User:Kathiefitzpatrick/new article name here Karen FitzPatrick

{{Userspace draft|source=ArticleWizard|date={{Subst:May 2010} {{Subst:CURRENTYEAR 2010

New article name is Karen Lee FitzPatrick, 18, the youngest firefighter lost in the Thirtymile Fire 7-10-01

Karen Lee FitzPatrick, 18 years old, was the youngest firefighter lost in the historic fire catastrophie, the Thirtymille Fire, which occured on 7-10-01 in the North Cascades near Winthrop, WA. She was only three weeks out of high school, and had just recently trained with the USFS for firefighting. Known for her unsual strength and speed, she made a decision in her senior year in high school to use her talents as a firefighter to help save the lives of others. Karen had aspirations of eventually working for the Yakima City Fire Department where she did her job shadow in high school. From there she planned to advance into training for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and continue with the local fire department. The fire originated from a rekindled, runaway campfiire which first ignited trees and brush in the area, not far from the Chewuch River. It was first spotted at 9:30 PM, the night before from the air from a Canadian smokejumper plane. The regional USFS firebosses had a meeting about what to do about this "little fire." The larger fire was raging about 30 miles south, reffered to as the "South Libby Fire," and had been currently the main focus of manpower and resources. At midnight, July 10, 2001, Karen Lee FitzPatrick received the call to join her crew at the Naches Ranger District, and bolt up North to begin her work as a firefighter on this new fire near the Thirtymile campground and the Thirtymile Peak. Normally, as a Rookie, she only worked on "mop up," on the periphery of the fire with other new crew. "A training fire..." they thought at first.."the whimpy fire." But as Karen and her crew, the Northwest Regulars, arrived on the scene at 9:03 AM that morning, it was no joke. Now it had excellerated to the status of an "Initial Attack" fire. A huge challenge...actually forbidden, for this largely Rookie Crew. By noon, the Incident Commander and Crew Bosses, wondered where the helicopters with the water drops were, since they had ordered the water up at 2 AM. The use of USFS pumps by firefighter crew members, in attempt to draw from the river at about 11 AM, had failed. Between leaking hoses, and crew accidentlally putting the wrong gas in the engine, it had become obvious it was hopeless to put water on the fire that way. Karen Lee must have wondered were the water drops were, as this had been a customary sight to her in fighting fires previously. Meanwhile it had been plainly announced to the fire bosses on the scene, via the USFS dispatch, that water would not be dipped by helicopter from the Chewuch River to put out the fire because of the presence of endangered species fish. It was also learned that no fire retardant would be dropped on the fire above from planes, as they were working in a research nature area.