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.