Remembering those who serve

Annually, as we approach another Perseids Meteor Shower in August, I am reminded of a day back in 2000, and a wildfire.

It was August 11. The Kates Basin Fire was burning the ridge from Blondie Pass to the Wind River Canyon. The day began fairly benign. Crews were making progress building fire line. Breezes were just 3-5 miles per hour. But then, just after noon, the wind began gusting to 45 miles per hour. With humidity around 10 percent and temperatures above 90, the fire exploded. Working on Mexican Pass that day was Jim Burnett, an Arkansas Forester working with an Oklahoma Wildland Fire Crew. The blowup caught him and killed him.

Were it not for the heroic actions by some of our Thermopolis Volunteer Firemen, Jim’s partner Presley Byington, would also have died. Mr. Byington was hospitalized overnight in Riverton and released August 12th. Recently, we lost another veteran of that fire. Marvin Andreen was Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department Chief during Kates Basin. Like all firefighters, Marvin was dedicated to serving his community. Over 8 or 9 days, the Kates Basin Fire consumed 137,600 acres of range and timber. It is legendary now in Hot Springs County.

On that August 11 night in 2000, after Jim Burnett died, the Perseids put on an unusually splendid show, lighting up the starlit sky.

Now they will fly each year for Marvin, too.

Lest we forget those we lose. Then, and now.