Short Summary
Hello,
My name is Travis and I have been a wildfire fighter since 2000. I have received substantial training and experience in this work, fighting fire in most of the West Coast states.As a result, today I am an Engine Boss, and I lead a crew of two on the engine.
Before I became a wildfire fighter, I was actve in my family's constructon trade, building homes, additions, remodeling. I also volunteer as a safety officer on building projects throughout Oregon.
When I an not working, I spend some of my leisure hiking in the woods, taking photos and video of beautiful landscapes and wildlife.
I enjoy many pursuits, including huntng for treasure with a metal detector, watching movies, tying flies, golfing, and mushroom picking to name a few. I also spend time each month in a volunteer community outreach program,helpng people to lve cleaner, happer lives.
Now I am working on a new project, but I need your help. I need to raise $60,000 to build a high quality, efficient wildland engine that will be a ton and a half truck 4x4 with 375 gallons of water for suppression. It will be equiped with over 900' of fire hose and foam that when combined quickly knocks down and puts out flames.
As a former home builder, it is personally very satisfying to me to protect people's homes and property and to preserve the outdoors we all enjoy.If you saw my video and pictures, you'll agree that seeing destroyed homes is sickening to say the least.
However, with a wildland engine, I will be able to employ as many as six firefighters during the summer months, and in this economy, it is important to put people to work.
The problem is that too often there are not enough available wildland engines to protect all the homes at risk. In these cases, tough choices have to be made. Our branch and division supervisors have to choose the best way to defend at-risk homes using very limited engine resources.
With your donation toward a wildland engine, you will enable me and my crew to save homes. It may even be your own home that is saved by this engine.
What I Need & What You Get
In order fo me to be able to be awarded a goverment contract, to fight fires with my own wildland engine I have to meet their minimum requirements which will cost a minimum of $60,000. The lst below enumerates the costs Involved:
$10,000 for down payment up to $ 30,000 to pay for this truck as follows: 1 ton and a half 4x4 truck
$17.000: 52"x96" 375 Gallon Hybrid Slip-on Unit W/Foam
$4,763.95: Minimum Engine Inventory. This Includes 900' of hose, 6 nozzles, 3 shovels 3 pulaski's, 24 Adapters/Connectors [for the hose] 1 Hose clamp, 4 spanner wrenches, 20' suction hose w/ foot valve [for drafting water],4 gated wyes, 5 inline ball valves,2 backpack pumps,10 fusee's, first aid kit, 2 line gear, 3 files, 3 head lamps.There is a few more small items and if you like I would love to send you an email of the Inventory list showing the specific's
$3,477.20: Specific Requirements A chain saw [not included in the price, because I already have one] plus the accessories such as Chaps Hearing protection and gas and oil, and 2 programable Radio's
$351.20: Vehicle Safety Items Reflective Triangles, Fire Extinguisher, Wheele Chocks,and Back Up Alarm
$2,838.50 [PPE] Personal Protection Equipment: 4 Nomex Fire resistant shirts, 4 Crew Boss Pants [also fire resistant], 2 Helmets, 6 pair of gloves, 3 Fire Shelters, and a Practice Shelter. The requirement is for 6 sets of clothes but again I already own some. So I am only asking for the minimum of what I need.
$5000.00: For fuel and crew perdium.
$4-6000.00:Insurance for first season.
$500.00 year :Truck License
$0: ODOT Inspection/US DOT #
$250.00: Pre-season Inspection
$0:Workers Comp/Insurance/Payroll
I will pay the payroll each time my engine is dispatched to a fire.
Ten percent of total needed is $5,000.00 which will cover any new changes that are outlined in the most current contract.
Any extra funding above what is needed, will be used to pay for my employee's training whch is expensive.
My own in-kind contributions toward this project include over $1500 in training and additional money spent on equipment and clothing, not to mention 13 years of community service given to others in my wildfire fighting career.
Perks! This is the fun part. Here is some of my perks:
As I build my engine I'll keep you updated with emails and photos of my progress.Then whenever we are dispatched to a fire,I'll send you updates on our fire fighting. To see examples, visit my blog at mountaintravis.blogspot.com. You can follow our inaugural season and hear what is really happening onthe front lines.
Depending on your level of donation you will receivce a t-shirt or sweatshirt or both. Unless you are ona fire or near one, you won't be able to get one , so I will send one to you.
The biggest perk is you will be helping save someones home from burning down, maybe even your own home. It is a worthy cause and priceless at that.
The Impact
The biggest impact of building this engine is it will be one more available to suppress wildfire. How is one more going to make a difference? They are telling us that what we saw this season is going to be the "New Norm" for fire seasons. My crew and I were out for 47 days this year. The resources were scarce and many fires could not even be staffed because there wasn't any resources available. But one more enging to be available can make a difference. Thats one more to protect someones home.
I have always wanted to own my own engine. Because of economics I haven't been able to. It isn't easy to ask for help but I am doing so because it involves more then just myself. It involves the community. How?
If we build this engine together, I can put 3-6 people to work during the summer. Each person will be able to make from $1,400.00 up to $3,150.00 a week.
In doing so as a team, you and I will be able to do a community service to the public. Your part will be the contribution to building this equipment.You will no doubt feel very good and satisfied that YOUR contribution is going to a good cause. Not just this year or next, but for years to come!
Not only will we be able to help save out national lands from destruction but we will also have the ability to save peoples property including there homes.
You may think: Well, you are going to make money so how is it a service to the community? It is this: It is a great sacrifice for any wildfire fighter to go out on these fires. We often get no more then 5 hours of sleep, we work up to 16 hours a day. Many days we do not even get a shower. Sometimes we sleep out on the dirt. And not to mention being away from loved ones sometimes for several weeks.
We spend many hours preparing for the season, training, getting equipment ready, all without being paid. We dont get paid untill we receive a dispatch.
Not just anyone can go out and fight fire. It is dangerous work. It takes a lot of training and hard work to qualify to be a firefighter.
However even if you cannot fight fire you can have a share in supporting us all in the fire community. In helping me to build this, YOU will be putting people to work. You will also be able to say" I had a share in saving someones home/Forest". Not only that, but you will see first hand the results of your contributing to this project. You will see the pictures of the engine YOU helped build in action! You also may be able to say" This shirt/sweatshirt I am wearing is a souvenir from the engine I helped build'.
Yes you CAN be a part of something big! You can share with us in this community service by your donation to this project. To that I salute you and thank you! So do the people in the community who's homes are saved.
You may be wondering what is your sucess rate. In my rookie year we were on the Sula Complex in Montana and we were assigned to protect a house. We went in and did the prep work and saved the house.This year in the Dixie National Forest of Utah we provided structure protection for many homes. There was over 5000 threatened. We were fortunate to keep the fire in the forest and put it out before it went into the community. In 2008 central California, we saved many homes from burning.
All of these are a result of the hard work of many firefighters. Much prep work goes into saving someones home. Sometimes with very little time before the fire get's to the house.
Other Ways You Can Help
In today's economy, I well know that you may not be able to contribute financially. I understand that. That's ok! You can still help. Please help get the word out to people who may be able to help.
Also don't forget to use Indiegogo's share tools!
Thank You for all of your contributions!