Oregon Firefighters set own blazes in bid to corral wildfires

Oregon Live ^ | 08/01/02 | ALEX PULASKI and BETH QUINN

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks and I'm reposting your reply about what has happened in the past when Congress has budgeted money to clear out forests that have been burnt out:

After the fires of the year 2000, when 7 million acres burned, Babbit arranged for $2 Billion to be released for thinning projects.

Guess where the money went?

Lawyers. The RICOnuts sued nearly every project the USFS attempted. When the USFS settles they pay the RICOnuts for their costs. Now lest you think that the Forest Service bureaucracy wants it any other way, remember that 40% of the USFS budget is for legal expenses. More is spent satisfying consent decrees or documenting cases. ============================================================

So, you want Congress to appropriate the money for forest thinning. Why should we fund the enemy? Do you really think that a Federal Judge won't toss Dasshole's exemption? I'd bet he expects it.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[tubebender]

Just heard on the radio about a fire down your way in Marin County. Destroyed a crop of Cabernet vines. 60 acres.

The times-standard has a follow up this morning out of DelNorte county but not much new except for a map.

[justshe]

Carry,

1. Daschles amendment is law-suit proof. (nice touch, no?)

2. The envirogroups in SD made a deal with Daschle to NOT object to this amendment. In other words, they gave Daschle the green light to clean up the forests in SD...as long as he backed them on other enviro issues.

It just gets better and better.

[Grampa Dave]

Cabernet vines in Marvelous Marin? I'm surprised that the Johnny Jihad Enviralists would allow a vineyard to be planted in Marin county.

[Grampa Dave]

she posted"

1. Daschles amendment is law-suit proof. (nice touch, no?)

2. The envirogroups in SD made a deal with Daschle to NOT object to this amendment. In other words, they gave Daschle the green light to clean up the forests in SD...as long as he backed them on other enviro issues.

It just gets better and better.

---

This is why we may have to kill all of the damn lawyers to even stand a chance with these greenies.

[Granof8]

(time should probably be 08:00 AM August 1)

Fire Information Update
Florence Fire
Thursday, August 1, 2002 08:00 pm
Fire Information Center: (541) 592-1029


Status: 150,000 acres Start: July 13, 2002 Cause: Lightning storm
Location: 5 miles west of Selma, Oregon on the Siskiyou National Forest within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
Percent Contained: 5 percent Cost to date: $6 million Line to Build: 61 miles
Structures Lost: 3 residences and 8 outbuildings
Personnel: 1,500 total personnel Injuries: None Expected Containment: Unknown
Today’s Resources: 15 helicopters (5 Type-1, 6-Type-2 and 4-Type 3), 31-handcrews (9-Type 1 and 30-Type 2), 84 engines, 12 water tenders, 27 dozers. In addition 7 structural task forces (110 people) from all over the state are providing fire protection to residences within the fire area and along Highway 199.
At Risk: Portions of Cave Junction, Kerby, Agness, Gardner Ranch and Selma, private residences in the Oak Flat area and McCaleb Ranch, private inholdings east of McCaleb Ranch, Late Successional Reserve, Illinois and Rogue National Wild and Scenic River, campgrounds.
Closures: Galice and Illinois Valley Ranger Districts on the Siskiyou National Forest west of State Highway 199 is closed to all public access due to extreme fire conditions. The Bear Camp road #2300 is exempt from this closure.
Cooperating Agencies: Oregon Department of Forestry; Oregon National Guard; Illinois Valley Fire District; Oregon State Police; Josephine County Sheriff’s Dept; American Red Cross; Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office; U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; Josephine County Emergency Operations Center.

What’s New: Burnout operations between Hwy 199 and the fire began last night and will continue today. Winds from the north should keep smoke out of the valley until a wind shift mid-afternoon when fire activity is expected to increase. There is a possibility for plume development later in the day. The Red Flag Warning for today has been cancelled.

Firefighters today are continuing to construct and reinforce fire line on the east flank of the fire, west of Illinois Valley communities. The fire has moved to within four miles of Game Lake on the west flank, to Silver Peak on the north flank, to within five miles of Selma and Cave Junction on the east flank and to Chetco Peak on the south flank. Dozer and hand lines have been established along the eastern flank from the Chrome Ridge Road, north of Selma, to the California border.

There will be a public meeting tonight at 7pm at the Illinois Valley High School Baseball Field in Cave Junction.

The entire Illinois River Valley is now under a 30-minute evacuation notice. Structural and wildland fire resources have been positioned to protect residences in the valley. The communities of Agness, Gold Beach, and Brookings are not currently at imminent risk.

The Joki Type 2 Team is stationed at Gold Beach on the West Florence Fire. The Bennett Type 1 Team has joined the Broyles Type 2 Team on the Sour Biscuit.

A Red Cross shelter has been opened in Grants Pass at the South Middle School (541-890-0612).

Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 2
Mike Lohrey, Incident Commander

[Carry_Okie]

1. Daschles amendment is law-suit proof. (nice touch, no?)

Are you really so sure about that?

Remember, environmental law is authorized by treaties which supercede Federal Statutes. All this is, is a way for Dasshole to look good to his constituents for the election while accomplishing exactly NOTHING that would PO his real clientele.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Inspectorette]

Is your trip north still planned. If so you might want to go to yesterday's thread to bookmark some good new sources re what is happening up there.

Yes, we're heading up a week from tomorrow, have overnight reservations in Grants Pass. We're already getting our taste buds worked up for the excellent prime rib at The Brewery. I have bookmarked some of the sites, and also have KTVL out of Medford bookmarked as well.

We're definitely monitoring the situation very closely, but as you say, some of the lamestream media reports are so deceptive, it's hard to count on them. Thank goodness for you and this thread. It's the first place I go when I log onto FR.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the feed back, and hopefully the back fires will work.

[Grampa Dave]

Well hopefully most of this will be over when you head up next week.

Off course by then, Kali will be in prime fire season on your trip up and trip back.

You might consisder getting one of the new clear channel radios to be able to listen the news.

I believe that in Medford, 1440 am has fairly good news. You need to check with Aunt B..

[EBUCK]

Nothing new to report SIR!

EBUCK

[Grampa Dave]

This was what we had discussed yesterday re what was happening and could happen with 199. Cake Crumb called it correctly:

This is from the article I posted to start this thread:

Officials said that the evacuation will be broadcast on local radio stations and that officials charged with notifying individual residents will be police officers or firefighters in uniform, driving emergency vehicles.

By today, the Illinois Valley will be sprouting new yellow signs spelling out in black: Escape Route. Oregon Department of Transportation officials plan to make U.S. 199 one way with two lanes heading north, and Oregon State Police and National Guard troops will be stationed at key intersections to allow traffic to enter from side roads. No one will be allowed to return.

[PoisedWoman]

Thanks for updates, GD. I lived in Mendocino, loved to drive up to my friend's place in Wilderville, west of Grant's Pass, stopping at Patrick Creek Lodge on CA side of 199 for lunch or overnight. Read yesterday that the lodge was evacuated, right in path of Biscouit fire.. Have you heard any news today about it? Somehow that particular little corner of the world always seemed special to me. So pristine, so beautiful. Many retirees in Gasquet-Patrick Creek area, fishermen, hunters, lovers of wilderness, and not an enviro whacko among them. My heart aches for them.

[Grampa Dave]

Finally some good NOAA Sat FireImage shots:

[EBUCK]

Let's hope it doens't come to that. It sounds like our professionals have a good plan with a few backups in line "just in case".

EBUCK

[Grampa Dave]

This is an absolutely incredible NOAA picture taken last night about 7 pm.

This really shows how big and intense some of these fires are!

[Grampa Dave]

You asked about Patrick Creek Lodge on 199.

There have been mixed reports to that it was burnt up a couple of nights ago to it has been saved.

The Kali Floristry Division's update pages are days behind.

Maybe Aunt B or Tubebender can clue us in to the status of Patrick Creek Lodge.

Thanks for clearing up a mystery. I thought that you lived in the Bay area, and I couldn't understand how you made it to Patrick Creek Lodge in time for lunch. From Mendocino, it can be done.

[EBUCK]

Here's a blow-up of your picture...

EBUCK