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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2013)
Page A-10 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 21, 2013 Waste ... Continued from A-1 Haugen said the solid waste agen- cy prefers to work with established non-profit organizations. If people want a particular spot cleaned up, they should devise a plan, organize a team of volunteers, approach a non-profit group about sponsoring the effort and then attend an agency board meeting. There’s potential to have dump- sters placed near clean-up sites. Ac- cording to Haugen, per the franchise agreement with SOS, a certain number of dumpsters and cubic yards of trash disposal must be made available for clean-up events. “People must present a well thought-out plan and be willing to do the work themselves,” Haugen said. “Also, the board wants to see some re- turn on their investment. Locations that are cleaned up and then soon trashed again are not looked upon favorably. Though if the site represents a public health threat, the board takes that into consideration.” Regular monthly board meetings for the solid waste agency are held at 3 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the municipal building, locat- ed at 101 NW A street in Grants Pass. People should call Keli Rogers at 541- 450-6000 to get on the agenda. (Photo courtesy of IVFD Media Dept) Illinois Valley Fire District, Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Gavlik photographs the hot spots in the Labrador Fire area Aug. 1. Smoke ... Continued from A-1 “The smoke causes a chemical irritation in airways and can cause secondary pneumo- nia,” said Bonnie Petersen, Office Manager at Dr. Joe’s Pet Hospital. “Avoid heavy exercise for all your pets, because breathing deeper just brings these particles deeper into their lungs.” Petersen says pets should be kept indoors on smoky days and notes how dogs and cats are more susceptible to the effects of smoke, because they are closer to and sniff around on the ground a lot, where the invisible particulate matter settles out. “Animals kept outdoors need a roof of some sort over them, so the particles can settle on the top of that shelter,” Petersen said. “Re- member, if you’re feeling uncomfortable out- side, your pets are as well.” On smoky days, when the air periodically clears up, that’s when pets should be let out- doors. One difference between people and pets is that many animals have a higher base body temperature, so heat can affect them faster, and this may contribute to the effects of the smoke, according to experts. Provide plenty of fresh water close to where horses and other livestock eat. Horses drink most of their water within two hours of eating hay, so keeping it close by increases consumption, according to Dickey. Water keeps the airways moist and facilitates clearance of inhaled particulate matter. “Limiting dust exposure is important as well,” said Dickey, who explained how smoke particulates are tiny and gain easier access into the deepest recesses of the lungs, unlike road dust, which is much courser. “Water down your livestock’s areas and don’t use dusty feeds. They’re contending with enough dust already,” Dickey said. “Soak- ing hay before feeding helps. This reduces the mold, fungi, pollens and bacteria that may be difficult for animals to clear from their lungs right now.” If animals are coughing, having difficulty breathing, have gone off their feed, or are exhib- iting decreased activity or distress, a veterinar- ian should be called to determine whether the animal’s airway is reacting to smoke and dust or if the animal has succumbed to a bacterial infection, according to Dickey. “Blood tests may be needed to determine whether there’s a secondary infection,” Dickey said. “The animal might need medication.” Dickey also advises that people become familiar with what their pet’s gums look like ordinarily, and also, their heart and breathing rates, so times of distress can be readily recog- nized. Press down on the gums and monitor how quickly that spot returns to pink. If distressed or sick, that rate slows. Also, with horses, put your ear to their flank and become familiar with their normal gut sounds. This can help in the future if colic is suspected. “Airway damage from wildfire smoke takes four to six weeks to heal, so don’t move, ride or exercise horses during this period,” Dickey said. “After these fires are out, plan on giving your horse time off to heal. Attempt- ing exercise too soon can aggravate problems, delay the healing process, and compromise your horse’s performance for many weeks or months.” Experts agree that this holds true for oth- er animals as well, that all species exposed to heavy smoke need time to recover before doing vigorous exercise, including us. “We’re not so different from the rest of the animal kingdom,” Dickey said. Fire ... continued from A-1 The Utah unit is also trained to help assess what will need to be accomplished to restore vegetation. In total, 83 firefighters and three helicopters are working on the Labrador Fire. A tanker remains at the Oak Flat commu- nity, which is still under a Level 1 Evacuation Order. A chipper is continuing to reduce fuels along Illinois River Road, which remains closed due to safety reasons. “If this fire were to jump the road and go on the other side of the hill it would initiate a completely new response,” said In- cident Commander Monty Edwards. While the Labrador Fire will likely never grow into the con- flagration that the Biscuit Fire was, officials remain concerned about pockets of fuels that could result in large fire runs. Reports about wildfires typically include the percentage of containment a fire currently has. As the Labrador Fire is zero percent contained, many in the Valley wonder what actually constitutes containment. According to Johnson, there’s no easy answer. “Generally, it means that there’s a line around the fire that is believed to be secure,” Johnson said. “Sometimes that’s fifty feet of recently burned-off blackened soil, or maybe a double-width dozer line. It might be a natural barrier like a line of water, or Healing Hearts & Hooves Desperately needs side walkers for our 12:30 p.m. class on Sundays. To volunteer or for information call 541-659-1790. Southern Oregon Alternative Medicine Will be returning for the monthly clinic to their Cave Junction location at the Jefferson state trading Post A ugust 28, 2013 L ocated south of c ave J unction at 27893 R edwood h wy i f you aRe tiRed of being tReated with piLLs , stop by and sign - up today . For more information, please call 541.592.6647 or visit southernoregonalternativemedicine.com rock. The width of containment lines is determined by what we believe is defensible at that moment in time.” A fire’s perimeter is determined a few different ways. Night- time infrared technology; satellites; or utilizing hand held GPS units while flying around what is thought to be a fire’s perimeter all provide this information. Johnson added that numerous newly maintained contingen- cy lines are in place on the Labrador Fire, which is expected to burn until a “season ending rain event” extinguishes the blaze. Every now and then... one is given the opportunity to do something good for his fellow man. When that opportunity is presented to you, it is your obligation to discern whether the opportunity is for good or for evil. Of course, the second option is to say to yourself, “Not my problem.” There was an opportunity to do “something good” presented to six churches in the Grants Pass area a few months ago. Six different churches turned their backs for their various reasons. One Pastor in Cave Junction listened to the opportunity that was presented to him and accepted the challenge. It was originally conveyed to the pastor it would require approximately a three week obligation requiring about 3 hours a week of his time. Because of the courts, it became an obligation of a few months duration. This pastor not only accepted the challenge, he was so dedicated to seeing justice prevail he had to go to court as a witness. This was after enduring nasty accusations against his person. This vile court case was resolved this past week, 100% in favor to the person the pastor was helping. It’s not important the public be aware of the facts of the ugly case, but it is most important the public has the opportunity to know who the pastor is I speak of. The pastor’s name is Charles Chase, The pastor of Emmanuel Methodist Church, 200 Watkins St. in Cave Junction and Wilderville Community Methodist Church.
