Who knows - whats happening at Ricks now.

[Ozzy]

I think its you that has the inside scoop..... when I drive by in the morning and evening I always see a huge amount of forestry trucks, and regional district trucks.... are they still fighting the actual fire, or are they doing clean up now.
Saw Ricks comments on castanet of his views of our local fire dept. He mentioned that his family and friends are who he respects out of all this.... I wanted to just drop him a line, maybe a plate of cookies... but I'm not sure how he'd feel about this, as I didn't understand his comments entirely.
Is he upset with the residence up at the top of June Springs that didn't stay behind and help him out or is he just upset with the "city" officials that he listed in the article. I just don't want to send him a note/card saying thank you, if he's going to feel it as a slap in the face.

[Who Knows]

Ozzy,

It is not the residents that he feels badly about. The article was about how the fire department let him down in his time of need in your area. He is speaking out that the fire dept. were not in your immediate area. That is all.
Rick and his wife would fully appreiciate the plate of cookies and a thank-you card. If you drive by daily, just drop by and let him know that you support him.
As you were saying in an earlier thread about cookies, I hope that you bake them yourself. lol. Rick loves chocolate chip. lol
Hope you are getting back to a regular routine and the horse that you have in Texas is doing well getting used to the weather.
Take care.

[Who Knows]

Ozzy,

Just reading on the other thread the names of your horses. Is the Barlink horse from the Lewiss' in Armstrong? I have a daughter of Barlink Macho Man and a son of Ratchett. They are great horses. The stud has his Sup in WP and is an APHA Champion with other ROM's. Well just though I'd do a little horse chat on the lighter side of things.

[Ozzy]

Yes who knows, he is a son of Janes stud... Jane bred his dam to BC Revenue and then ended up buying BJ back when he was a yearling I think. We bought him just before he was two. Shown him in a couple of horse shows, hubby had decided that after the Red Deer show BJ would go back to being his pet riding horse, except he wanted to do the Armstrong show.... but the fire put a crunch into that. He was in with our crazy TB filly and my clyde while on evacuation and he's so many nicks and cuts that his showing days are over... I mean he could show again next year, but hubby just wants to have him as his pleasure horse. He broke him himself while he was working in Edmonton a couple of years back. He is a doll.... and going to be a big brother for next year... his dam was bred successfully back to BC Rev. so we are hoping it ends up being a filly and we'll probably end up buying her.
SMALL SMALL World...

[Who Knows]

Ozzy,

You all went to the Zones in Red Deer. Many people out there I know. I think from what I heard the Lewis's won the weanling fut. in Calgary last weekend. But the numbers were down.
From the Zones I heard that there was not alot of horses there. But I wasn't there and wish I was. Horses are like an addiction, once you start you can't go back.
I may be up in the Armstrong show this weekend. I'm hoping that someone from Alberta can bring out a yearling colt I have out that way.
Well here's to the small world of horses.

[Ozzy]

I was sooo lost at the Zone in Red Deer, 3 judges too long of days, one day halter gelding aged didn't show till 7:30 pm - a little different then QH where halter usually goes first and your done by 7:30 am hee hee...
Jane did really really well at that show. One judge really liked us the others were so so, so we ended up 6th overall, which out of 12 & 13 sized classes isn't so bad...
That was our first time at Zone, so were heard that usually the classes are alot larger, we were really looking forward to showing in Armstrong, but looking at our marked up, dropping halter weight, filthy horse we have at home there's no way you'd think he was halter potential. We are actually just getting a huge amount of enjoyment in taking our two boys, BJ and Oz down to the mission creek walkway and walking over to Creekside pub, having a drink on the patio while the horses nibble on the grass and then wander back. Course the clyde definately gets the most attention, hee hee...

[Also wondering]

Hey Oz, sorry to butt in, but back to what is "happening up at Ricks" What is happening? Seems his contractual employer has rolled over for the media to get a tummy scratch. Can someone fill me in on the comment that the city helped build a fire break around his property? Is that after they ran away from June Springs or before. Only to come back and hire him and his property. I think all the man was indicating was perhaps the way the fire was fought should be looked at. Instead it was masterly turned around to look like a hero bashing. And we can't have that in Kelowna. Don't read me wrong folks. I'm not saying for a second that everyone doing their job (paid job in most cases) did not give 110%. All I'm saying is that perhaps an independent review should be conducted by a group other then the fire department's friends. Good thing Rick has broad shoulders as he has been abandond by all. Typical media.

[Drip torch in the woods]

Who knows,

Let Rick know that he hasn't been abandoned by everyone.

He has friends he hasn't even had the opportunity to meet yet...

Any chance of getting him on this board? I'd like to exchange a few quick questions and perhaps meet with him.

[g]

Yes, everyone is getting the impression that Rick was trying to save his place only. On the contrary. The KFD was running from the fire in East Kelowna and his point was to tell the public that perhaps things could have been done differently. Oh "premier" Zimmerman would like an independant review, but only if its good? Such a politician. You don't have my vote!
Yes the ministry was covering their butts, and perhaps they were told what to say. After all the premier "Campbell" and next PM were in town, do you think they would want the public to know there were screw ups?! Rick is a bigger man then any of them.
Life goes on and there will be more fires in the future, we'll see!

[g]

I know Rick appreciates all the support that so many people have given. Unfortunately you won't get him on line but will I do?

[Drip torch in the woods]

What do you know about the story? There seems to be a discrepancy between the story that ran on Castanet and the story that emerges on this board. From what I understand:

*Rick’s story that ran on Castanet stated “not my fire hero’s” and he seemed to state that when the fire was threatening his residence the Kelowna Fire Department failed to send any resources.

*Rick was left to fend for himself and his family and friends fought the fire with hand tools and pump cans.

Then from this thread I’ve picked up on…

*Rick runs the June Springs staging area for the MOF and Rick is a crew boss with a firefighting crew.

Can you see how the story lends itself toward a little confusion? Still all in all, I can say with a degree of certainty that I know what he’s saying. Those $300,000 pumpers with big hose and big water may have made short work of the fire that he was dealing with.

How am I doing so far?

[Buck]

Hey GP, is this who I think it is? How's Jake? Just because we have not been up lately does not mean we don't keep posted. You will due just fine as those who know Rick, know there is not a hope in hell he will be sitting at a computer ! How ironic it is one day commenting on the wealth of ability and knowledge of Rick, then the suits come to town and it's a whole different tune. You wait, Zimmerman for Mayor soon.
Gotta love politics.

[Ozzy]

I'm not sure whats happening up at Ricks now, seems like over the last 48 hours there has been a major pull out of vehicles and such, not sure if that had to do with the whole media hero worship/bashing/whatever, or if it was just the end of the need to be there....
However it works out, if those that know Rick would please tell him on sunday a blonde female in a barbie jeep (tracker) will be bearing a thank you card and chocolate chip cookies -
I want to say I do not know what happened to make Rick feel like he was let down, but I know there is a story to each side, and I personally feel that a) the KFD and all their outa town coherts who were dealing with the Firestorm Friday, I'm sure did the best job they KNEW how to do, ALSO I feel that Rick went above and beyond what was ever expected from him as a "regular citizen" and I feel that a large part of the June Springs and area residence need to show a show of support to Rick and his family for not only protecting their home, but also in what they did to protect the rest of ours....
In the END the only loss I see from all of this is if we DO NOT USE every source we have to investigate what happened, what we did and how we would handle it from beginning (before the fire started) till the end if this happened again. We need to use this as a learning tool so if we or any other city comes into such dire situation again, and it will, that we will have a plan that has been scutinized 150% in place.
I would love to know what is happening in the park area behind us. We hear machinery to the extent you'd figure they were building a hwy through there.... but its JUST behind the tree's to our property, so we can't see a thing. AND ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY !!!!! Can't hear trees going down, but they may be muffled with all the machinery... so don't know if they are logging, clearing the fire cut moreso, tidying up the mess all created, or continueing to fight the fire..... I know I could probably go through the bush 200 ft and see for myself, BUT I feel strongly to stay the hell outa their way.

[Buck]

Yes Drip Torch, you are starting to get the picture. Look back into the first few newspaper stories that were printed. You will find the comments from the MOF stated that Mr Pasutto is very knowledgable.. blah blah (sorry forget the exact qoute) then all of a sudden they drop Rick like a hot potato. They still are contracting his services as he lives and breaths the woods, mind you. The comments made back by our fire chief about egos have lowered Zimmerman to the stature of a politition. Maybe that's what this is all about.
If you are interested in helping and can get the real story out to some media other then the good puppys in Kelowna, get a hold of Rick. His place is not hard to find.

[GC]

G
How is Jake anyway???.