Damn! It's HOT!!!!

I responded to a brush fire about 30 minutes south of our home today. Along the way I was reminded why science and technology are so friggin' important to all of us. I remembered that my air conditioner in the Jeep is screwed up. No cool, refreshing, life sustaining air to refresh me as I motor south at a whopping 6 to 9 miles per hour (too many people!!!!).

Off in the distance I can see a small white column of smoke. I know from my radio that there are houses threatened and this has become a two-alarm brush fire. San José Fire and the California Department of Forestry have converged on the area to protect the million $$$ homes at the top of this one hill in South San José. Once I finally arrive at the scene I am treated to an aerial display by our local helitack (see image) as they swoop over the fire and drop buckets of wet stuff on the red stuff. They are true heros. While they pour the h2o on the heat, firefighters lug hose packs up and down the steep hill. Fire has consumed a couple of acres. Don;t mind the fact that it's well over 110 degrees F on the side of this hill.

I am asked if I would like to hump it up the hill to get some "action" shots of the men and women taming this fire. My response is a simple one - "No thanks, it's too damn hot out here." The response was a subtle snicker and rolling eyes from the pros, but dear lord, who in their right mind chooses to encase their body in fire resistent material in 110 degree heat, while chasing the red demon across a steep incline? God, I admire these men and women!

At any rate, here are a couple of images from today's follies...