Free Republic

It's not all Smokey Bear's fault 07/23/02 The nation is eagerly throwing thousands of firefighters and more than $10 million a day against forest fires burning over nearly 4 million acres of the West. If only it made that kind of effort at fire prevention. For years, the country has stalled around and bickered over the forest thinning and other work needed to prevent these kinds of devastating fires. And there's a chance again this summer that firefighting costs will consume money set aside for fire prevention. If that happens, Montana Gov. Judy Martz warns, the nation will "continue to...

Flames force evacuations in The Dalles (East of Portland, Oregon) By JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press SPRAGUE RIVER, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon's wildfire season took a turn to the north late Thursday when the Sheldon Ridge Fire grew to 3,000 acres and forced 200 homes near The Dalles to be evacuated. The fire was reportedly a few miles southwest of the city and threatening expensive homes in the nearby hills. City firefighters from Portland were sent to the area by mandate of the Conflagration Act, which allows the governor to ask for assistance of local firefighters when wildfire resources get...