Too many trees feed Colorado fires

Washington Times ^ | Sunday, June 16, 2002 | By Valerie Richardson

[JohnHuang2]

DENVER

[JohnHuang2]

Sunday, June 16, 2002

Quote of the Day by Maceman

[BossLady]

"It's that kind of thing we're dealing with here — the idiocy of bureaucrats and environmental extremists, who don't want any kind of management in the forest at all," Mr. Tancredo said. "They'd rather see the whole thing burn, then start over again in 100 years."

Amen! Can I get a witness?!!!! :)

[PatrioticAmerican]

hehe, this is classic!

[joyce11111]

The envioro whackos said the same last year when we had tremendous fires here in the Pac. N.W .

But he and other environmentalists agree that they have opposed thinning proposals for several reasons. Many see such projects as loosely disguised attempts to revive the nation's moribund timber industry by feeding it more trees.

They have chased the loggers out of the woods, and, of course that fuels these fires.

[Mo1]

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[kitchen]

Every time a news item about this fire comes along I wonder when the Pike NF held their last timber sale.

[timestax]

To: JohnHuang2 "It's that kind of thing we're dealing with here — the idiocy of bureaucrats and environmental extremists, who don't want any kind of management in the forest at all," Mr. Tancredo said. "They'd rather see the whole thing burn, then start over again in 100 years." Amen! Can I get a witness?!!!! :) 2 posted on 6/15/02 10:52 PM Pacific by BossLady [ Post Reply |

AMEN ! and DITTO !!!

[Pistacio]

The bad news...Too many tree's!

The good news...the tree's were all being "HUGGED" by enviromental whacko's !!!

[sweetkitty]

Environmental groups also argue that the abundance of timber can be blamed on misguided fire-suppression efforts, like the Smokey Bear campaign. Many argue that wildfires should be welcomed, not suppressed, and allowed to burn unhindered except where they threaten lives.

For the life of me I can't understand the mindset of some people and groups. So in their opinion it is wrong to cut the timber, even though it can be used in a beneficial way, instead they would rather see it burn? They'd rather have animals and other flora and fauna destroyed than to just have the trees cut down? Unbelievable!

[pepsionice]

There is a similar problem in Germany. These idiots plant two trees in a square yard area. By the time they get up to 10 years, the tree is simply growing straight up. Perfect atmosphere for fires.

[Colorado Doug]

They would not even accept free dozers to help put out the fire. I offered one and I know of another contractor that volunteered equipment and crews. I was a certified wildland firefighter too. They told him that they did not want trees pushed over because the environmentalists didn't like it. They told me to fax my information and they would put it on a list. It took days before the reserves were allowed to fly and drop slurry. I am convinced that there are those with the Forest Service that wanted the fire to burn.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Well just watch john next thing ya know its going to be the firefighters fault for the fire being out of control not the fire starter or tree huggers!

And we all know that cutting down trees is bad for the enviroment right? /sarcasm/

[philetus]

"But he and other environmentalists agree that they have opposed thinning proposals for several reasons. Many see such projects as loosely disguised attempts to revive the nation's moribund timber industry by feeding it more trees."

I think any tree hugger who lives in a building framed in pine should be kicked out on their butt.

[editor-surveyor]

"I am convinced that there are those with the Forest Service that wanted the fire to burn."

The fire was started by a forest service employee!

---

By JENNIFER HAMILTON, Associated Press Writer

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) - A U.S. Forest Service employee was charged Sunday with starting the fire that scorched more than 100,000 acres in the Pike National Forest and destroyed at least 22 homes.

Forestry technician Terry Barton, 38, admitted starting a campfire while patrolling the forest to enforce a fire ban, said Bill Leone of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

She said she started burning personal papers within a designated campfire ring, where fires normally would be allowed, and then tried to put out the blaze.

"She attempted to suppress the fire but it grew," Leone said.

Barton initially reported the fire, but an investigation led the Forest Service to question what she was saying, Leone said.

Barton was charged with setting fire to timber in the national forest, damaging federal property in excess of $100,000 and making false statements to investigators, Leone said.

If convicted, Barton could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. She was arrested Sunday morning; it was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.

She was scheduled to make an initial court appearance in a Denver federal court Monday.

"I want to begin by saying, this is one of the hardest announcements I've had to make in my career," said Rick Cables, regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region for the U.S. Forest Service.

"I'm shocked and with a lot of other people, in a state of disbelief," Cables said. "I'm saddened to say that one of our employees has admitted to starting the Hayman fire."

Firefighters gained ground Sunday on the wildfire that had burned within 40 miles of Denver city limits since it was started June 8, threatening southwestern suburbs.

With the blaze about 35 percent contained, about 5,400 people remained out of their homes. It was one of seven fires burning in the state Sunday.

Scattered puffs of smoke could be seen on mountainsides once totally obscured by smoke.

"Hopefully, this fire is going to now stay essentially where it is at," said Bobby Kitchens, a fire information officer. "We don't expect to see any more significant acreage gains."

Sheriff's deputies escorted some residents to retrieve belongings and assess damage, but didn't allow them to stay. Frustrated residents waited at the command post, trying to learn when they'll be able to return for good.

"It started to get to be a long period because one of the big things is I don't like eating out. I miss cooking at home," said Bob James, 46, who has been out of his home north of Lake George since Tuesday.

Another blaze flared in southwest Colorado and forced the evacuation of more than 330 homes. The latest fire had burned more than 20,000 acres in the San Juan National Forest by Sunday morning.

In addition to the evacuations, residents of 450 homes were told to be ready to leave. One cabin was destroyed, and fire managers were trying to determine whether others had burned.

[Carry_Okie]

What I want to know is if Terry Barton is a member of FSEEE (Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics). If she is, then they had better consider her actions as likely to be intentional and begin a thorough discovery of that organization. This could be only the beginning.

[brityank]

The wildfires that have ravaged the West in recent years have focused national attention on the condition of our forests. Why are they so susceptible to severe fires? And how can we prevent catastrophe? In Forests on the Sierra Nevada, George Gruell examines these treasured woodlands through repeat photography: rephotographing sites depicted in historical photographs to compare past vegetation--its distribution and condition--to present. The paired black-and-white photographs document natural and human-wrought changes in the Sierran ecosystem during the past 150 years--from the varied and generally open-canopy habitats of early European-American settlement days to the dense, declining forests of today.

Gruell's comparisons show just how much damage that the misguided policies the ecoterrorists have wrought in the past few decades. The 'roadless initiatives' will create more conflagrations that they will use to keep human activities out of the forests and stuff us all into 'sustainable communities'.

[farmfriend]

I've seen this book. It is a fasinating "read". He contends, with pictures to prove it, that the forest used to have 20 trees per acre due to Native American burning habits. It now holds 300 per acre.

[Grampa Dave]

We should round every enviro whacko who feels there should never be a tree cut down, a fallen tree harvested for timber and never clear out live brush or dead brush on the forest floors.

Then give them a shovel and a fire ax, strap them into parachutes and drop them around a forest fire to see how long their druid religion holds up before they start to fight fires.

The timber, dead trees, live and dead brush build up in our forests after years of Enviral Whackos in control at the Forestry Service 1993 to this fire has made every forest a potential flash point!

Just another example of how enviral whackos can kill innocent people with their pro Druid and anti human lack of ethics.

[JohnHuang2]

Amen, Grampa -- bull's-eye.

[kitchen]

Notice that federal employee Mz. Barton first felt she was above the law, by starting a fire during a ban. Then her response is to lie and set off a manhunt for the imaginary perpetrator.

And people wonder why nobody trusts the feds!

I'm inclined to believe that in this case the fed should be 100% liable for all damages and expenses. Let's watch how Gov. "empty suit" Owens mishandles yet another public issue.