One time we were on a wildland fire out in the back-country. For wildland fires, you ship out in five-rig units. We had probably 20-30 rigs out at this fire. Each unit has a Battalion Chief functioning as commander, and each rig has a Captain, an Engineer, and two Firefighters. There were quite a few people there. We would work for 12 hours on a fire, and then try to rest for 12 hours unless something blows up, and then you have to work longer. But they try to give you 12 hours rest after 12 hours fighting. We did everything with the rig; you sleep at the rig, you eat at the rig. It’s like a big ol' wagon train. 

One evening, all of the rigs were lined up and everyone was kind of looking at me. I didn’t really know what was going on, but something was up. The rigs sit really high and when you open the door to one, the top of the seat cushion is at about eye level with you. So I went to the rig and I opened the door up, and here is this rattlesnake coiled up sitting on my seat. It gave me quite a jolt because you don’t expect a snake on your seat! The only thing is that it was dead. It had died in the coiled up position in the fire. 

About three or four rigs behind mine was the Battalion Chief’s car. So I went and got a shovel, and I got that snake and started taking it back to put it in the BC’s car. I was walking down one side of his car when I heard his footsteps going down the other side really fast. When I turned the corner the ol' BC was standing right there, and he said “Jim, don’t you dare put that in my car!” He was very adamant that if I would have done that, he probably would have done something bad to me. So I had to find another rig to put it in.