While a seventh-inning stretch can be refreshing for anyone, the courageous firefighters fighting the unyielding and catastrophic wildfires in Oregon require much more than just that.
Regrettably, there is a considerable distance to cover before they can truly take a break.
Theodore Hiner and his squad, known as “The Grizzly Firefighters,” are working 14-hour shifts to prevent hundreds of thousands of acres of forests, farms, businesses, and homes from being engulfed by flames near Detroit, Oregon.
Their so-called “rest periods” consist of laying down on the pavement to recuperate, replenish their food and water supplies, and ensure they are ready to head back out again.
At the conclusion of an especially arduous day, the men were overwhelmingly giddy – the type of disposition one exhibits when they are too worn out to think coherently and just have to chuckle.
During that time, they were captured on video doing something unanticipated.
They were singing.
Take me out to the fire.
Take me out to the line.
Bring me some sawyers and hazel hoes.
I don’t care if I ever get home….!
The melody of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” was used for the song.
Root, root, root for the red crew
You know we want the most days.
For it’s 1, 2, 3 tool types out at the old fire line.
The wildfires in 2020 have devoured more than 1 million acres of land in Oregon.
According to Governor Kate Brown, while wildfires are a regular occurrence, they seldom pose such a severe threat or cause this level of devastation. The fires are even smoldering underground, presenting an almost unimaginable nightmare for locals who have witnessed businesses, apartments, houses, and mobile homes in certain areas reduced to rubble and melted frames.
Tragically, the death toll from the fire includes a firefighter, as well as a 13-year-old boy who died while holding onto the family dog as flames engulfed their home. The total number of fatalities is at least 10.
The 20-member Grizzly Firefighters crew, who are well aware of the risks involved, had been stationed in the Detroit, Oregon region for 10 days before the video was captured. This area is situated at an equal distance from Bend, Eugene, and Portland.
Their team leader, Hiner, is a resident of Sweet Home and has been serving on fire duty in Oregon every season since 1996. Even his own family had to evacuate their home due to the ongoing fires.
“Yes my house was in danger,” he told CNN. “Thankfully, we made it out OK.”
For a period of four days, his spouse, kids, and canines had to remain at a distance, but thankfully, they are all unharmed.
Not everyone on his crew was so lucky.
“I would say over half the crew had our families evacuated. We’re pretty sure at least one of us lost a house,” Hiner told KATU News.
According to KATU News, the crew tasked with managing the Lionshead Fire had to enlist the aid of 400 extra firefighters to support the personnel already present on the ground and in the air. The fire had expanded to over 203,000 acres and had only been contained to a 15% extent.
It’s the very definition of a disaster.
It is a great privilege to be able to read about it from a distance.
Those on the ground are doing all that is possible to survive and maintain their spirits for yet another day, which is why the song is significant.
“This is what they do. When they’re out there chucking line, is you start singing songs,” Hiner said.
Hey, whatever it takes.