HOLE IN THE WALL FIRE STATION, Calif. — Driving through the barren eastern Mojave has a hypnotic effect, like watching waves crash against the shore: The desert flows to the horizon, interrupted only by mesas that stand like solitary islands in a sea of brown earth.

The sole evidence of human presence appears to be Interstate 40, which slashes across this vast area like an enormous tire track. But as is the ocean, the life that populates the desert is sometimes hard to see.

Ads by Google

• Best of Google in 3 sizesDiscover the new Nexus smartphone and tablets from Google. www.google.com/nexus

• Iron Overload TreatmentLearn About A Treatment For Chronic Iron Overload Due To Transfusions. www.IronOverloadMedicine.com

Ten miles off any paved road, U.S. Bureau of Land Management firefighters wait vigilantly with their fire engines, ready to depart at a moment's notice. To many smog-choked Angelenos, the small fire station, surrounded by spectacular vistas and clear blue skies, must sound like heaven.

But for the 12 men who spend the six-month fire season here, beautiful scenery cannot always make up for spending half a year without telephones, convenience stores and continuous electricity--comforts many Southern Californians take for granted.

Even by the standards of the rural communities near here, residents of Hole in the Wall live a Spartan lifestyle. With the exception of the cellular phone that the station keeps for emergencies and official business, the nearest phone is more than 20 miles away.

That isolation may soon change because of the much-debated California Desert Act. Should the act fail to be approved by Congress, many desert areas may be laid open to further development. But to these men who protect the Mojave's rich profusion of plants and animals, maneuverings in Washington have little immediate relevance to their work.

The area the firefighters are assigned to protect is more than 4 million acres, so it is not unusual for them to drive for two hours to reach a fire. And while their primary mission is to fight brush fires, their duties often encompass much more.

The lack of emergency resources in the desert ensures that the firefighters are called upon to assist with dozens of vehicle accidents and medical emergencies, although they are not specifically trained for such incidents.

"People don't understand the difference between us and other agencies. They just know it's a fire engine and that they need help," says Doug Wagner, a BLM official who supervises firefighting efforts.

Officially, the BLM's responses to medical emergencies and vehicle accidents are classified as "assists" with other fire agencies. But in reality, the firefighters, several of whom are licensed emergency medical technicians, are usually the first at the scene of an emergency and are alone for some time before San Bernardino County fire engines arrive from Needles and other communities.

Capt. Chuck Kemp of the San Bernardino County Fire Department says he has no doubts that the BLM has been a valuable ally.

"The BLM crews help us out a lot," Kemp says. "Depending on the location, they can sometimes reach the scene of an emergency 20 or 30 minutes before we can. For patients in bad shape, that quicker response can mean the difference between life and death."

Ads by Google

• $40 Airbag Modules ResetReset SRS Airbag Computer Module Light On? Accident? Crash Data? MyAirbags.com/678-778-8890

• Free Reverse Cell LookupGet Their Name, Address and More Fast Results, Secure, Accurate! Intelius.com/ReverseCell

The engines are dispatched to fires and other emergencies by radio, so listening closely to the radio is a skill that firefighters develop quickly.

Just a loud buzz of static is enough to halt even the liveliest conversation in mid-sentence. All work halts as the crew listens attentively for the telltale beep-beep-beep that signals an emergency call.

For those helped by the firefighters, the sudden appearance of the engines can be a surprise.

"When we go to vehicle accidents, people are shocked to see us. They're always asking us where the heck we came from. They have no idea we are out here," says Eric Ceremony, one of the engine captains at Hole in the Wall.

After a call that turned out to be a false alarm, the fire engines fly down the rough dirt road leading to their station. The dirt surface is corrugated like a sheet of iron, and with each bump and groove, the firefighters are lifted out of their seats.

Amid the sharp green blades of yucca plants and the wispy yellow grasses that blanket the desert floor, mice and other small animals emerge from the protective shade, only to dart back in as the engines roar past.

From the station, all that can be seen of the engines' approach is a huge, rapidly moving plume of dust. But as the cloud turns the corner to the station, the yellow engines quickly emerge.

As one of the engines rolls to a stop beside the prefabricated building that serves as both office and home to the firefighters, three men scramble from the truck's open-air seats. Doffing the helmets and bandannas that protect them during the dusty ride, they good-naturedly chide the driver for the rough ride he has given them.

Ads by Google

• Try GATSBY hair wax nowTry GATSBY MOVING RUBBER trial set! Create 4 unique hair styles GATSBYglobal.com

• Korean Air A380 on FlightLarger, Spacious Seats. A380 It's Different. Korean Air A380 www.KoreanAir.com

1 | 2 | Next

MORE:

The FDA warns against using quinine for leg cramps

Hormone may help protect monogamous relationships

Ads by Google