Conor Mclean

27, Father, 🚒 (All Views Are My Own)

[The Hotshot Wake Up @HotshotWake]

Remembering The Granite Mountain Hotshots: 10 Years Ago Promises Were Made.

The Hotshot Wake Up
(Original Article link in my bio)
#wildfire

If you were a wildland firefighter the year the Yarnell Fire rolled over the top of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, you remember where you were when that news came. I was in Colorado with the Lone Peak Hotshots. Our assignment on that fire was a relatively simple but shitty one. We were asked to assess and complete structure protection and build a fireline around a billionaire’s house in the middle of nowhere.

When we got back to fire camp, we did what we’d always done for countless fires before this one. The buggies were parked, the chocks were put down, and we lined out for chow. It was evident by the time we got to the caterer’s trailer that something unusual was happening. Camp was very hush. The laughing and loud voices in the dinner tent were muffled and silent. The squadies and our Supt had a miniature circle up at the back of our chow line. This was not uncommon, but their eyes told a different story this time.

I was a Lead at the time, and I sat next to my Squadie with our plates of Saulsberry steak, green beans, and what we were able to pile on from the salad bar. I asked “Frenchie” quite candidly, “What the fuck is going on?”
He told me something terrible happened, and the crew would circle up after dinner to discuss it. I remember him telling me, “Nothing like this has ever happened before.” I knew firefighters had died at that point, but I had no idea what the circumstances were, how many, and who they were.

We all circled up after dinner, and the news was brought to us. We were told that there would be a national operational standdown the next day and that we should all reach out to our families to let them know we were ok. This was 2013, and people still had flip phones. We hit the line the next day after a moment of silence; after years of thinking about it, that was much better than sitting in the buggies all day.

Everyone was baffled and shocked at how this could even happen. Folks struggled to understand how an entire crew could have ended up in a situation like this.

The Yarnell Hill Fire started near Yarnell, Arizona, after a lightning strike on June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
I would be lying to you if I said this wasn’t a controversial topic sometimes in the wildfire world. Plenty of Hotshots and operational folks have strong personal opinions on the matter. Everyone is entitled to that, and I’ve listened to many.

This was quite literally a national tragedy. It shook everyone. It was the deadliest fire for U.S. wildland firefighters since the 1933 Griffith Park fire, which killed 29 civilian firefighters who were drafted on short notice to help fight a fire near Los Angeles. The entire nation was taken aback by the news out of Yarnell, Arizona.

The Vice President at the time even traveled and spoke at the funeral of the firefighters, and the procession was nationally televised. We were told things needed to change, and they were right. We were told that for far too long, “forestry technicians” have been underpaid, under-recognized, undervalued, and forgotten when help was needed most.

Today is the 10-year anniversary of this national tragedy. Wildland firefighters are still classified as “forestry technicians,” pay increases still linger in Congress, and the man who spoke at their funerals is now President.

I call on this man, the President of the United States, to honor the 19 fallen Hotshots and fulfill promises that were made 10 years ago.

Today is a day of remembrance. It is a day to honor the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Men that lost their lives in the most horrific way imaginable. Burned alive trying to save property in their local community.

Ten years ago, promises were made. Wildland Firefighters are still waiting for them to be kept. They can’t hold their breath much longer.
God Bless

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

It's my #Twitterversary! I have been on Twitter for 13 years, since 30 Apr 2010 (via @twi_age).

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@JessicaEntwist3 PBO course. The best course in the fire service some would say!

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@rotcorpytak @bearlybryony Mon weymss 🤌🟡

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@rotcorpytak I’m sure Glamis was green and weymss was yellow 🟡🟡

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Firefighters line the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for the funeral of Brother Barry Martin.  

Today we mourn the loss of a dedicated member of the community and a brave firefighter. We come together in his honour. 

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@pc_blondie I now go to Starbucks for coffee then next door to lidls for the goods 😂

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@pc_blondie Controversial but Lidl’s cinnamon swirls are even better! 🤌

[Scottish Ambulance @Scotambservice]

We've rolled out the #GoodSAM app across Scotland, which notifies nearby volunteers so they can give potentially life-saving CPR before the ambulance arrives.

Find out how you can be a life-saver too by signing up to the app 👇

https://t.co/Qjlm70iETK

@SaveALifeScot

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@pc_blondie Lidl’s hands down. Beats Starbucks or anywhere else

[The Secret Firefighter UK @TheSecretFF999]

🚒 🔥SHORT HYDRAULICS, PUMPS & PRIMERS AND WATER SUPPLIES QUIZ🔥 🚒

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@region1rds @BBCScotlandNews It very well is 😂

[Scottish Ambulance @Scotambservice]

If you have CPR knowledge, sign up to become a lifesaver with the #GoodSAM app 💙

Since October, over 1200 people across Scotland have registered to receive an alert when someone suffers #cardiacarrest. But we need more volunteers!

Find out more 👇
https://t.co/Qjlm70iETK

[The Courier @thecourieruk]

.@soots180 headed straight from the Boxing Day nightshift to prepare for Wednesday’s clash with world no. 9 Danny Noppert at Alexandra Palace. https://t.co/YZJ8Gl0GGv

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@iain_mcgarry Merry Xmas Gents! Have a good one

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@JessicaEntwist3 @Scotambservice Does that mean as Firefighters we would put SAS as well?

[Conor Mclean @The_Mclean95]

@ChefGaryJones All the best in your future endeavours Chef!

[Calum Montgomery @SkyeChefMonty]

There’s too much talk about brexit being the problem with hospitality vacancies in the UK.
For me, I believe the problem started years ago with long hours and poor pay.
It’s 2022 and the time is now for offering a better work life balance to people joining the industry.1/4

[Fire Fighters Charity @firefighters999]

Next week @fire_scot firefighters will begin their Walk with Speighty fundraiser in full BA in memory of their colleague Colin Speight - all while raising money for us.

A huge good luck, team! You can read their story 👉 https://t.co/NSfAUPUTBr #FundraiserFriday #firefamily