DAN WHEAT
The Wenatchee World

TWISP -- Tuesday night's death of four firefighters hit hard at others fighting three major blazes in North Central Washington.

"It makes you think about what you're doing," said Joe Poulin, an Okanogan County firefighter. "You're at the mercy of Mother Nature. If she picks up the winds, you're at the mercy of what's there -- trees, winds. It can just turn into a firestorm. It's hard, knowing what those guy went through."

Inside Our Coverage Nine Forest Firefighters Reassigned in Connection with Deaths Lax Safety Cited in Wildfire Deaths Thirtymile Investigation Report Forest Service Chief Vows Changes Rules Cited in Northwest Wildfire WA Wildfire Survivors Sound-Off Crews Contain Wildfire That Killed 4 Officials: Wash. Firefighters Had No Time to Escape Inferno First Of Four Perished Firefighters Laid To Rest Seattle Wildfire Deaths Explained Tents Not Enough to Save Four Firefighters At the Mercy of Nature History: Washington Blaze Deadliest for U.S. Wildland Firefighters Since 1994 Bios: The Victims King5 TV: Four Firefighters Killed in Wildfire Near Winthrop Initial Report: Firefighters Die Battling Wildfire First Expanded Story: Washington Wildfire Overwhelms Crews Burned Hands Save WA Firefighter Firefighter Saves Washington Hikers Related Links U.S. Forest Service Fire Information

Poulin said they didn't hear about the deaths until a 6 a.m. orientation today inside the high school.

"They kind of keep that hush-hush until they can get everybody together at the same time. We had a moment of silence for them," Poulin said.

He said everyone would be more cautious today.

Firefighting crews from around the country and state were assembled in a fire camp at Liberty Bell High School this morning. The school is serving as base camp for those battling the Libby South Fire southwest of Carlton.

Poulin, Don Hinger and Jim Serles, all volunteer firemen from Malott, were part of an Okanogan County strike force protecting homes Tuesday in the Libby Creek area.

"You just have to make sure you have an out -- escape routes or safety zones you can get to." Hinger said.

The three put out a few small spot fires Tuesday, but otherwise had relatively light duty. They were manning a 300-gallon brush rig equipped with hoses, shovels and other firefighting gear.

Brent Dell from Okanogan County Fire District 6 in Loomis said of those who died: "These guys are the best, the ones who were burned. They do that for a living. We're just volunteers who do this part-time."

Dell's crewmate, Rob Paine, of Loomis, said he heard about the deaths over the radio.

"That's a hard thing," he said. "The people you work with become your friends. It might come down to my life depending on someone else on my crew. It's kind of hard to come to a fire after the deaths. The danger level just increased 100-fold."

Steve Sabo, battalion chief from Spokane Fire Department, said nine engines from Spokane County arrived Tuesday morning.