FIRE CAMP AND BLACKBERY JAM CONTINUED

The parade continues, led by the colors carried by Native Americans. Usually there is a pow wow going on as part of the Jam but since the fire camp has filled the football field there's no area big enough for the pow wow. They were going to move it a couple blocks away to the Grange Hall grounds but there wasn't enough room for the dancing and ceremonies and the tents and trailers that sell traditional Native American gear. So they decided not to have the pow wow this year.

***

Here's firefighters from Montana, Bush Fire Service, Brianna on the left, Mike Russell, the boss, in the middle and his daughter, Holly on the right. That Smokey bear we all know, reminding us to put out our fires, don't smoke or light farts.

***

Allen Long, from Cocoa, Florida Division of Forestry is on his fifth fire in Oregon, loves coming here; while Auntie Em is doing Tarot readings at the Jam: You'll be full of water and all your woes will be extinguished.

Trucks and crummies and buses return from the fire lines, back to Fire Camp for cleanup and food. Horses pull the laggards through town, pooper scroopers to the rear.

***

Firefighters line up for chow, served from big trailers where the food is cooked. Cary and Mik, local Pleasant Hill Billies, check out the fire information center in the middle of the Jam.

***

A couple firefighters being interviewed on the walkaround microphone by the Blackberry Jam announcer. Two local doofohs are looking at pictures of the fire on the information board and are astounded at the complexity.

***

The Lowel gas station and grocery across the street from Fire Camp and within the camp's boundary so the firefighters can go there and buy pop and goodies. The Hines family, who own the store, make a town run every day and pick up supplies for the firefighters: boots, undies and shampo and whatnot. Two of the Hines daughters are cooling off.

***

Getting dark, up on the stage, the band Coupe De Ville, an aggregate of older fellas, is going hard on Long Tall Sally.

***

What's a festival without face painting? Who likes to do cartwheels and dance and play as the sun goes down?

And lest we forget, amidst the jammin' and the campin', up on the line the fight goes on.

RETURN TO MAIN PAGE