15- YES...FOUGHT A MOUNTAIN FOREST FIRE In HIGH SCHOOL.....

A) Near the top few experiences ever!  Now I know, especially this year, when reading about the many forest fires around our America!  Three of us volunteered.  Was so so difficult, exhausting and...dangerous!
B) It was in the George Washington National Forest in Augusta County, Va.
C) We were camping overnight at foot of the mountain in a cabin when we smelled smoke drifting
        down to us and took off up the mountain, fearing that the forest fire would take the cabin and
        and others around us.  And found the fire moving straight up the side of the steep mountain with  George Washington National Forest trucks and men...immediately volunteering, working with an experienced firefighter beside us!
D) Each one of us strapped on a heavy tank of potable water and carried two tools, rake and 
       mattock, to dig out and try to stop the rapidly moving line of fire.  All of this being on the 
       steep side of the mountain.  The efforts were grueling, but the two buds, I and GWNF leader
       kept right with it.  Other small groups were to our left and right!
E) When the wind and fire would shift directions, the leader showed us how to drop down on
      forest floor, below the line of smoke, then get back up and attack it again.  We knew that the
      leader was taking care of us and appreciate what we had volunteered to do!
G) After what seemed to be hours upon hours, he yelled for us to take a break...that the line of fire
      had fizzled away just before reaching the summit and heading down the other side of the'
      mountain.  Only then did the three of us took of the heavy water tanks, dropped the tools and
      sank to the steep terrain, totally exhausted.
H) Within a short time, the crew leader had "called" for sandwiches and COLD iced tea to be 
      be brought up the mountain to us!  So, while stretched out on that very steep side of the rugged
      mountain, the FOUR of us quietly and devouringly, around 4:30pm, ate a well-deserved
      meal...no laughing, no talking...too tired.
I) But I'm not finished....  The crew leader asked if we had enough energy to go through the section
     and actually dig out and spray ANY spark or patch of glowing leaves or wood.  He also told us
     that we could leave if we wanted to, after working so hard all day.
J) But we all three volunteered to....stay for more extra duty!  Only then did we discover that he 
     had gotten our names and addresses in order to send in a "pay order" for meritorious duty!  A 
     few weeks later checks arrive.  We, of course, never knew that the "pay" was a part of the plan.
     We had volunteered and FOUGHT the FOREST FIRE because we had honestly felt it was
     our civic duty!!!