Comments on: Lessons Learned After 5 Years as a Wildland Firefighter’s Wife {Part 1}

By: Lyn

Lyn — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 06:24:23 +0000

Im a wife of a new wildland firefighter. This says its all.

By: The Country Wife

The Country Wife — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 20:01:38 +0000

In reply to Ellie. Wow, Ellie, you are a veteran at this wildfire life! Thank you for sharing and for your helpful tips and advice in how you make it through as a fire mama. Love the support this post has generated!

By: The Country Wife

The Country Wife — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 19:58:31 +0000

In reply to Tanya. Thanks for taking the time to post a comment, Tanya. It is an older post and I’ve been away from the blog for awhile now, so I apologize for my delay in getting back to you. I’m so glad to hear that sharing my experience here on CWC has given you support as a Wildfire wife. We are in this together!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:10:42 +0000

In reply to Emma. Hey. Thanks for all this. I plan to read more when I can. I see this is an old post but it definitely hits home right now. I'm glad I found it. My husband just got called out to the California fires and will be gone for at least 3 weeks. He got called a Thursday night and left early Friday morning and we didn't have much time at all Thursday night cause he was busy and gone getting things ready. It was rough and I really hope these weeks start to go by faster than they are right now.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:34:46 +0000

While I am not a Wildland wife, I AM a Wildland Mom! My two oldest boys (23 & 21) have been Wildland Firefighters since they were both 18 and my youngest son turns 18 next month and plans to follow in their footsteps. In the beginning I was scared to death! Then I learned how to utilize the NIFC website and how to read fire reports and it became less scary. My biggest advice is to NOT listen to the news!!! They will ALWAYS make it seem worse than it is! My next thing…I ask them for pics of where they are. I make notes as to where they are and the names of the fires. I then compile them all into a little photo book of the season. These are really cheap on Groupon. I make one for each of the boys. They enjoy looking back at them and then they tell me stories about things that happen…usually goofy antics they do to each other …and sometimes the close calls and nitty gritty. Hearing these makes me feel better about them being out there. Another thing I have done is get to know they company they work for and their crew. Knowing the other guys and gals builds trust in that I know they will have each others back and the more I can trust them the less anxious I feel. Initially the boys worked for the same company and were usually on the same fires together which was very comforting to know they were together. Last year that changes and they began working for different companies and different regions so they were not ever together. I felt like we were make to session one! But the company my middle son now works for in Colorado is one of our closest family friends. And we go to see them every year to keep that relationship going. I trust him and his guys with my son”s life! So there ya have it…my advice of a 5 year veteran fire Mom. (By the way, both of my boys still live at home and my oldest’s son does as well. So not only amI a fire mom but full time care giver for my young grandson during fire season. My middle son’s gf also lives with us and she is pregnant and due during fire season this year! A new adventure to conquer during fire season! But as a family we get through it)

By: The Country Wife

The Country Wife — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 13:26:20 +0000

In reply to Emma. Hi Emma! Thanks so much for reaching out and finding a connection here at Country Wife Chronicles! It sounds like you absolutely "get" this fire life we live. :) And I agree, it's so nice to know others that understand what we are struggling with, the ups and the downs of it all. Bedtime is my least favorite time of wildfire season, too. Please don't hesitate to reach out here in the comments or on social media, or even just drop me an email if you are ever wanting to talk...because we wildland fire wives need to stick together! Thanks again for dropping by, reading a little and even commenting. It makes my efforts feel worthwhile to hear from other fire wives like you! Be Still & Know...

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 05:06:41 +0000

Thank you for sharing this!!! My husband has been a Wildland Firefighter for 3 years now, and it’s not like anything I could have ever prepared myself for. Especially having two kids on my hands. I stay busy and it helps the time fly by, but it’s the evenings when I make myself a cup of tea and kids fall asleep, I get lonely :’( it does get easier with each fire but still won’t be the easiest thing! Ever. Glad there are other fire wives out there I can connect with 🙂

By: The Country Wife

The Country Wife — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 14:03:24 +0000

In reply to Sharon Hanna. Thanks! Your comment brought this quote by Peter Brook to mind,“The closeness of reality and the distance of myth, because if there is no distance you aren’t amazed, and if there is no closeness you aren’t moved.” As they say, distance during fire season just makes the heart grow fonder! :)

By: Sharon Hanna

Sharon Hanna — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 03:55:14 +0000

Really like your lessons learned conversation. Closeness inspire of reality.