BULLOCK LESSONS 
May/June 2002 

Down in Bullock, off to the east, a single ember glowed.
Fire running west, hard and quick, was not to be slowed. 
Slurry, water and hand lines did not quench this beast, 
It grew and plumed over Burro, Guthrie, and Evans to the East.

Fire flew on to Green and the Vistas too, 
Not much was left, for me and for you. 
"Would it reach the Haven?" everyone was saying.
Oh no, we hope not and all of us just kept praying.

Flames over hills, valleys and drains 
Charred bushes and oak, nothing remains.
Then the pines are ablaze. Oh my what a sight!
We hope this will end with just smoke, tonight.

All the people were vacated, crying in their tissues.
Officials said safety was at the top of the issues. 
We left it all behind said one fellow,
Hearing that line it became hard to swallow.

For here I was in the depths of the flames, 
Knowing this fire could take all that remains. 
Take our life, as we know it, all so gay 
Burn it, turn it to ashes and throw it away.

The Type ones and equipment came to extinguish the blaze. 
Strange how the Village and fire fighters looked in this haze.
The crew of a thousand worked and slaved 
To save pines on a defense line that was paved. 

Shovels, Mc Clouds, Pulaski's and sweat 
The crews worked hard with no regret. 
At Bear, Rose, Sollars, Willow and Bigelow too, 
The big fire was stopped by the hand crew. 

Bombers with slurry, choppers with water 
Flew low as the flames even got hotter.

With the fire so close it's hard to sleep, 
We wake several times and feel the heat.
Even the Nomex was warm to the touch. 
We all needed showers. We knew that much. 

Fire over Wallow and on to the Camp 
The flames grow and then revamp. 
Structure crews with sprinklers, pumpkins and tankers 
Sprayed water and foam to moisten fire-line anchors. 

Hot shots moved fuel and ladders from the spot 
To keep the structures from getting too hot
The fire crew slaved
Cabins were saved.

The mad flame moved back, 
Then went on with its attack.
On to Aspen and Inspiration, too,
Without hesitation, fire grew and grew. 

Then the fire boss drew a line on the road 
This is where this fire will lessen its load. 
But wait, it will get interesting said the boss, 
Looking, as the smoke cloud seemed cross. 

At Alder and Fire Station the back burn grew, 
Through the steep canyons fire flew, 
Disrespecting these back burns of the crew. 
The fires merged and the flames increased, too. 

Yes, flew with flame, gasses and embers
Hundreds of feet into the timbers. 
We who were there will always remember 
The fire bosses order to surrender. 

Evacuate and leave Loma, these words were uttered. 
On radios voices quivered and sputtered.
Evacuate we did and moved quite fast, 
We could see embers over us falling as ash.

Prayers were answered in a blessed wind puff, 
By the grace of God this seemed to be enough 
To change the course of that disastrous blaze 
And move the Bullock Fire to the final phase.

The flame did leave us and down it went
Via the Control Road as if heaven sent.
Down to the bottom with smoke and ash, 
Flames went down and disappeared in a flash. 

As the fire went down Control it did jump
Burned one or two structures, left just a stump. 
Attacked by flames and turned into black.
Crews were unable to keep the fire back.

Bullock wreaks havoc in the lower dry land, 
Over road, hill and dale, through river, wash and sand.
Thirty thousand acres were counted as Bullock did leave, 
Forest Service and Tree Huggers cried on their sleeve.

Millions of dollars spent to battle this blaze,
Owl habitat lost, erosion, smoke and haze.
Tree trimming, logging and clearing the duff, 
Will Rules and Regs prevent such stuff?

Have we learned a lesson
Through the Bullock Fire session? 
Is it easier to get a permit to fire wise an acre? 
Or is it better to burn 30,000 and send it back to the Maker. 

It will take hundreds of years to get back what was lost.
Just think one match and look at the cost.
We are thankful no lives were lost or taken
All were safe and none forsaken. 

We are here to thank all the persons that applied their skills
To extinguish the mad fire that attacked our hills.
So thanks to all of you, from the bottom of our hearts
THANKS SO MUCH for doing your parts.

Michael Stanley
7/20/2002