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| Sunday, December 27, 2020
On social media, people are posting, “Where are the firefighters?” The comments sting. I know that the men and women working this fire wish they could be everywhere at once, saving every single building. But that isn’t possible. For those of us working the fire, saving property isn’t the priority.
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JULIET GRABLE PHOTO
The night sky is illuminated as the Almeda fire rages through the southern part of the Rogue Valley Sept. 8.
A volunteer firefighter gives an insider’s view of the Almeda fire knocking on our door. It’s busted through and wreaking havoc. At 11:40 a.m. Sept. 8, our pagers ou think, “It won’t happen tone out: Grass fire. Butler Creek here.” You’ve seen the footRoad, Ashland. age of Paradise, or Santa Rosa, or My husband, Brint Borgilt, and Mendocino, and you think, “Oh, I are volunteer firefighters for the those poor people.” Greensprings Rural Fire District, 20 But it did happen here. miles southeast of Ashland. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Almeda Occasionally, we provide mutual fire began tearing through the Rogue aid on fires outside our district. But Valley in Southern Oregon, not far why are we being called to a fire that from where my husband and I live. is at least 45 minutes away? Within 24 hours, whole sections I call our chief, Gene Davies, to of two towns were obliterated, hunmake sure. dreds of homes were incinerated, “Are we rolling?” I ask. and tens of thousands of people “Yes.” His voice sounds strained, were displaced. The climate crisis is not just urgent. “Get here. Now.” By Juliet Grable
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Grable is a freelance writer based in Southern Oregon, and a volunteer firefighter for the Greensprings Rural Fire District. This article was originally published by Sierra, the national magazine of the Sierra Club. Online: sierramagazine.org.
