Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2018)
NATION/WORLD Thursday, August 2, 2018 East Oregonian Page 7A “To me, it’s the closest thing to war without getting shot at.” — Dustin Westfall Dozer drivers get ‘a rush,’ but also risk Two drivers have died in California fires this summer By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press REDDING, Calif. — Not all firefighters carry a hose or shovel. The adrenaline junkies who steer heavy bulldoz- ers across steep ridges face serious hazards, from smoke and flames but also from unsteady dirt and steep ter- rain that can flip them over. The deaths of two bulldozer operators battling Califor- nia wildfires in July high- lighted the dangers con- fronting these less visible firefighters. Braden Varney, 36, was clearing a fire line near Yosemite National Park on July 14 when his vehicle overturned and rolled down a ridge. Don Ray Smith, 81, was overtaken by wildfire near Redding last week. Drivers of so-called doz- ers say they are acutely aware of the dangers and regularly find themselves in sticky situations. They do it for the thrill, the challenge, the good money and the opportunity to make a dif- ference saving people’s lives and homes. “To me, it’s the closest thing to war without getting shot at,” said Dustin West- fall, a dozer operator work- ing for a private contrac- tor on the fire near Redding that’s killed six people. “It’s pandemonium ... it’s wild out there. You’re getting to see 200- to 300-foot flame lengths. It’s a whole differ- ent world. It’s a rush.” Dozers are an integral part of the battle against large blazes but are rarely seen in dramatic images of AP Photo/Noah Berger Bulldozer operators and their machines build containment lines Tuesday while battling the River fire in Lakeport, Calif. More than 1,000 homes torched in California wildfires UPPER LAKE, Calif. (AP) — A massive wild- fire in Northern California has torched more than 1,000 homes in and around the city of Redding, authorities said Wednesday as some evacuees were allowed to return home and new blazes exploded in what has become an endless summer flaming trees and raining ash. They use roughly 10-foot blades to push aside shrubs, brush, grass and even trees so the advancing flames meet bare dirt and have nothing to consume. Ideally, the lack of fuel will stop the fire’s progress. At the very least, it generally will slow down the flames. Dozers usually work in of flame in the Golden State. “Whatever resources are needed, we’re putting them there,” Gov. Jerry Brown said at a news con- ference. “We’re being sur- prised. Every year is teach- ing the fire authorities new lessons. We’re in uncharted territory.” Just a month into the budget year, the state has already spent more than one-quarter of its annual fire budget, at least $125 mil- lion, California Department of Forestry and Fire Pro- tection spokesman Mike Mohler said. Cal Fire said another 440 buildings, including barns and warehouses, have also small groups, but sometimes alone, in extremely steep ter- rain. Soft soils or hard gran- ite can cause them to slide. It’s hard to see because of smoke and the dirt they kick up. Fire moves faster than heavy machines, so shift- ing winds can send flames toward bulldozers. Because dozers can get into places no other equip- ment can reach, the drivers sometimes find themselves far away from backup, rely- ing on radio traffic and air- craft to tell them what the fire is doing. Some work close to flames. Others build “con- tingency lines” farther back to act as a backstop if the first line is breached. “They’re a special breed of guys,” said Cliff Allen, president of the union rep- been destroyed by the fire, which is now the sixth most destructive in California history. The huge Redding-area blaze, which started July 23, forced 38,000 people from their homes and killed six. It has scorched 180 square miles and is 35 percent contained. resenting California Depart- ment of Forestry and Fire Protection personnel, including dozer operators. “The job that they do, it takes a special person, because they’re going up and down really steep terrain.” Dozer operators look- ing to work directly for Cal Fire, the state’s firefight- ing agency, must have 500 hours of experience just to be considered. Privately hired operators have vari- ous experience levels, but all must complete an annual course in fire line safety. Authorities have released little information about how Varney and Smith died. Their deaths come two years after a dozer trying to maneuver around a fire engine overturned near Big Sur and the operator was ejected. Another dozer oper- ator was killed in the same region in 2007 when his rig rolled, causing him to hit his head on the wall of the cab, according to Cal Fire inves- tigative reports. The deaths have weighed heavily on dozer driv- ers busy with an active fire season across the Western United States — a reminder of the perils that await them on the fire line. Dean Mullis, a childhood friend of Varney’s and a fel- low heavy equipment opera- tor for Cal Fire, said Varney was devoted to his family and unfailingly generous. “Braden would go to a fire, get covered in dirt, come home and play croc- odile with his kids on his living room carpet,” Mullis said. “He was a man’s man, and he was a father first and foremost.” He came from a bulldoz- ing family — his father was a dozer driver for Cal Fire, and the two started a grading and excavating business. Smith, a bulldozer oper- ator working for a private company on contract for the state, “always had some good laughs and good sto- ries” and liked to sit out- side his trailer drinking beer with friends, said Vaughn Hohing, who used to fight fires as a bulldozer opera- tor and said he worked often with Smith. GoodHealth LIVE Free Orthopedic Joint Seminar AP Photo/Andrew Harnik President Donald Trump points up to heaven as he speaks during a meeting with inner city pastors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. Trump urges end to probe ‘right now’ The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Pres- ident Donald Trump bluntly declared on Wednesday his attorney general should ter- minate “right now” the fed- eral probe into the cam- paign that took him to the White House, a newly fer- vent attack on the special counsel investigation that could imperil his presidency. Trump also assailed the trial, just underway, of his former campaign chairman by the special counsel’s team. White House press secre- tary Sarah Huckabee Sand- ers scrambled to explain that Trump’s tweet was “not an order” and the president was not directing his attorney general to do anything. “It’s the president’s opin- ion,” she said. But Trump’s early morn- ing tweetstorm again raised the specter that he could try to more directly bring special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia-Trump election-col- lusion probe to a premature end. And it revived the idea that the president’s tweets themselves might be used as evidence that he is attempt- ing to obstruct justice. Meanwhile, Trump attor- ney Rudy Giuliani said negotiations are continu- ing to have Trump sit down for questions from Muel- ler, though the lawyer said, “I’m not going to give you a lot of hope that it’s going to happen.” He said both sides had exchanged proposals for conditions for such an inter- view, “and yesterday we got a letter back from them and now we’re in the process of responding.” Trump has raged pri- vately in recent days that both the forces of govern- ment and the media are try- ing to undermine him. That includes trumped-up charges against his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and distorting the outcome of the Helsinki summit to make it appear he was beholden to Russia, according to two Republicans close to the White House who were not authorized to discuss private conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump was closely mon- itoring news coverage of the Manafort proceedings, which provoked the spate of incendiary tweets, according to the two Republicans and two White House officials. “The president’s not obstructing, he’s fighting back,” said Sanders, dismiss- ing the idea that Trump’s tweets could be tantamount to obstruction of justice. The most inflammatory of Trump’s tweets said, “This is a terrible situation and Attor- ney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!” The president’s anger came the day after the start of the trial of Manafort, who is facing federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion. And while Mueller did not bring any election-related charges against Manafort, the specter of the Russian investigation is hanging over the Alexandria, Virginia, courthouse. And Trump’s White House. “Paul Manafort worked for Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other highly prominent and respected political leaders,” Trump tweeted. “He worked for me for a very short time. Why didn’t government tell me that he was under investiga- tion. These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion - a Hoax!” Learn about how a joint replacement can help reduce your pain! Hosted by Good Shepherd Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute J.M. Jeremy Anderson, D.O. Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Patrick Harrison, D.O., Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon September 5, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At Good Shepherd Health Care System Conference Center 1 and 2 | 610 NW 11th Street | Hermiston, OR 97838 RSVP https://gsmgortho.eventbrite.com | For Info Call 541-667-3509 Or watch on FacebookLive at www.facebook.com/gshcsnews ADVANCED ORTHOPEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE
