NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 Fire offi cials concerned as fi res pick up, dry weather continues By BRYCE DOLE STAFF WRITER Some Eastern Oregon fi re chiefs are concerned that the county’s already dry conditions could lead to an increased risk of veg- etation fi res heading into a summer where drought is consuming much of Oregon. “We’ve been worried about this for a while,” Pendleton Fire Chief Jim Critchley said. “We’ve got fl ash fuels. So they’re going to move fast, espe- cially right now when everything’s (growing) or is just starting to dry out.” Boardman Fire Chief Mike Hughes said that his team has been respond- ing to roughly four vege- tation fi res each week in the Boardman and Irrigon areas. “We’ve been running to vegetation fi res every day,” Hughes said. “Every single day we’re on con- trolled burns that have got- ten out of control because the winds came up.” Critchley and Hughes each said fi res are occur- ring earlier this season than normal, attributing it to this year’s lack of moisture. “This is early in the sea- son, so we’re a little bit concerned that, already, we’re catching these lit- tle grass fi res so early,” Hughes said. “Because you remember what happened last year in Oregon. The whole other part of the state tried to burn down.” Umatilla County Fire District Chief Scott Stan- ton said he has yet to notice an uptick in vegetation fi res in his district, which cov- ers areas around Hermis- ton and Stanfi eld, but added that he had not taken a look at the recent data. He said that with the predictions showing a drier, warmer summer, he’s worried there could be an earlier start to fi re season. “It could be a busy year,” he said. “And that’s what they’re forecasting at the state level — that this could Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald Pendleton fi refi ghters use a hose to mop up a hotspot at a brush fi re near Southeast Nye Avenue on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. be another busy year.” Conditions rival driest on record The fi res come as some areas of Umatilla County report conditions that rival the driest on record. March was the sec- ond-driest on record in Hermiston. And in April, conditions hardly improved, the third-driest on record at Hermiston, according to the National Weather Service offi ce in Pendleton. Since October 2020, pre- cipitation in both Umatilla and Morrow counties have been reported “well below normal,” according to Mar- ilyn Lohman, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service. With much of the county already experiencing some level of drought, the Uma- tilla County Board of Com- missioners last month unan- imously declared a drought disaster and asked Gov. Kate Brown to follow suit. Mor- row County did the same. The declarations come as more than three-fourths of the state is already in some stage of drought. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center has said that drought will likely continue throughout the summer in Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon, as reported by Oregon Pub- lic Broadcasting on May 3. What residents can do Fire offi cials pointed to several diff erent common causes for vegetation fi res, including illegal fi reworks, cigarette butts, downed power lines, controlled burn piles being kicked up by the wind and even vehicles and lawn mowers moving through dry grass. They also noted several things that residents can do to prevent fi res from spark- ing in their communities. Critchley said it’s important for homeown- ers and landowners to cre- ate a “defensible space” by “making sure that grasses or light fuels are mowed down within 30 feet of your residence.” In addition, he advised that homeowners clear dry leaves out of roofs and gutters and move fl am- mable materials like wood piles away from their homes. Stanton said that for his district, residents should adhere to burning regula- tions and remain “extra cau- tious and careful, because it is extra dry.” If residents have ques- tions about how to mitigate the risk of fi res, Critchley advised they contact their local fi re departments for advice. He also advised res- idents to check the depart- ment’s Facebook page for updates and guidance. “Fire is just part of our lives,” Critchley said. “We just need to make sure that it doesn’t injure anybody or damage property too much. That’s what we’re trying to stay in front of.” Hermiston Herald, File Hayley Mele-Seibel watches the pool during swim lessons at the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center in 2018. The aquatic center is facing a shortage of lifeguards so far this season. Hermiston aquatic center facing lifeguard shortage By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Parents are anxiously awaiting news on summer swim lesson signups at the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center, but center offi cials need to convince some more people to become lifeguards fi rst. Brandon Artz, recreation supervisor for Hermiston Parks and Recreation, said the aquatic center usually hires about 100 staff for the season, but is still in need of 50 more lifeguards. “We’re at a severe short- age,” he said. “We’ve done some recruitment at the high schools, but like everyone else in town, we’re hiring.” The shortage seems to be nationwide, he said. Artz said usually the department puts out swim lesson signups in mid-May, and he has already had a steady stream of parents calling to ask about les- sons. But they can’t draw up a schedule yet until they know how many lifeguards they will end up having, and if there aren’t as many as usual, that will translate into fewer off erings at the pool. He said that includes hopes the department had to off er free swim lessons to students participating in summer camps with school districts this year. The aquatic center’s 50-meter lap pool is already fi lled and being used by the Hermiston High School swim team for practices, made possible by a lim- ited number of volunteer lifeguards. The city plans to open rest of the cen- ter’s pools and slides when school gets out, but again, availability depends on staffi ng, Artz said. He said going through the Red Cross lifeguard certifi cation process usu- ally costs between $200 to $300 for someone to pur- sue on their own, but the aquatic center will provide that for free. Artz said often getting certifi ed not only provides high school stu- dents with their fi rst job, but allows them to work at their university’s indoor pool during the school year when they go off to col- lege, and then come home to Hermiston to work at the HFAC during summers. While students are often a good choice for lifeguards because they’re available to work full time during summers, Artz said they also hire adults of all ages, including teachers looking for some extra money over the summer. For the students, the managers work with them on professionalism and job skills that will translate into future employment. But Artz said they also have a good time together. “A lot of other jobs, you don’t get to have as much fun as us,” he said. There are two lifeguard trainings scheduled for the remainder of May. Those interested can fi ll out an interest form on the Herm- iston Parks and Recreation Facebook page to be con- tacted, or stop by the Herm- iston Community Center during business hours. Hermiston police lieutenant has surgery to remove brain tumors By BRYCE DOLE STAFF WRITER A lieutenant with the Hermiston Police Depart- ment underwent a proce- dure to remove two brain tumors identifi ed by medi- cal professionals just days before, according to Herm- iston Police Chief Jason Edmiston. Randy Studebaker, the department’s sole lieu- tenant, informed Edmis- ton about a week prior that he was beginning to have vision problems. Studebaker fi rst went to an eye doctor before going to the emergency room on April 29. The following day, he went to a neurologist who discovered that Stude- baker had developed two brain tumors that would need Studebaker an immedi- ate proce- dure, Edmiston said. “I know that every per- son in this department’s concerned about his short- term health and long-term health as well,” Edmiston said. Between 60 and 80 friends and family gath- ered in a prayer circle at the Hermiston Police Depart- ment on Tuesday, May 4, before Studebaker was transported to a clinic in the Tri-Cities for his procedure, Edmiston said. Offi cers in the depart- ment have heard from Studebaker’s wife, Shel- ley, that his procedure went well, but now he begins the long process of recovery. Studebaker has worked in law enforcement for 18 years. He comes from a family devoted to law enforcement. His father served in law enforcement, his wife works with the Pendleton Police Department and his brother also works in the Hermiston Police Department. Studebaker moved to Hermiston when he joined the department in 2012. Car trouble? Lost your license?