at Tucson's Main Library
What a great turnout at my book talk yesterday at Tucson's Main Library! And the audience was really interested and engaged. Always nice when that happens!
My interview on Stories that Empower
Linda experienced harassment as one of the first women on a U.S. Forest Service fire crew. The more they harassed her, the more she didn't want to quit, e.g. fires were not the only things she fought. When Linda encountered an obstacle, she would come up with alternatives. After losing her job, losing her mom and getting divorced, she rebuilt her life for the 3rd time. Writing her book enabled Linda to reconnect with her 20s and remind her that she is tenacious and resilient. She reinvented herself and starting teaching others. Linda shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom:
- we are more resilient than we think
- figure out what's holding you back
- confirm assumptions that explain why you're stuck
- don't let people stop you from what you want to do
- permit yourself to say no
- trust your gut
- there are always options
Come have a listen to the full podcast!
Local author event at the Joyner Green Valley Library
What a wonderful time I had last week at my library's local author event! There were two authors besides me who gave presentations about their book.
I spoke about the history of women in the US Forest Service, and how I came to be one of the first women on a Forest Service fire crew in the 1970s.
The audience of thirty were attentive and interested, and asked wonderful questions. I sold all of the books I'd brought with me.
I spoke about the history of women in the US Forest Service, and how I came to be one of the first women on a Forest Service fire crew in the 1970s.
The audience of thirty were attentive and interested, and asked wonderful questions. I sold all of the books I'd brought with me.
My guest post: You have a book deal...now what?
You Have a Book Deal..Now What?
The Society of Southwestern Authors Annual Author Showcase
I'm quite honored to have participated in this event last weekend! (Yes, I was the one on crutches, but not anymore!)
Who knew I could write a book?
I never set out to write a book. In fact, writing a book was never something I wanted to do, or thought I could do. So why did I write one? Well, the journey began after my life fell apart.
Fourteen years ago, I ended my unhappy twenty-three year marriage. Then I lost my job. I found another one, but fear settled into my stomach that my career would not be stable. Two years later, I was laid off yet again. Three months after that, my mom, who was my best friend, died. I sank into the deepest depression, wondering if I could every climb out.
With the economy in dire condition, finding another job proved impossible. For two years I applied to everything and anything I thought I qualified for, which was not much, and then I started applying for jobs I didn’t qualify for. With all of this free time, I began to think about my former career. The one I had to give up, even though I didn’t want to.
In the mid-1970s, I became one of the first women to fight fires for the U.S. Forest Service. My seven-year career, although challenging and tough at times, still held some of the best memories of my life. Prompted by my neighbor, who suggested I should write a book about my firefighting job, I thought to at least write down some of my adventures. Ninety pages later, I shared it with friends. They encouraged me to write more. Four-hundred fifty pages later, I realized I had written what now resembled a book.
However, now that I’d written one, I needed to find out if it was any good. I joined a writers group, and connected with a retired English teacher, who volunteered to help me with grammar and storyline. Many edits later, I felt comfortable with the story, and decided to try for traditional publishing. I began querying for a literary agent.
The querying and ongoing editing process took two years. Did I get discouraged? Sure I did. But I tapped into my tenacity to finish what I started. At one point, frustrated with editing something that just wasn’t working, I set the original manuscript aside. I knew I had a story worth telling, I just needed to figure out the best way to tell it. Therefore, I rewrote the first five chapters. That worked, and I landed a traditional book deal in January, 2017. My book was released into the world on May 1, 2018.
If you are thinking of giving up, that you can’t possibly get that story written, or find a publisher when you do, all I can say is don’t give up. Writing a book is hard, but who said it would be easy? I’m a perfect example of how important it is to believe in your story and to never, ever give up. Even if it means rewriting the darned thing to reach your goal.
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