8/11/2019 Royal Burnet CDF Hx HUU

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8/11/2019 Royal Burnet CDF Hx HUU

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8/11/2019 Royal Burnet CDF Hx HUU

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own there for a memorable lightning bust. It was asneak attack, no warning and as I was driving South of Fortuna I could see several fires burning in the surrounding hills. The Aircowas launched in the dark and he ( I think it was Jim Nelson) reported more than200 fires burning in the South County. Ernie Sippollawas the Associate Ranger at Eel River. He gave me a bunk and told me to catch some sleep because wed have a long week or two infront of us.

In the late 60s the Hippie movement was just getting started and the Hippies andloggers were at odds in the South County. Theloggers set a few fires to burn the Hippies out in the Garberville/Whitethorn/ Panther Gap country. They were North wind sets, andthe fires ran pretty hard. The Ranchers in the Petrolia/ Mattole area made somegood sets, too.

There was a unique problem in those days from driftwood fires. The floods had washed years of accumulation of slash and debris fromthe rivers into the ocean and that washed ashore. Driftwood piles were 10 to 15feet high and 50 feet deep at the high water mark.Commercial fishermen reported huge rafts of floatsam offshore containing logs, dead animals, parts of houses and anything else youcan imagine. From Crescent City to Smith River there was one continuous pile ofdriftwood. There was another huge pile at the mouth

of Redwood Creek in Orick, and lesser piles all up the North Coast. It was a beachcombers paradise, but sure was a pain in the tailto put out.

I left Humboldt in June of 1969. I demoted to Foreman 1 to take the Helitack Captain Position at Middletown. The Pratt MountainHelitack had been defunded by Governor Reagan in 1967 and the program was restarting with one helicopter in Northern Cal atMiddletown ( later moved to Boggs) and one helo and crew at Sanger in Fresno County.

Im 70 years old now, and these are the memories of an old man working without notes, but there are accurate as I can recall.

If anyone has any corrections, please let me know, it wont hurt my feelings.

Royal Burnett

iburnit@charter.net