Visibility was getting worse as the 200,000-acre Preacher Creek Fire rolled toward a winter trapping cabin designated for protection. Boise Smokejumper Dave Zuares and I jumped in to defend the structure. Despite being protected by water on three sides, flames carved a steady path toward the cabin along the opposing lakeshore. We ordered more smokejumpers, but resources were depleted, and we were 'it'. The following afternoon, predicted winds and weather conditions remained ideal for a firing operation. We first chainsawed a fuel break connecting the two halves of the lake, removing trees and ground fuels, essentially 'cutting off' the cabin on the peninsula. After soaking our control line with water pumped from a small two-stroke Shindawa, we sent flames from the fire break toward the main fire, creating a blackened buffer around the peninsula. After cutting a helispot, we were plucked from the lakeshore the following day, leaving remote sprinklers pointed at the cabin, just in case.