HotShots

This is the difficult, dangerous, and grueling work the hotshot crews of Silver City, NM and Entiat, WA have been doing.

Peg Carlson-HoffmanAugust 12, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Preparation

For more than a week, the hotshot crews and our five Holdenites have been preparing the Village for the inevitable: fire coming to the Village, one way or another.

Peg Carlson-HoffmanAugust 11, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Creation Waits

Thousands wait patiently—and some not so patiently—for its outcome, while long, hard hours have stretched our concept of time.

Chuck HoffmanAugust 10, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Learning the Language of Fire

I am learning the new language of fire. Like any language, it is hard to communicate if you don't speak fluently. We looked at IR (infrared) maps and learned about "laying down lines” and about the different strategies and phases planned for Holden's defense.

Peg Carlson-HoffmanAugust 8, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Hospitality Within Uncertainty

Five Villagers including myself were airlifted back into the Village Thursday morning and are now onsite working with the Forest Service/hotshot crews.

Chuck HoffmanAugust 7, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Finding hilarity in just about everything

Yesterday, Villagers in Chelan and several other parts to the country gathered in solidarity to worship with the Holden Evening Prayer.

Peg + ChuckAugust 6, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Several Hot Shot crews are stationed in Holden Village

While the fire did move another half-mile toward the Village today, it continues to move at a slower pace than originally anticipated, giving firefighters time to focus on setting up a containment line around the perimeter of the Village and protecting structures.

Peg + ChuckAugust 5, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

The road is impassable between Lucerne and the Village

The best estimate is that the fire is 3 to 4 miles away. The road is impassable between Lucerne and the Village, so teams will be airlifted in.

Peg + ChuckAugust 4, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Trial by fire

In the early morning, a day after installation, we received a knock on our door that informed us of a lightning strike that sparked what has become the Wolverine Fire.

Peg + ChuckAugust 3, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE

Wolverine Fire expands to over 15,000 Acres

After a safe evacuation of the majority of Holden Village residents and mine remediation workers on Friday and Saturday, the stay-behind crew was also safely evacuated by helicopter due to the road being compromised and for their safety.

Peg + ChuckAugust 2, 2015WOLVERINE FIRE