Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
September 50, 2004
Slow fire season crawls to a halt
(AP) - Despite dire predictions,
2004 was one of Oregon's slowest fire
seasons in years, coming to a halt in a
humiliating dose of liquid sunshine.
Forest fires burned only about 10
percent of the 10-year average and less
than one-fifth of last year's acreage.
Many crews didn't have much to do,
and spent their time clearing roads and
doing maintenance on shelters.
"It's disappointing," said Jason
Dodge, 21, of Oakridge. "I like the
excitement, the action. I do this job for
the thrill
Saturday was the final day for his
20-person crew at the Middle Fork
Ranger District in the Willamette Na
tional Forest.
"They're young, they enjoy getting
out and doing something physical," crew
boss Joe Mercado said. "But I think
they prefer a big fire season. They get
to make some pretty good money."
This summer, only a few small, lightning-sparked
fires involved local crews.
The largest burned 13,540 acres, a
modest-sized fire in other years.
Other fires were kept small by rain,
rapid initial attacks and well-placed
firefighting aircrafts.
Suppression costs for the big' fires
were about $16 million this year com
pared to more than $89 million last year.
Mark Hager, an assistant engine cap
tain stationed on the Middle Fork dis
trict, said this was the slowest fire sea
son he's seen in 15 or 20 years.
Pat Houghton, assistant intelligence
coordinator in the Portland center that
orchestrates wildland firefighting ef
forts in Oregon and Washington, said
the toll was light on timber and wild
life, few structures burned and no ca
sualties were reported.
"Nobody got hurt, nobody got killed
- that's always a great season,"
Houghton said.
It was a mixed blessing for some
firefighters. Many are students and the
extra cash from a busy fire season can
make or break a year.
On a fire, a crew member can make
$300 for a 16-hour day in hot, danger
ous conditions.
Ashley Coey, 18, one of two women
on the crew, had hoped to earn more
as she heads to Eastern Oregon Uni
versity in La Grande to study nursing.
"The rain sort of interfered with
that," said Coey, also of Oakridge.
This year her crew was called up for
fires near Warm Springs and in Cali
fornia and Nevada.
That was more action than many
private contract crews saw this year.
Eugene-based Skookum Reforesta
tion Inc. had five idle crews waiting for
calls that never came, owner Scott
Coleman said.
"We're hemorrhaging," Coleman
said. "It was a disaster. They hardly got
out at all."
There are 269 such crews in Or
egon and competition is fierce even in
busy years.
A few crews worked in Washington,
which had a normal fire season.
Oregon had prepared for the worst,
adding four heavy air tankers and seven
helicopters to strategic locations to bol
ster initial attacks.
Dodge said he will resume studying
computer network operations at Lane
Community College this fall.
But next summer he hopes to be
back on the Oakridge fire crew.
"I just love being out here," he said.
"Being out here in the woods, you can't
beat it. It's excellent."
Some advice on safe debris burning
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By Suzi Macy
Fire Management
Fall clean up time has arrived and
many folks this time of year burn de
bris that has accumulated around the
outside of their home.
If you plan on burning any debris
please make sure you have a valid burn
permit and take the following precau
tions: Clear the ground of all flam
mable materials for at least 10 feet.
Have adequate water and fire tools
available in case the fire escapes.
Burn only during those hours speci
fied on your burn permit. Don't burn
on dry windy days and never leave the
fire unattended.
You may want to consider other al
ternatives to burning. Some types of
debris, such as leaves and grass may
be of more value if not burned and
may be more useful as compost.
Never burn tires. Instead, haul them
to the dump. Plastics i.e. plastic milk
cartons, juice containers etc. can be'
recycled or taken to the landfill. Dis
posable diapers pose another problem.
Please do not burn them. Take these
to the landfill as well. When you burn
plastics they release toxic and hazard
ous fumes. If you plan on using a burn
barrel usea metal barrel in good condi
tion and maintain at least 10 feet
around the barrel that is free of all ma
terial that could cause your fire to es
cape. Place it in a cleared area away
from overhead branches.
Have a heavy gauge mesh screen
for the top of the barrel. The screen
should be at least 14-gauge wire with
holes not larger than 'A inch and never
leave your fire unattended.
If you must burn debris do it
safely.
If you have any questions regard
ing debris burning please contact Fire
Management at 553 1 146. Enjoy your
time outdoors and stay safe.
Fall is the time to plant bulbs
Edith McBean and Tina Bnrnside
OSV Master Gardener
Driving into Warm Springs I have
seen nature's changes. Fall is officially
here. The fields have been harvested.
The aspens and maples are turning from
green to bright yellows and reds. Hay
for sale signs are showing up along High
way 97 with phone numbers to call.
Winter wheat has been planted, and
the sprouts are gently pushing up
through the soil. It's a wonderful time
of the year to sit in the warmth of the
afternoon sun.
I like watching spiders spin their
webs, and seeing frantic squirrels gather
nuts and cones, stashing them away for
colder, less abundant days.
I personally have taken the hint, and
I have begun to clean up my garden
beds of their summer debris. It's been
wonderful to watch the asters pop up
with that last splash of color in the yard
before fall fades into winter.
It's the time of year to plant your
bulbs for spring. I know, it just doesn't
seem right to be planning that far ahead.
But when you see that crown of yel
low grace your yard in March, you will
be grateful for the little amount of ef
fort you had to put in during the fall.
Recently, I purchased some beauti
ful daffodil and hyacinth bulbs to plant
along my boarders. Their Latin names
are narcissus and muscari.
These bulbs are composed of a thin,
flattened stem surrounded by fleshly,
dried leaf bases called scales. If you
want a closer look, slice up an onion
and look at the layers. It's interesting to
see the layers so perfectly formed.
Usually jou carf get planting infor
mation from your packets of bulbs, but
here are some general important re
minders. Plant the bulbs between Sep
tember and the first real hard frost,
choosing a site that is well-drained.
Loosen the soil and add a slow release
fertilizer, mixing it with the soil. Slow
release fertilizers or general 5-10-10
formulations work well for fall-planted
bulbs.
Do not place bulbs directly on the
fertilizer. Don't plant bulbs and tubers
in dry soil; roots cannot begin to grow
without moisture.
If the soil is very dry during fall
planting, dig a hole for the bulbs, fill it
with water, and allow it to drain before
planting.
Planting depth depends on soil con
ditions. Many growers suggest planting
about three times the depth of the bulb.
Shallow-planted bulbs may frost
heave and are easily dug up by those
pesky rodents mentioned earlier.
West of the Cascades, fall rains
would provide enough moisture for the
spring-blooming bulbs, but in our dry
climate, supplemental watering will en
courage root growth. The roots will
continue to grow slowly through the
winter.
Usually you plant the bulbs the same
distance apart as you have planted them
deep with the pointed end up. Cover
bulbs with soil and add mulch. You can
use two to four inches of composted
leaves, shredded fir bark, or composted
sawdust.
Keep mulches open and light
enough to allow shoots to emerge.
: n r You will want to fertilize again with
the same fertilizer 5-10-10 when they
are about an inch tall.
Then behold the beauty of spring.
To encourage flowering again the fol
lowing year, allow the foliage to wither
and turn yellow naturally as the bulbs
go dormant.
Leave the bulbs undisturbed
through the summer and apply fertil
izer again in the fall.
There, I think you have it. Enjoy
the remainder of your fall, knowing that
spring will greet you with all of her
glory.
Happy planting.
cOmfrjEff gssd eat
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Gathering scheduled for Oct. 8
will celebrate ancient rock art
Fall case food sale
Elders will gather on Friday, Oct. 8
at Horsethief Start Park near The
Dalles and Celilo area.
The gathering will be a celebration
of the rock art that has been located
at the park.
There will be transportation avail
able for elders leaving Warm Springs.
For information call the Senior Depart
ment at 553-3313.
Rock art in the Celilo area was re
moved by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers before the flooding that
occured after The Dalles dam was built
The art was stored away until re
cently, when it was placed at
Horsethief Park, Wash.
Bonneville Power and the Army
Corps of Engineers sponsored the
project, while main contributors have
been from the treaty tribes of the Co
lumbia River.
The Oct 8 celebration will begin at
10 a.m. with lunch served at nooa
Top Ramen Noodles 24 ct. $ 1 .99
Western Family Corned Beef Hash 12 ct. $15.99
Western Family Corn 24 ct. $7.99
Western Family Green Beans 24 ct. $7.99
Western Family Cream Style Corn 24 ct. $7.99
97 Different case lots available, including: Heat & Eat - Sea-
food - Tomato products - Beans - Vegetables - Fruit - Juices.