Ham Lake 50 percent contained

True is signing off on Ham Lake fire coverage; there is so much good stuff out there, on boreal news, on WTIP, on Inciweb, and at the Community Center. Good news today; the combination of rain and heroic efforts by our fire and rescue folks have resulted in 50 percent containment in Cook County; Canada with less rain and more recent fires is looking at only 20 percent.
Today True heard stories of firefighters who worked 12-hour shifts in the wake of smoke, burned skin, and short rations. They perservered because they care, and also because the mutual aid support they got from each other inspired them to g0 one step beyond the call of duty. "I would have done it for nothing," said one young firefighter today, and he meant it.
In actual fact, there is no provision in the county and townships' contracts with the DNR for reimbursement to firefighters; this is expected to come out of the hourly rate for truck rentals. Nonetheless, the legislature is proposing a $750 bonus to local fire and rescue volunteers, and True feels sure we have not heard the last word on compensation for our heroes.