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Valerie Blair / inciweb.org
Part of the Fontenelle Fire burns behind summer homes in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming.
The nation’s firefighting focus shifted on Tuesday to Wyoming, where hundreds fled over the last two days as crews battle four major wildfires.
Incident commanders working 45 large wildfires across the U.S. did get some good news as well on Tuesday, when six firefighting C-130 aircraft were again made available.
The aircraft fleet had been grounded for a day to review procedures following the crash of a C-130 that killed four crew members in South Dakota.
"We have four new wingmen watching over us," Brig. Gen. Tony McMillan, commander of the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing, told reporters in confirming the deaths.
The two survivors were seriously injured, he added, without elaborating on their conditions.
In Wyoming, the Oil Creek Fire blew up from 9 square miles to about 31 square miles overnight and forced the evacuation of more than 400 people.
Evacuations were issued Tuesday morning for some 300 people near the Squirrel Creek Fire southwest of Laramie, the Casper Tribune reported.
When a disaster strikes, the Red Cross breaks out a special tool to help catalog the damage and share information between the local police, fire departments and the national organization.
And the 138-square-mile Arapaho Fire, which is just 10 percent contained, started advancing quickly Tuesday after burning an undetermined number of structures. Some 300 homes were evacuated in the area.
"The real story on this fire has been the erratic winds, we've had this fire push north, push south, push east and push west at various times," incident spokesman Jim Whittington told reporters Monday.
Wyoming's forest chief noted images like the wall of flame perhaps 400-feet tall coming over a ridge at the Arapaho Fire.
"My folks out in the field with 25 to 30 years of experience are telling me they've never seen anything like this before, as far as fire behavior," Bill Crapser said.
The Fontenelle Fire, meanwhile, continues burning through forest in Wyoming. Crews on Sunday were able to save several summer homes as the fire raced down a hillside.
The C-130 that crashed Sunday evening was fighting a 6.5-square-mile blaze in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
A fleet of firefighting air tankers, a key force in squelching the Colorado wildfires, has been grounded after one of them crashes, possibly killing all four aboard. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
The airmen who died are Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal, Maj. Joseph McCormick, Maj. Ryan David and Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon.
The military on Monday put the remaining seven firefighting C-130s on an "operational hold," leaving just 14 federally contracted heavy tankers in use.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Northern Command stated that six of the aircraft would be back in the air after a one-day suspension "to review flying and safety procedures." The seventh, from the same base as the C-130 that crashed, was to return home.
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The worst fire season in recent history is taking its toll with large fires burning thousands of acres in Colorado while others consume areas in Montana, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.
President Barack Obama last month signed a bill to lease seven large tanker planes for the nation's aging aerial firefighting fleet, at a cost of $24 million, but the first planes won't be available until mid-August.
C-130 air tankers have crashed on firefighting duty before. In 2002, a privately owned civilian version of an older-model C-130 crashed in California, killing three crew members, the Associated Press noted. An investigation blamed fatigue cracks in the wings.
The crash, in part, prompted a review of the airworthiness of large U.S. air tankers and led ultimately to a greatly reduced fleet of large civilian tanker planes -- from 44 a decade ago to nine today.
Jeremy Fleischer tells the story of how his family escaped the wildfires near Colorado Springs.
Another firefighting plane, the Lockheed P2V, has had some problems in recent months. One crashed in Utah, killing the two pilots, and another one crash-landed in Nevada.
Mike Ferris, a spokesman for the National Interagency Fire Center, said resources remain adequate as fire managers move equipment and crews from areas with little fire activity. "But if we continue to get new (fire) starts, then things can get a little more complex," he added.
In Colorado, firefighters grappling with the two most destructive wildfires on record there reported progress.
The fires displaced tens of thousands of people and left vast swathes of forest a blackened wasteland in addition to destroying more than 600 homes.
Volunteers from the American Red Cross explain what goes into the relief effort around the wildfires at Colorado Springs.
"I don't think we've seen a fire season like this in the history of Colorado," Gov. John Hickenlooper said last week after surveying the Waldo Canyon Fire destruction west of Colorado Springs.
T-shirts sold as fundraiser for Colorado fire victims
Colorado wildlife relief beginning of the long haul
Fewer than 3,000 residents remained under evacuation orders, city officials said, adding that crews were slowly restoring utility services to the affected areas.
Most of the remaining evacuees live in the Mountain Shadows subdivision, upscale homes in the bluffs on Colorado Spring's western edge where the bulk of the homes were lost.
The remains of two people were found last week in a burned-out house in Mountain Shadows, bringing to six the number of people who have died in Colorado wildfires this year. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The 28-square-mile Waldo Canyon Fire was 70 percent contained overall, and the portion within Colorado Springs was fully contained. The fire destroyed nearly 350 homes.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Fighting wildfires from the air or ground is dangerous work and these are heroes who sacrificed their lives to help others.
You are quite right.
Over a thousand degrees, if you go on foot and the wind direction change, pray that it doesn't cut you off.
Not to mention these states don't have enough water and the lack of equipment to help firefighter.
Anyone who think we pay too much for firefighters need to be drag out there and let's them see the reality.
"Firefighting jets"? Please...
Yeah, makes ya stop and think for a minute... But even though the final thrust is by propeller, the C-130 has jet engines to drive the propellers instead of piston engines. Technically known as a turbo-prop.
There is a 747 retrofitted for fire-fighting. I've seen it. Takes time to refill it though.
The 747 and DC-10 now those are firefighting jets, but you can't just land then and re-fill at the local airport.
From what I have seen ....these aircraft are put through some serious stresses when fighting these fires. All that water on board ......the extreme flight maneuvers. I've seen it before and it probably won't be the last time.....
We don't have the money for new planes to fight fires, but plenty of money for planes to drop bombs in different places in the world.
comment is of no value
Actually, it has much value. And pertinent to this discussion.
Libtard
My son is on a hot-shot crew fighting the fires in CO. You have no idea how harsh the conditions are for these guys, both on the ground and in the air. They all deserve our thoughts and prayers. Politics shouldn't enter into the conversation.
"They all deserve our thoughts and prayers." Politics shouldn't enter into the conversation.
While I completely agree the firefighters deserve our thoughts and prayers, this is about politics. As long as we have the mind set of "government" workers being some kind of lazy slobs sponging off the tax payers, the mindset of never increase my taxes a single penny at any time for any reason, no matter what, and the mindset of cut spending, cut spending, cut spending, cut spending, no matter what, we are going to have more of these kinds of tragedies.
Good point. The fact is that these guys don't get health insurance because they are considered "seasonal". But they work 16 hour shifts for 14 straight days with 2 days off. Doesn't sound like a part time job to me.
I find it appalling that they don't get health insurance. There are no rewards that can equal the risks these people take, but not to give them basic necessities? Shameful. Wishing your son and all the others a safe season.
Federal fire fighters, guys and GALS vermonster28, work hard and can be in danger if procedures and protocols are not followed just for an instant. I have no problem with these folks. But I can see that many of the people writing have never worked in a federal agency and had firefighting responsibilities or know much about federal fire programs. On the subject of health insurance. Federal fire fighters make GS wages at a certain level depending on their job description - just like other federal employees. However, when they are called to a fire, they make HAZARD PAY ("H" pay) on top of the base salary. Add weekend and Holiday pay on top of base and Hazard pay - in a good fire season (fire fighter words not mine) a Shot or other federal fire fighter can make high 5 figures. I've even seen some make 6 figures in a season - more than the head person in a federal office. Then they have most of the winter off to work or rest. No, they don't have health insurance costs deducted from their paychecks like regular federal employees - did you think federal employees got totally free health insurance? Dream on. Only Congress gets that. Firefighters can afford health insurance by just applying what they would have to contribute if they got health insurance like regular federal employees.
I have only good thoughts for you and your family. All the best.
But it was Mitt himself who said we don't need any more firefighters, cops or teachers and he's running for president.
we agree with you as well(no politics here) but more importantly our heartfelt thanks go to you for the efforts of your son and all those who have done so much for us.
we live between the high park and the squirrel fires and it has been hell here for weeks. it is only because of the extraordinary work of people like your son and and some miraculously placed rain a few days back, that our home and those of so many are still here. the squirrel fire is another story but there is hope as thursday through tuesday of next week have extremely good chances for rain and temps down in the low 70's as opposed to saudi arabia weather of late.
that said no property is worth a human life and the loss of lives from the tanker crash is tragic. sadly we take so much for granted up until the moment we lose something or worse yet, someone. the family and friends of those lost will NOT be forgotten not by those of us in the middle of all these fires anyway.
those of us living through this fire season from hell and those who are putting their lives on the line to fight them deserve to be treated better when it comes to comments here that stray into politics. whether we agree with the politics or not is moot, we are not fictional characters, this is not reality tv, this is as real as it gets so when you post if you must talk politics please try to do so with some consideration to those real life human beings. another words try not to speak as if we were some extraneous variables secondary to the main story which residents and fire fighters alike are NOT.
lastly just pray for rain and that the forecasters have it right this weekend for once.
So when are we going to see the teary eyed Air Force pilots cry on national television that they should never have been called to do this job? Just like during Iraq war 1 when a C130 gunship was shot down during a scud hunting mission - the other members of the Squadron embarrassed themselves on TV by crying about how they should never have been tasked for that mission. Afterall - the Air Farce is supposed to be a FREE training ground for wanabe airline pilots - NOT a place to put yourself at risk of dying in combat! LOL
The arrogance and stupidity of Air Farce pilots never ceases to amaze me. Why doesn't this country to turn over most of the military flying to the WOMEN. They are better pilots than the men, just as brave, and the men can carry a pack and gun and fight in had to hand combat where the women cannot.
you LOL'd this story and sitting at home in your lazyboy chair
i feel very sorry for you indeed.
You don't know anything about me -- boy --- I served in real combat in a real special operations unit as a Marine. then I served in the reserve component of both army special forces and Navy special warfare groups. I am a Captain for a major airline and have flown over 25,000 hours carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers. I fly with ANG pilots all the time. They are weak pilots, have soft girly hands from lack of physical labor and would not last a week in a SPEC OPS outfit in the REAL military. They have big egos and small brains with an accompanying lack of experience. An accident is EXACTLY what one would expect when giving these guys difficult job to do. You wont find out because the military will make it a secret - but when the accident investigation is completed I would bet one million this was a controlled flight in to terrain JUST LIKE ALWAYS.
I figure you to either be a woman, a woman wanna-be, or someone who blew it while enlisted in the Air Force! Which is it Pilot1-3869368? I see you've got the ego-centric attitude of a leatherneck and the I am God attitude of a commercial pilot. Your combat experience...I highly doubt exists except in your head!
You amuse me Njofaustintx - you are living in a box with NO military experience and NO aviation experience --- so of COURSE you an expert on both because you watch movies and television!! LOL I am not saying or implying that I disrespect the military! Look at all of the people from the military who are contributing to fighting this fire. They are not flying around in air conditioned comfort hundreds of feet OVER the fire and then returning to a hot shower in an air conditioned barracks like the pilots from the ANG. They are out there in REAL danger carrying shovels and fire fighting gear in the face of an extremely dangerous circumstances and carrying MRE's and water on their BACK!
The only thing the ANG pilots have to fear is their own incompetence by flying a perfectly good airplane in to a mountain or spilling hot coffee in their laps! LOL You have NO idea how much the members of the rest of the military look down on the pansy arses from the ANG
Sounds like a good time for the media to ask this question.
"Why is the world's largest air tanker, a 747 that can carry 20,000 gallons of water sitting idle on a runway and not been put under contract by the US Forest Service?"
As I've said above the system is broken.
While a giant water load scemes like a good idea, the 747 has to drop from a much higher altitude, it reacts slowly to control inputs, and is not designed to deal with the extreme turbulence above a fire. Additionally a great deal of water evaporates on its way down to the fire. Evaporation increases greatly with increased altitude. Optimum drop height is 150 ft above the fire and the 747 cannot do that safely. Keep in mind that the 747 is not new. It had been retired and then refitted for water bombing. I worry about it's structural integrity. It is very costly to operate.
The Evergreen Supertanker typically drops from about 400 feet, so it gets a wider dispersion of water/retardant. Pilot reviews have had nothing but good to say about either of the aircraft. Evergreen's 747s are rebuilt aircraft, and are periodically gone over with a fine-tooth comb, so I wouldn't be overly concerned with the structural integrity of the airframes.
Currently, there is also a DC-10/MD-11 firebomber, and from what I've seen of it in action, it handles like a big attack bomber--very maneuverable. There are some great vids of both of the big bombers skimming along ridgelines like Mosquito attack bombers from WWII.
big jets like the 747/DC10 aren't made to fly low and slow in places that require quick response and maneuverability, yet that is the type of flying a tanker is needed to do. the DC10 clipped some trees on one of it's early missions because of slow response time and was out of action for months. the pilots who fly the planes are solidly in favor of turbo-prop planes for the increased responsiveness. the P-3 is an ideal tanker, but those planes have been grounded due to the contractor trying to scam the Forest Service and the chance they will ever come back is slim to none. and PS, the ground-loading tankers in the US don't drop water, they drop fire retardent, so the whole 'water evaporation rate' is a non-issue.
if it were a flat land fire i can understand your questioning tactics and asset allocation but our fires are in mountain canyons and extremely steep terrain that bigger planes by design cannot get in close enough to the fires to do any good. you can't drop water or chemicals from a thousand feet in the air, not if you want it to do any good. small aircraft is basically the only way to go unless the fires start to move out onto more level/flat land areas. besides the larger aircraft need a place to land and "refill" but there are no airport facilities within a workable distance where they can do that, e.g we have a glider port nearby and that is it. as it is the mid-sized aircraft being used now have to fly all the way south to broomfield which is adjacent to denver to do that.
O.K. Lars, we get the point.
No one cares what you think dumba,s,s Tim
My condolences to their families. Those guys gave their lives to help others and I really hope their families are taken care of and not forgotten about. It makes me wonder how can we sit in front of our computers typing and complaining about things that really do not matter while they are out doing a very dangerous job just to help us stay safe.
They really need some rain. I have a feeling when the rain comes they will have mudslides because all of the ground cover has burned away.
Congress should approve funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to relieve Victims of natural disaster. Wild fires, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes destroyed trillions of dollars in real property during each calendar year. States have a right to receive the appropriate grant awards. Anarchists in state bureaucracies as Rita Rellick prevent money from reaching our communities desperately in need of immediate aid.
Hope you're not voting Republican / Tea Bag this fall. FEMA is part of the horrible FEDERAL government that must have its spending reduced. Did your Congress people sign the no new taxes pledge? Are costs of everything going down or staying level? Exactly where is the money to fund FEMA going to come from if the Republicans win this fall? People in Texas, Nevada, probably Colorado, Wyoming and Utah should be asking their Congress people some hard questions if they signed the no new taxes pledge.
Congress should approve funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to relieve Victims of natural disaster.
But -- don't increase my taxes and cut spending.
The taxes that should be levied on the money Romney has hidden on the offshore accounts just discovered should cover new equipment. Imagine hiding money in offshore accounts and wanting to be president of the united States......
Probably some of the most dangerous flying around. Low, slow and heavy is not a great place to be.
Thank you, firefighters. You are wonderful and selfless. And most of all HEROES!!!
$170,000 / year with full benefits = SELFLESS!
LOL
And yet again (and I will keep doing this), it's time to mention the IL-76 waterbomber from Russia, which can drop 11,000 gallons, has wings that don't come off, is a four-engine jet (faster turn around time, can operate in high winds, etc.), and can and does operate at low altitude. I'm sure Ed-487+ is familiar with it, as well as the excellent new twin-engine jet BE-200 scooper. But...they're Russian planes. Ask the Forest Service why they won't try one.
People should not die trying to save improperly located houses in the forests... or in forest fires in general. Often the amount of expense and risk associated with these events gets out of proportion to what really needs to be done.
@Greg_S
You are mistaken if you think these firefighters are there just to save a few isolated houses in the woods.
No, they fight the fires that threaten entire towns and large communities. Most towns (except major cities) along the East and West coasts are surrounded by forestland. A large enough wildfire can easily jump highways and the open areas that serve as a divider between the forest and the towns.
It is worse along the west coast, because of generally drier weather conditions.
But, don't kid yourself that these people died to save a few lone cabins in the woods.
you are only partially correct Stephen. yes, they are often fighting fires that threaten large towns/cities. but just as often they are fighting forest fires in the forest. where the only threatened structures might be isolated Forest Service cabins or structures. pilots have died in crashes saving nothing but trees far, far more often than they have died protecting homes.
Yeah... it isn't about the houses.
So this fire is currently smoking up many of the towns nearby. Plenty of residents are in the hospital or urgent care due to lung problems and trouble breathing.
The kicker... the fire isn't likely to reach the towns, but the ash and smoke are.
I am currently in wyoming, and I can look outside and see a nice haze all over the town i'm in, yet the fire is fairly distant. If it doesn't get put under control, there will be some health issues.
I salute these men for their courage and sacrifice. Plenty of us nearby are volunteering to help in many ways we can, but the fires are just behaving so... strangely.
First, let me say that this was an extremely tragic accident that took the lives of some of the best of the best. They were the best in the fact that they were selfless, dedicated, caring, and loving human beings that utilized their specialized skills and training to make this a better place for their fellow human beings. You would not, nor will not, see any teary eyed whining pilots from this unit complaining about anything as they are Air National Guard members whom are there because they want to be. Many of these individuals, especially the pilots, also fly for or work for major airlines daily. This particular unit, the 145th Tactical Airlift Group, have amassed hundreds of awards and commendations through competitions and exercises throughout the entire U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard components worldwide along with those of our allied forces as well. There is no ' arrogance ' or ' stupidity ' about them what so ever and I take issue with anyone whom utters otherwise. I served as a Crash /Fire / Rescue Specialist with this unit for 22 1/2 years and am damn proud of it and because of that, I am a much better person for it! Please, those of you who's comments and concerns are for those remaining family members, keep them in heart and soul. For those that want to make everything a political issue, just go away. This is not the proper venue for such negative response. These brave souls were and remain a part of the solution to our problems through their highest degree of generosity whereas the negatives remain a part of, if not the entire problem!
The ANG is an embarrassment to the armed forces of the United States. I seriously doubt you ever served in real branch of the military and certainly not in combat. ANG pilots are low on experience and big on ego and the ONLY reason any of them EVER get hired by an airline is because one of their but buddies in in a temporary position of management at an airline and it is a FEDERAL law that you have to hire so many military aviators - just like women and blacks and other identifiable minorities.
When I worked at Continental Airlines we had a retired Air Farce ANG pilot who received a sex change operation. They pulled his medical and he filed a law suit against the company!! Thats an ANG pilot for you. A sense of entitlement and nothing done to earn it.
Pilot1-3869368 How do we know that you are not a POS you claim the ANG pilots are?
We can come up with unmanned drones for all sorts of complicated surveillance and bombing runs, can we not come up with the tech for unmanned and effective bombardment of forest fires? I mean they only need < 100 of these things and if we could do it, it would help take some of the risk off the men fighting these fires. Seems to me you could keep a drone going longer as you can easily swap pilots, and in the event that there is a need to help men in serious danger on the ground you could take risks with the drones that you would not with a manned aircraft.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Herk's aircrew members lost and families. My thoughts are also with squadron for which the Herk was from.. I know during times like these everyone is impacted..
God Bless..
They will have a stand down --- until they find out that this was a CFIT event - and then retrain the rest of the inexperienced pilots of the pansy ANG unit. But no one in the public will ever be told what really happened because the Air Farce covers up the facts using "national security concerns" as the reason. This is how the guy who committed suicide in an A10 in Colorado by flying it in to a mountainside, ironically very close to where one of these fire is, was hidden from the public for years. This is how incompetent military aviators are able to hide their discipline and training records from airline hiring committees and with the help of the buddies on the inside gain employment at an airline when, if their records were public, would have NEVER even been considered.
Firefighting, especially with aircraft, is a dangerous business. These men did not die needlessly at the hands of some mortal, but fighting a force of nature. They will be remembered fondly as professionals. Rest in peace gentlemen.
This is so tragic,,,,These firefighters are americas true heros,,,,I pray for the souls of the lost, and their families, and those heros still fighting the good fight,,,,,,,May God bless all of you and keep you safe,,,,
First off, my condolenses to the deceased. My heart goes out to their families.
I was once an air tanker pilot. I flew for Hawkins and Powers aAviation, the company that owned the two airplanes that crashed in 2002. I flew for them from 1995 until 2003. I flew both of the airplanes that later crashed. I also flew Helitankers and the Air Attack aircraft as well, similar to the military FAC's.
I am qualified to make the statement that the tone of this article is way off base.
The article makes it sound as if we are all now doomed that the military planes were grounded. They were called a "key" part of the fire fighting fleet. In fact, quite the opposite is the case. Further, the military has made it quite clear they do not want this job.
The military is now and alway has been an auxiliary complement to the existing national fleet of privately owned aircraft. There is in fact a law which requires the complete and total commitment of the private fleet before the supplemental military aircraft can even be called up into use.
When seeking to increase the military's role in our national fire fighting fleet, the Forest Service was in fact rebuked by Pentagon Officials who made it quite clear to Smokey Bear that the military had other things to do and did not want to inccrease AT ALL their supplemetal role.
Now the equipement. The recent addition of MAFFS that was announced by the media as our rescuers are in fact the second tier aircraft and sysytem. It is the 1st generation that was only capable of delivering coverage level 3 at max. Coverage leves are density of retardent delivered per square foot, 1to 9 scale, 9 being the densest. You use 2 in grass fires, 9 in heavy timber or a downhill drop. You learn how deliver the proper denisties after YEARS on the job, not rotating in and out of military squadron who is occasionally tasked for this supplemental role. Furthermore, with the first generation MAFFS, once you hit the button, you got all 3000 gallons at coverage level 3 and thats it.
Aero Union, the California company which used to run the fleet of P3 Orion Tankers (now sitting idle at MacClellen AFB awaiting a new owner) built the second generation MAFFS units which are now used one the squadrons which are the primary military MAFFS. Follow me? The front line guys got the new gear, the back ups got the old stuff. The new stuff, is actually capable of performance similar to the civilian operators. Coverage levels 1-9 and quantity.
There are what nine of these military MAFFS total, now eight. There are now eight P2Vs (like I used to fly), one DC-10, a couple of CANADIAN Convair 580s and they brough on two State of california S2Ts a monthe early.
In 2001 there were 55 civilian airtanker supported by four primary military MAFFS. There was no second generation yet.
Wonder why fires are bigger and out of control? The answer is simple. Fewer civilian Air Tankers.
But you see, that the way the Forest Circus wants it. They have been salivating for a Federally owned fleet of Turbine Tankers since long before my time, and its been no secret. Look at their persions, and overtime, and retirement, and death benefits.
As a contractor I earned about 1/2 to 1/4 of what Federal Pilots or OBSERVERS made. If I crashed, I got state workmens comp. The Fed sitting next to me, as a fire fighter, qualified for Federal Death Benmefits of $250,000.00 Some of the retireed, were collecting retirement pay, then came back as contractors geeting portal to portal pay of over $5.00 and hour, 24 hours a day that they were away from home for a two week assignment. If they did not come back as contractors, they switched agencies and applied for another position.
Imagine this. Going to work for a federal agency at 18 right out of high school as a fire fighter. Twenty years later you retire as a Hot Shot Supervisor with full benefits and 80% of your $86,000.00 a year salary. You learned to stuff your last few years with overtime to increase your retirement basis.
Now you are 38 years old and you switch agencies, using your contacts and experience and get a job with the FEDs as a pilot or Air Attack and go back to work at a $96,000.00 a year job, full benefits while collecting your retirement of $69,000.00.
You are now 38, no college degree and earning $165,000.00 a year, full benefits.
You work until 58 and retire again, as a GS-13 step 10 collecting two retirements and earning $170,000.00 a year for the rest of your life.
You never went to college, you never had a student loan, got preferential loans for your homes as a federal employee, have full benefits for life as well as $170,000.00 a year for the rest of your life. Assuming 58 at retirement, average life span of 78, you have twenty years of living high on the hog, and never once worked for a private employer.
But you are greedy, you come back to work AGAIN as a contractor, only this time you are also taking payments from some manufactuer to hawk their product on your friends in the government. You arent dumb, you learned how the game works and you take the one time payment of $1,500,000.00 from these guys. You really want that beach house in Hawaii.
So you got you beach house, your $170,000.00 a year in retirement pay, and you current salary of $126,000.00 a year as an AD consultant, hawking a product that if picked up by the FEDs guarentees you a 1.5% kickback for a long as the program is valid. Its a 65 million dollar a year contract, so you are guarenteed $975,000.00 a year. Not wanting to appear improprious, you keep working another five years. Earning 1.25 million a year for those five years.
Finally at sixty three, you retire. Its been a good life, you've earned enough to make you comfortable and in retirement are still earning over a million a year. You invested wisely, you own many houses, cars, and even an airplane.
ALL OF IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE US TAXPAYER. ALL OF IT.
Government is now your master, bow down to your master.
I tried to edit it but it wouldnt let me.
It was $45.00 an hour 24/7 not $5.00
Hey goofy, your avatar is appalling and completely disrespectful. You should be forced to change it or banned from the site.
How many psychotics does it take to put out a fire?
Hey tim in WA. F,U,C,K YOU.
You too stupid canuck mike
How many times must the LORD repeat Himself? Repent, repent, repent! The End Times are upon us!
Doubtful...
You should read some of the writings and letters from many people during World War II. They believed it was the end times as well, and reading what they wrote will bring a tear to your eye.
No one knows the day... and if you live your life in fear of the end, you throw away the most precious gift the Lord ever gave you... your freedom to live your life to the fullest.
The end of times may be upon us but the only sin that people need to repent from is GREED. Greed is the major cause of most of the problems we face in the world today. Anyway if the end is near no amount of repenting will stop it from coming, mother nature will shake us off her back like so many fleas off a dog and there won't be anything your fictional father figure can do about it.
On a more personal note, I live in Wyoming not to far from one of the fires, for the past weeks the smoke has been so think you can't even see the mountain just a half mile away and ash was falling on our back porch last night. Some of the wingnuts in this state were bad mouthing Colorado, claiming they were on fire because of "sin", well they sure shut up real fast when Wyoming and Utah started burning too. Keep you silly religious beliefs to yourself before you start making people wonder if you didn't have something to do with starting these fires, you people can't seem to wait for the world to end. If you want to go to your fictional heaven so bad then go and leave the rest of us to finally live in peace.
this silly thing keeps double posting.
So many Christians. So few lions.
Go eat some flesh and drink some blood from the Jewish Zombie Jesus -- you will be fine! LOL
the problem with c 130 wings has been on going since the first maintenance on them was contracted out to private contracters When a texas utfit was allowed to come in ,and do usaf inspections in 1968 It was reported that when the contracter oked the x ray inspection of the main wing root section the only place there had been an inspection was in the paper work .No actual x rays or visual inspection occured. Never mind that this problem is what finished the electra. These private contracters using non licenced (no a,and e) low wage people took the money and ran. What one wood expect from a texas mentality no respect for life just money vile disgusting people
Too bad Matt Mead is one of the GOP that believes we don't need any more firefighters, police or teachers.
Wildfires are really scarey! I live in CA and we have to go through them each year. Hats off to the firefighters and my condolences to those that lost homes/lives.
HINT, If you build your house and leave a bunch of 60 foot pines around it, I hardly feel sorry for you!!
Exactly! The area where the plane went down in SD though was not populated by anything much more than jackrabbits and antelope. It was grass and timber which would grow back, and NO STRUCTURES.
The four dead gave their lives for nothing!
The problem with fire is that you never know what it is going to do.
If you don't stop it when it is small, how much harder is it to stop it when it is hundreds of thousands of acres big and moving towards populated areas?
Or we could quit building stick houses