September 27,1982 Page 11
SPILYAY TYMOO
Fire prevention is e v e r y o n e ’ s jo b
by Marsha Shewczyk
Hot, dry weather indicates
summer fun and outdoor
activity to most people but a
firefighter has a different
perspective on those condi
tions. At any moment he may
hear his pager go off and have
to spend anywhere from an
hour to a week battling a fire.
What starts out as a small
one-acre fire can, because of
wind and fuel conditions, end
up being a 7700 acre blaze
which recently occurred on the
Warm Springs reservation.
Then it becomes a fight against
a destructive force and a hope
that conditions do not get
worse. At times it’s an uneven
battle.
Fortunately the number of
fires in and around Warm
Springs is a low level this year.
People, too often the cause of
fires, are becoming more aware
that their own caution can
prevent fires.
Fire prevention is becoming
as important as fire supression.
For a year, now, it has been a
full time job for prevention
technician Ed Johns. It is his
duty to ’ make adults and
children conscious of the
destructive nature of fire and to
encourage their cooperation in
preventing fires.
The Central Oregon Co-op,
of which Fire Management is a
part, was noted for it efforts at
p u b lic e d u c a tio n an d
awareness, for -its media
cov erag e aim ed at fire
prevention and for assisting
with public compliance to fire
regulations.
As the resu lt of fire
prevention work by the Central
Oregon Co-op Warm Springs
Fire Management is able to
share recognition for their fire
prevention achievements. The
group was aw arded the
National Bronze Smokey the
FIRE
TODAY
Fire prevention technician E d Johns alerts community members and travelers to the
dangers of fire. Hopefully these fire warning boards erected around the community will be
observed by everyone.
Spilyay Tymoo photo by Shewczyk
Bear award.
On the Warm Springs
reservation Smokey the Bear
often visits the schools
cautioning children about
playing with matches and
simply making them aware of
the dangers of fire.
Signs are posted at various
p la c e s th r o u g h o u t th e
com m unity indicating to
P r e s c r ib e d
is beneficial
Forest managers are in the
business of both fire prevention
and fire use. Under planned
and controlled conditions fire
can benefit forests and ranges.
BARGER
f ir e
More recently, fire has been
used to maintain natural
e c o lo g ic a l s y s te m s in
wilderness areas. In such cased
fire, oAce Started, is allowed to
burn under close surveillance
where - previoulsy prescribed
c o n d itio n s o f h u m id ity ,
tem p eratu re, topography,
fuels, etc., are met.
Smokey the Bear is actively
continuing the campaign the
co ntinuing the cam paign
a g a in s t c a r e le s sly th e
malicioulsy caused forest fire
with forest managers. But
The “ p re s c rib e d ” fire
Smokey’s role and the ways in programs described here are
which his fire prevention different. They have different
message relates to forest fires is objectives, and their manage
being confused. Fire can be ment varies. But they have one
both the friend and the foe of thing in common: The fact that
the forest.
they are fires burning under
There are basically two kinds conditions that have previously
of forest fires. They may be been d eterm in e d to be
started by man or lightning: beneficial and that meet land
Fire by prescription which management objectives.
benefits the forest is planned
and often intentionally seit by
“prescribed” fires are
man: and wildfire, which does not These
the concern of Smokey’s
not benefit the forest is
fire prevention campaign. His
unplanned and often started by job
is still the big one of
man’s carelessness, or malice, reducing
the number of
or accident.
carelessly and maliciously
Land resource managers caused wildfires. His mass-
have been intentionally using media campaign is America’s
fire in the forest for many years. most effective antidote. His
It can be a powerful resource message, “Only You Can
management tool. Carefully Prevent Forest Fires” is the
controlled prescribed fire is keystone of forest production
used to improve grazing against fires which annually
conditions for some species of destroy millions of dollars
wild animals and birds, to worth of property, valuable
prepare seed beds for new trees, natural resources, and even
and to reduce fire hazards. human life.
community residents and
tourists the fire conditions of
the day.
W arm S p rin g s F o re st
P roducts In d u stries has
allowed a sign to be posted
warning logging personnel of
the conditions. “The mill has
been doing an outstanding job
at fire prevention,” comments
Johns.
By means of a computerized
.analysis, weather, burnable
fuels and humidity ratings are
p ro v id e d . An A ra tin g
designates no fire prevention
necessary other than common
sense. However an E rating is
posted if danger exists due, to
th e d a y ’s c o n d i t i o n s .
Everything in the woods will be
closed down after 1:00 p.m. to
prevent fire. An F rating means
everything will be closed down
for the day.
O th e r fire p re v e n tio n
activ ities u n d ertak en bv
th e F ir e M a n a g e m e n t
department include working
with the tribal Fire & Safety
department to burn areas
under controlled conditions
which could present fire
d a n g e r. T rim m in g low
branches from trees and
cleaning up around hourses
cleaning up around houses is
part o f this method of
prevention. Residents of Warm
¡Springs are encouraged to
keep a re a s im m e d ia tely
surrounding their homes fresh
and green. Fresh paint on
houses, too, can prevent fires as
chipping paint provides fuel for
fire.
Burning permits are issued
by the Fire and Safetv
department, another means of
controlling and preventing
fires.
An average of 60 fires a year
occur in Warm Springs and
surrounding area ' on the
reservation. This year, 21 of the
fire s have been caused
by humans. In the past there
have been as many as 108 fires
in a year and a few as 7. Too
often humans are responsible.
With rising populations and
increased numbers of tourists
d u rin g the fire season,
p re v e n tio n is e sse n tia l.
Observing rulesconcerningfire
and using common sense are
important.
"
Occasionally, reminders are
necessary that fire is dangerous
and can be p re v e n te d .
Firefighters will be the first to
agree with that. But fire
prevention is not solely the job
of firefighters, it should be
everyone’s job. Community
involvement is essential in fire
prevention. Smokey says, “It’s
up to you.”
Ken Smith to receive achievement award
Los Angeles, September 15,
1982—The United Indian
D evelopm ent A ssociation
Board of directors recently
announced three distinguished
honorees for annual awards to
be presented at the INPRO/82
Banquet, Thrusday evening,
October 14, 1982.
The awards ceremony will be
held at the Sheraton Universal
Hotel in North Hollywood,
California, and will commence
upon surprise presentations of
Outstanding Business Owners
of the Year from San Diego,
Los Angeles and northern
California. Competition for
these awards is based upon
p ro fitab ility , m anagem ent
expertise and contributions
b a c k in to th e I n d i a n
community.
Each year, recognition is
given to those persons who
contributed most to American
Indian economic progress. On
the public sector side, an award
will be presented to Ken Smith,
Assistant Secretary for Indian
Affairs of the U.S. Department
of Interior, for his newly
instituted policy on Economic
Development Initiatives. On
the p rivate sector side,
outstanding recognition will be
given for contributions made
by Robert McIntyre and
the Southern California Gas
Company, which is a founding
m^mbeF of the UIDA< Council.
A highlight fo the event will
be formal bestowing of the Jay
S ilv e rh ee ls A chievem ent
Award (JSA) to the Honorable
A. David Lester', Commis
sioner of the Administration
for Native American, U.S.
Department of Health and
Human Services. The JSA
award is bestowed each year
upon an Outstanding American
Indian who has achieved
p e r s o n a l su cc ess w h ile
contributing to the improve
ment of American Indian
communities.
Mr. A. David Lester, a
member of the Creek Nationa,
was born in Clarem ore,
Oklahome, and is a graduate of
Brigham Young University. In
1969, Mr. Lester served as an
E c o n o m ic D e v e lo p m e n t
Specialist for the National
Congress of American Indians.
In 1970, he became the first
President of United Indian
D evelopm ent A ssociation
(UIDA) which was pioneering
new approaches for increasing
the number of Indian tribes and
in v id iv u a ls involv ed in
business ow nership. Mr.
Lester’s efforts in Indian
economic development led to
two Presidential appointments
as an advisor on Indian
Federal policy. In 1970, he was
appointed to the National
Advisory Council on Minority
Enterprise, and in 1972 he was
named to the National Council
on Indian Opportunity.
In 1978, Mr. - Lester was
appointed Commissioner of
the Administration for Native
A m ericans (ANA) which
nationally promotes economic
and social self-sufficient for
American Indians. ANA’s
focus is on supporting the
efforts of tribal governments to
strengthen or establish the
econom ic, governm ental,
social and legal istitutions. Mr.
Lester’s dedication to assisting
American Indians achieve self-
sufficiency has been excep
tional and inspirational. He
truly is deserving of the Jay
S ilv e rh e e ls A w ard fo r
INPRO/82.
INPRO is the nation’s only
annual conference dedicated to
American Indian Progress in
eco n o m ic and b u sin ess
development and is sponsored
by th e U n ite d In d ia n
D evelopm ent A ssociation
(UIDA). UIDA is a private
n o n - p r o f it c o r p o r a t i o n ,
founded and directed by
American Indians, Through
UIDA’s business and economic
developm ent effo rts, the
number of Indian enterprises in
California has increased from
50 to 600 since is inception
twelve years ago. These clients
include individual business
owners, tribl enterprises and
community service centers.