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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 27, 2015)
5*1 ***‘******** ec RLOT 0073A**C007 BAKER COUNTY LIBRARY Positively Baker County www.therconline.com Thursday, August 27, 2015 Est. Haines 1901 ~ Haines, Baker County, Oregon Commissioner Bennett Meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Story by Gina Perkins "I was invited to attend a meeting in Portland with Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack on Thursday. Originally it was to discuss Sage- Grouse, but wildfire has been added to the list of discussion items," said Commissioner Mark Ben nett. "I'm actually hopeful. They need to hear from eastern Oregon. We've got to treat our forests. The areas that were treated definitely fared better in the fire," Bennett said. He added, "There is tremendous devastation. It's really sad when you drive over Dooley." Bennett knows first hand what other ranchers and rural homeowners affected by the fires are facing. Living on a remote ranch outside of Unity, his property, cattle and way of life were threatened right along with his neighbors. He was also under an evacuation notice. "It's one thing to be working in the fire com mand center and then drive home to see your wife and neighbor loading the trailer with your belong ings. It's humbling and takes the fire to a whole different level," he said. "It's our choice to live out in the middle of nowhere and we do a lot of fire preparation. We have one to two acres of green space around our home, but we have other things that certainly could ignite like haystacks. We were watching them like a hawk," he said. He also spent three days on a dozer building fire line. "Sometimes government is able to come and help. But they're not always available. Often, you have to be self-reliant. I don't fault anyone. At that point, there just simply were not resources available. But other people came with cats and otherSWh trailers and we went to work," Bennett explained. A lot of people faced the fire with their own manpower and equipment because other re sources were, and remain, stretched very thin. Bennett, family members, employees and neighbors gathered cattle to move them out of harm's way of the fire. He stated he didn't lose any, but definitely knows of ranchers who did. "They're all mixed together...about 1,000 head (500 pair). We've spent a lot of time sorting to get them back where they need to be," Bennett said Sunday night. With the Official determination of the Eldorado fire being lightning, this opens the door for land owners to potentially become eligible for funding to help offset losses to fencing, livestock and hopefully assist with landscape restoration. Bennett will be strongly advocating for private landowners to be eligible to receive land restora tion monies at his meeting with Secretary Vilsack. "In 1989 when Dooley Mountain burned, the restoration program would not pay private landowners. This is not right. It's one seamless landscape. You can't expect landowners to pay for restoration out of pocket," Bennett said. The restoration would likely include leveling the dozer lines, installing water bars to help with ero- Exp 05/07/2016 Volume 114, Number 35 • 10 Pages • 75 cents fire Information as of Wednesday, Aug. 26 Cornet-Windy Ridge: Firefighters will continue to mop up around the perimeter of the fire and will be removing fire weakened trees on highway 245 (Dooley Mountain Highway) to provide for public safety. Four single residences and 21 structures were lost. One minor injury. Acres burned: 103,887. 80 percent contained. Eagle Complex: Acres burned: 9,582 and 7 percent contained. Canyon Creek Complex: (near John Day) 74,744 acres and 37 percent contained. Jerry's Draw: (near Prairie City) 165 acres and 100 percent contained. Grizzly Bear Complex: 60, 272 acres and 5 percent contained. 33 structures lost. Cattlemen Meet to Show Support and Provide Information Story/photos by Gina Perkins Photo by Sgt. Tianna Waite, 41 Infantry Brigade Qombat > Team Public Affairs Brigadier General Michael Stencel, Interim Adjutant General for Oregon, meets with Baker County Commissioner Mark Bennett (right) and Baker County Emergency Manager, Jason Yenco pal (center) during a visit to the Baker City helibase, Aug. 21. Three Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Blackhawk helicopters have been working out of the Baker City Helibase since last Monday to support ground firefighting crews on four separate fires in the area. sion, seeding and even 'straw bombing.' "We've got to focus on invasive weeds," he said. Bennett stated that he also wants to make sure Secretary Vilsack understands that it's not only the untreated forests which are a problem. "With the loss of the logging industry here for the most'part,' we rid longer have "a* lot of the large equipment and institutional knowledge that goes along with it. We had to bring in big Cats from clear across the state in Douglas County. We've lost a lot of resources we used to have, including equipment operators who know how to work in steep country. It's synergistic. We need more fellers who know how to safely fall the big trees. We have feller-buncher operators who deal with smaller trees, but in the event of fire, we need that expertise. We had it for years and years, and now we don't." Sharing sentiments about the excellent work done by the local fire departments, Bennett said,"It's great to have the big helicopters and other big, specialized equipment. But our local fire fighters did an outstanding job. They're volunteers and unsung heroes. Frankly, on a day-to-day basis, if you dial 911 in the middle of the night, it's these folks that are going to get up and come help." Bennett's biggest plea is for people to put aside differences, especially political ones. We're all in a bind. Let's work together and get going," said Bennett. The bottom line for Bennett he says, "I love where I live. We all do." Thursday night the Baker County Livestock Association held a potluck meeting at Geiser-Pollman Park. Jake Bingham, president of the organization led the meeting and used the opportunity to introduce the new Livestock Extension Agent, Leticia Vare las whose first day on the job was Monday of last week. Varelas is from New Mexico and can be reached at 541- 523-6418. Also introduced were the new Baker FFA instructor, Bibiana Gifft from Todd Abell (right), operation sec Crane, Ore., and Seth Bing tion chief for Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire provides updates ham who is now the North Powder FFA instructor. Several fire officials and representatives from Oregon Department of Forestry, BLM, USFS and NRCS were on hand to provide information and resources to ranchers. A representative from the Ore gon Cattlemen's Association spoke the group about current actions and legislation. Cattle men were also alerted to hay drives and how to assist neighbors who had suffered losses. The Honda Rancher 4-Wheeler was also present. Jake Bingham BCLA president Tickets for the fundraiser are available for $20 each and may be purchased at Oregon Trail Livestock Supply. The BCLA provided beef and beverages for the evening gathering. Ranchers who were unable to attend the meeting but would like more information can contact Jake Bingham at 541 -403- 1735. Bowhunting starts Aug. 29 - Know before you go! Hunting season and many public forests are open, but respect fire restrictions, closures Despite a flurry of internet rumors claiming otherwise, statewide deer and elk archery seasons will open as scheduled on Saturday, Aug. 29. “The archery season is starting soon and we hope bowhunters have a fun, safe and successful experi ence,” says Ron Anglin, ODFW wildlife division admin istrator. “Because of the extreme fire danger, hunters should be aware that there are fire restrictions through out Oregon and some local closures of public land associated with active fires and firefighting.” Hunters need to know what those fire restrictions and closures are before they go afield. The InciWeb website has information on fires and closures due to firefighting, plus maps of closure areas in some cases. Currently, there are active fires and related closures on the Malheur, Rogue-River-Siskiyou, Umatilla, Umpqua, and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. Closures are also in effect on some BLM lands where there is fire ac tivity. All state, federal and industrial forests are also under public use restrictions to prevent more fires. Restric tions vary by area but some key rules to follow are: • No smoking except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats or at designated locations. • No open fires such as campfires, charcoal fires or cooking fires except in designated locations. (Currently campfires are prohibited, even in designated fire pits, in all Oregon state parks, Tillamook County and in some national forests, too.) Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. • No off-roading by motor vehicles, including motor cycles and all-terrain vehicles. Vehicles are only allowed on improved roads. Keep your vehicle off vegetation, it could start a fire! • No exploding targets or tracer ammunition. • Carry firefighting tools (one gallon of water or 2.5 pound fire extinguisher and one shovel at least 26 inches long with an 8-inch blade) when travelling in a motor vehicle in timber, brush or grass. Understand the precaution level in various areas and/or check with the national forest or other public land manager where you plan to hunt. ODFW’s recreation report (updated Wednesdays) will also provide some information but hunters need to confirm closures and restrictions with land managers. “We currently have no plans to close access to Oregon state forestlands,” says Oregon Department of Forestry’s Tony Andersen. “But we ask that hunters and everyone in the outdoors this time of year follow fire restrictions and be vigilant about preventing any new Baker County Fair & Panhandle Rodeo Sept. 4-7 Halfway fires.” “Anyone visiting a national forest, grassland, or BLM land should take every precaution to prevent human- caused fires,” says Patriçk Lair with the Ochoco National Forest. ‘This includes taking care not to dis charge firearms into dry duff and pine needles or driving over vegetation. Also, always maintain a fire watch for several hours if you think there could be a potential spark.” Private land closures Due to extreme fire danger and few firefighting resources left, many private forestlands are currently closed to public access, including hunting. For a partial list of these closures, visit ODF’s web site at Oregon.gov/odf under Wildfires /Forest Restric tions & Closures / Landowner / Corporate Closure Chart. This chart is updated frequently and also con tains a phone number to get the latest information about restrictions directly from the timber company. If the land where you hunt is not represented, call the landowner directly for access information. “Private landowners will reopen their land when conditions significantly improve and it is safe to do so,” says Mike Dykzeul, director of forest protection at the Oregon Forest Industries Council. 9th Annual Great Salt Lick Sept. 19 Crossroads Art Center 4005 23rd Street • PO Box 226 Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 523-3616
