FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015
Local & Entertainment
Stices
Gulch
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
“I can’t get over it,” he
told the group. “This is my
fi rst big event like this, so
when I was driving around
with Chief John (Baker
City’s Chief) I asked him if
the cooperation was usual
with all these agencies, and
he said defi nitely not. He
hasn’t seen anything like it
either, and he has so many
years of experience.”
Devlin went on to talk
about the Fire Management
Plan for the area.
He explained that even
after they were allowed
to return to their homes,
they would still be seeing
smoke and small fi res for
quite some time.
"Tree stumps will be
smoldering" he said, “and
normally they will be fi ne
to just burn out on their
own but, if anything con-
cerns you, don't hesitate to
call us. If you see anything
that you think is a concern,
you call."
He went on to explain
that due to the fi re having
denuded the hills of veg-
etation, there was nothing
left to hold the rocks and
loose soil.
"Come the rains,” Devlin
said, "there is danger and
the possibility of land-
slides, fl ooding, and falling
rock."
He went on to tell the
residents if they had any
large rocks they were wor-
ried might come loose and
cause damage, to call him
and he or his crew would
bring the station's heavy
equipment out to move it.
Devlin informed the
group that he would be
having the Type Six truck
from the Station driving
through the region every
night for the next couple of
weeks, doing spotting and
watching for any potential
NRAC
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
Grant pointed out the
need for stronger language
concerning federal agen-
cies’ compliance with the
law, and said, “Right now,
there are two miners in
The
outbreaks.
He explained that "ash
pockets" left from the fi res
could continue to smolder,
and reach as much as 1,000
degrees, so for residents to
be exceptionally cautious
when working outside on
their properties.
"Wear heavy boots," he
said, "and, again call us if
there's anything that looks
worrying."
Devlin explained that
he wanted to reassure the
group that he and or his
crew would be out to check
on anything suspicious, but
he wanted to educate the
residents so that they knew
what to expect.
Lt. Joey Jayo from the
Baker County Sheriff’s
Department is also a resi-
dent of the area and he had
been working alongside the
other fi refi ghters to save
the homes.
"Be careful," said Jayo,
"and make sure you stay
in touch with Emergency
Services."
Jayo went on to explain
that Dispatch had all the
landline phone numbers,
but that residents needed
to be sure their cell phones
were registered too.
Jayo spoke, too, about
how so many helped from
the entire community.
He explained that ODOT
would be working on
felling the trees that posed
danger along the 245 high-
way, to further reduce the
danger.
One of the residents
mentioned that he had only
recently discovered an old
abandoned mine shaft on
his property, not 20 feet
from his house.
"Sure glad I didn't fi nd
it by parking the backhoe
over it!" he told the group.
He went on to remind
the emergency services
workers that there is the
possibility of stumbling on
abandoned mine shafts all
over the area, and that was
another danger.
Homeowners were
encouraged to add fl ood
insurance to their existing
plans, as the possibility of
fl ash fl oods and mud dam-
age is greatly increased
due to the fi res.
Also, fi res can cause
soil to become very resis-
tant to water, so that the
water sheets off rather than
soaking into the earth.
Devlin cautioned the
residents to wait before
felling trees that appeared
killed by the fi res.
"Call ODF before you
cut," he said. "Many trees
are actually able to resist
any permanent damage and
begin to grow again. ODF
will send someone out to
evaluate your trees, and
tell you which will still be
viable."
Devlin ended the meet-
ing by encouraging the
owners.
"It is 90% sure that
we can let you return to
your homes tomorrow,"
he said. "Try not to be
overwhelmed by the devas-
tation. Just take it all one
step at a time, eventually
you'll get it all cleared up."
He explained that the
fi refi ghters were focused
on clearing a safety zone
of 100 feet around each
home.
Finally, the Chief closed
by reiterating his astonish-
ment at the level of inter-
agency cooperation he had
seen.
"All of them," he said,
"from local volunteers,
contract fi refi ghters, ODF,
BLM, everybody, went out
of their way to be careful,
kind and compassionate.
They were careful with
fences for example. They
would use gates when
possible rather than just
cutting fence. And the
cooperative collaboration
between everyone involved
made the work smoother
and safer for all."
Later the following day,
Stices Gulch residents
were indeed able to return
to their homes.
Montana that are being
thrown off their place,
because they didn’t adhere
strictly to the law, while
they’ve identifi ed, now, 25
violations of the law by the
Forest Service.”
After some more discus-
sion and debate, Harvey
asked for a decision from
the committee, and the
majority voted to leave the
Mining section as-is.
At the conclusion of
more discussion, including
further revising, the NRAC
voted to present the plan
to the Baker County Board
of Commissioners for ap-
proval.
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THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 11
Bebe’s word search
This week’s crossword puzzle
Across
1- Take to court;
4- Vulgar;
9- Fit;
13- Mom-and-pop org.;
14- Silk dye;
15- Software medium;
16- Retire;
18- ___-garde;
19- Bellowing;
20- Wages;
22- “West Side Story”
tune;
25- Young goats;
26- Property claims;
28- Flexible;
32- Neighbor of Leb.;
35- In unison;
37- Belgian painter
James;
38- Jalopy;
40- Spirited horse;
42- Bestow;
43- No longer on deck;
45- Conger catcher;
47- No-win situation;
48- Sacred place;
50- Actress Taylor;
52- Yours, in Tours;
54- Decipher;
58- Cross;
62- Children’s refrain;
63- Brit’s half-note;
64- Mishaps;
67- Chorus section;
68- “______ by any
other name…”;
69- Word in many band
names;
70- Dresden denial;
71- Monetary unit of
Turkey;
72- Yes;
Down
1- Herring type;
2- In ___ (unborn);
3- Stationery brand;
4- State in the SE United
States;
5- Mythical bird;
6- Verb ending?;
7- Pro or con;
8- Slink;
9- Notifying;
10- Muffi n choice;
11- Protracted;
12- CPR pros;
15- Taper;
17- Marsh bird;
21- Final letters?;
23- Pianist Myra;
24- Govt. security;
27- Look of disdain;
29- ___ were (so to
speak);
30- ___ Sad, Serbia;
31- Genealogist’s work;
32- Ayatollah’s prede-
cessor;
33- Himalayan legend;
34- Broccoli ___ (leafy
vegetable);
36- Caught congers;
39- By airplane;
41- Sand hill by the sea;
44- Clan emblems;
46- Slopes backward;
49- Neither partner;
51- Iroquois foe;
53- Singer Chris;
55- Gossipmonger;
56- Succinct;
57- We’re Off ___ the
Wizard;
58- Counterfeiter
catcher;
59- Anger;
60- Opposed to;
61- Color of raw silk;
65- ___ anglais (English
horn);
66- Terre Haute sch.;