A waiting game
Recent rains only delay the
inevitable fire season, officials say
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:44 PM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
The Vale Hotshots has its headquarters at the west end of the Bureau of Land Management compound in Vale, and the firefighters stay prepared to respond to fire calls. Jared Jake, a two-year veteran with the Vale Hotshots, checks over equipment stowed on one of two vehicles the Hotshots use when they travel. Jake said he likes the hard, physical work and the outdoors experience. |
VALE —Vale United States Bureau of Land Management officials have one theme they want to get out to area residents: Don’t be complacent regarding wildfires.
The warning may be apt now more than ever after the region suffered through a series of storms that drenched the soil and delivered lightning.
Despite the lightning, heavier than expected rainfall kept the high desert steppes of southeastern Oregon wet and helped cut down on the fire danger.
But that rain-sparked fire respite is not going to last forever, officials said, and the moisture promoted the growth of cheat grass.
“There is an abundance of cheat grass,” Vale BLM District spokesman Mark Wilkening said.
On his travels through the district, he said he noticed the cheat grass has cured, turning from green to purple. Once that grass dries completely, officials said, the fire danger will climb.
“Normally, by this time of year, we’re talking about fire restrictions,” Wilkening said, “but it is coming.”
It is not going to take a long time for the cheat and other fine grasses to dry out, he said.
The message he sought to deliver Friday was a cautionary one, based on the fact July 4 is just a few weeks away and people will be out and about, and the fire hazard may be greater than they think.
“It will take only a few hours of sunny weather, wind and warm temperatures to continue to cure and dry this extremely heavy fine fuel load,” he said.
The use of fireworks is strictly prohibited on all federal lands, but not on private lands, so BLM officials urge caution.
Also:
— Never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure it is “dead” when leaving the campground.
— Choose parking areas that are clear of fuels, and beware of fine fuels collecting near exhaust systems.
— If doing a controlled burn, plan ahead, secure proper permits, check weather forecasts, create control lines, have plenty of water and notify BLM Dispatch Center when starting the burn.
Residents need to remember that, if they start a wildfire or a controlled burn strays on to public land, they can be held responsible for the suppression costs and, in some cases, face civil and criminal penalties.
For further information or to report wildfires, the Vale BLM Dispatch number is (541) 473-6295 or 1-800-982-0287.
While he did not have the exact numbers, Wilkening said the number of people signed up to be in the Snake River Valley firefighting program were up considerably because of the poor economy.
However, how many crews would be formed depended on how many qualified supervisors are available, he said.
SRV crews are dispatched out of the Ontario Employment office and can be assigned to anywhere in the nation.
Firefighting equipment assigned for initial attack in the Vale District includes 19 fire engines — including eight light engines and 11 heavy tankers, a tactical tender and a bulldozer, plus crews at eight guard stations spread out from Baker City to Burns Junction, according to the BLM.
Also, based at the Vale BLM yard is the Vale Hotshots, which, like the SRV crews, are a national resource and can be assigned as needed across the nation.
They have been based in Vale since 1997.
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