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kurtkamm

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Member Since: 12/01/2008

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kurtkamm: Quiz Results

Tools of the Trade taken 7 months ago

You Know Your Tools!

Fire Anatomy 101 taken 8 months ago

Fire Hotshot

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kurtkamm: Activity

November 21

kurtkamm is now friends with dezeraefirestone.

dezeraefirestone

November 20

kurtkamm is now friends with widowcan.

widowcan

kurtkamm commented on: "JJ Bell".

"

Kurt Kamm
"

kurtkamm commented on: "Jonathon Harris".

"Hey Jon

Kurt Kamm
"

kurtkamm commented on: "Tammy Cooper".

"Hi Tammy"

Personal

About Me: I live in Malibu. Write novels about firefighters. One Foot in the Black is a story about a wildland firefighter. Check my website http://www.kurtkamm.com -- Here's the first chapter *********************************************************************** Prologue - - - A year ago, I saw a man go up in flames. Our helitak crew was fighting the Pozo Fire in the Los Padres National Forest in Central California. That morning, we dropped onto a remote ridge on Black Mountain. Our job was to cut a control line along the flank of the fire burning in the valley below. We struggled to clear a three-foot wide break through thick brush on the side of the mountain. Without warning, the wind changed direction and a firestorm with a ninety-foot wall of flames roared up the canyon at us. In a heartbeat, the oxygen was gone, hot smoke and ash filled the air, and we couldn’t breathe. Our entire crew was caught off guard. It was every firefighter’s nightmare. The heat was staggering. The brush was an inferno. Trees weren’t burning, they were exploding. Trapped on rugged, steep terrain, we had no time to deploy our fire shelters. Our only escape was to climb back up the fireline to our safe zone. We shouted warnings, dropped tools and daypacks and clawed our way up the side of the canyon. We had sixty seconds to escape the firestorm, which was nearly upon us. I felt the radiant heat on my neck and wrists, and I knew I would die from breathing superheated air before I burned to death. I looked back and saw TB, our Captain, for a few seconds before he disappeared behind the wall of fire. If he cried out, I couldn’t hear him. The roar of the blaze was deafening. Jake, Luis, and everyone else in the crew made it to the safe zone. TB perished. In a state of shock and anguish, we were pulled off the fireline and airlifted back to the incident command post. We received medical treatment and were sent back to Los Angeles. Our physical injuries were minor, but each of us struggled to cope with the death of our Captain. It hit me hardest because TB was my mentor, my substitute father. We went out on stress leave and the Los Angeles County Fire Department sent us to see their psychiatrist for a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. Fighting a wildland fire is dangerous business and entrapment is always possible. At least once in every firefighter’s life he fights for survival and thinks the unthinkable. The Pozo Fire, one for the record books, started July 23, 2001 and burned 149,000 acres. It occurred the year after I came to California to escape a lifetime of abuse and neglect from my real father. My struggle to survive his mistreatment continued long after I recovered from the events on Black Mountain. © Kurt Kamm/One Foot In The Black/2008 ************************************************************** DOWNLOAD A FREE CHAPTER OF THE BOOK AT http://www.kurtkamm.com ************************************************************** ************************* After years of effort at promoting his book, Kurt was happy to learn that even the toughest, meanest firefighter found time to read One Foot in the Black ______________________________________________ Light the Fire, in my weary soul .... C'mon Baby Light my fire .... Light the fire again .... Flames. On the side of my face. Burning, breathing, breathless flames. ________________________________________

Comment Wall

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fireh21

about 4 hours ago

2 comments

thanks for the comment
Maggie

about 4 hours ago

2736 comments

comments and graphics
OmnisCedoDomus911

2 days ago

26 comments

how things goin over your way in the fire service???....stay safe
firefighter414

2 days ago

1212 comments

MyNiceSpace.com
countrybunkin_nurse

2 days ago

796 comments

Myspace Weekend Comments & Graphics
weaver1436

2 days ago

25484 comments

drppping in to say hi,keep in touch
SafarEye

2 days ago

6 comments

Hey what's up Kurt,

I'm still fairly new to this whole thing. Anyone have any pointers for me in becoming a firefighter? I've looked everywhere I can think of and I'm sure I missed something. I have no current training so i'm starting from the bottom.. Let me know... Thanks again.
countrybunkin_nurse

4 days ago

796 comments

MySpace Comments - MySpace Layouts - Photobucket
michelle36

4 days ago

1692 comments

Will do.....Once things get settled. I will send you something by next week. The picture is quite humorous and you could say I "turn into that horrific creature when staff members do not follow protocol." :0) Have a good week and stay safe.
FireFighterLobie

4 days ago

4 comments

No problem anytime , have a great day
kurtkamm

4 days ago

17064 comments
cbernal

4 days ago

8 comments

Thanks for the pic, have a great Thanksgiving
boatcaptainmike

5 days ago

8 comments

Awesum pic, thanks for the add.......
bpschmidt

5 days ago

4782 comments

nice picture.
michelle36

5 days ago

1692 comments

Hey Kurt......how are you? Been busy at my end. Administrative positions are opening up and I'm trying to apply and get my resume out. Completed radioactive/ chemical course through FEMA and the School Based Incident Commander course (NIMS). Plan on finishing some of the other NIMS courses for resume material and to assist in the district. Hope all is well at your end. Have a safe week and talk to you soon.