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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2017)
Appeal Tribune Wednesday, September 13, 2017 3A PHOTOS BY CONNOR RADNOVICH / STATESMAN JOURNAL Cody Goodnough, left, of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training hands a pack to Audra Luther of the 173rd Fighter Wing at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. Specialist Justin Lambert with the 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion, left, selects a pair of pants with Miguel Benitez of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Pfc. Patrick Connor, center, tries on his new wildfire fighting clothing along with a group of other Oregon National Guardsmen at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. “Going to a fire, especially a wildfire, Fires you’re definitely going into the Continued from Page 1A unknown.” “If you’re in Brookings and your house is in jeop- ardy, that one day is im- portant to you,” said Eriks Gabliks, director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. The first group activat- ed in early August was trained in 2015, so they only required a one-day refresher course. The next two groups had nev- er faced a wildfire, so they needed the full four days, though some of the individuals had previous experience. Springfield-resident and current trainee Zack Prather of Alpha Compa- ny, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, came across a small brush fire while hunting with his father when he was 14 years old. They were able to contain the blaze for a few hours until a local fire depart- ZACK PRATHER ALPHA COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 162ND INFANTRY ment showed up, using a nearby highway as a fire break and cutting it off on the other sides. “My dad just kept tell- ing me to dig, so I did,” he said. Prather was deployed to Afghanistan for more than a year in 2014 and 2015. He worked protec- tion duty; a “GA” or “guardian angel” to the people he looked after. Overseas, he said, you ba- sically know the enemy and the kinds of situations you’re going to find your- self in. That’s not always the case with wildfires. “Going to a fire, espe- cially a wildfire, you’re definitely going into the unknown,” Prather said. Master Sgt. Rebecca Thompson, of the 142nd Fighter Wing, was de- ployed in Romania two years ago when wildfires last cut major swaths through the Oregon. These areas included land near her childhood home in John Day; a fire crept to within a few miles of her family’s cabin. She couldn’t do any- thing then, but this year she will have the opportu- nity to defend someone else’s house. “You protect your home, you protect your state,” she said. “Your home’s on fire, you got to do something about it.” Contact the reporter at cradnovich@statesman journal.com or 503-399- 6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich FREE Varicose Vein and PAD Screening September 25 & September 26th Tired, achy, swelling legs? Bulging veins or ulcers? Michael Kim, DDS “Your friendly local dentist” New Patients & Emergencies Welcome Cosmetic Implant Bridges/Partials Extractions Crowns/Fillings Root Canals ENTER FOR OUR MONTHLY KINDLE DRAWING AT EACH APPOINTMENT OR-0000392768 Brittney - RDH Dr. Kim Morgan - RDH WE ACCEPT MOST INSURANCE 410 Oak St, Silverton, OR, 97381 503-873-3530 kimsilvertonordentist.com For more information or questions, please call (503) 763-7471 or direct email requests to renewedlegs@salemradiology.com 2925 Ryan Dr SE Salem, OR 97301 503-399-1262 www.salemradiology.com