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Finally got a Wildland callout...We were assigned to the BTU Lightning Complex in Northern California

A lot of fires in the area and smoke in the air...

We were working off of the Feather River, securing some fire line.

We were working some hot spots off a dozer line 2500 ft up a hose lay. There had been some trees that had been burning for a long time. Once the exposed tree is done burning they continue to burn underground. Once all the fuel is gone all that is left is pockets of supper hot ash, gasses, and air. As I stepped on the ground above one of these my foot and leg went right through and were burned immediately. My leg couldn't have been in there more than 2 sec.

We tried to walk down but didn't make it very far before the shock sat in. So before I passed out we sat down and came up with a plan B. Long story made short we were able to land a helicopter which picked me up and took me to UC Davis Hospital in Sacramento.

The burns were mostly on my right leg. 2nd degree and all the way around.

Spent 4 days at UC Davis. Changing dressing and taking off the old skin were the worst of it.

Cal Fire used one of their own planes and flew me and Sara from Sacramento directly to Flagstaff. They really treated me good there and also took care of Sara

Had a great flight home and my legs seem to be getting better.

Chalk it up to another excellent adventure.