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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2006)
The INDEPENDENT, June 1, 2006 Page 19 156 wildfires have burned over 267 acres already in 2006 Already this year, 156 wild- fires have burned over 267 acres in Oregon. Most of these fires were the result of debris- burning fires that escaped due to wind or other factors. But the main reason they escaped is because the humans who start- ed them didn’t follow the rules set out in their burn permits. Many Oregonians love to burn their backyard debris in piles or in burn barrels. In the last five years, however, 918 debris-burning fires burned 6,129 acres and cost $4,211,052 to suppress. Sta- tistics show that the greatest numbers of these fires were started on private rural property by the property owner. Escaped debris pile or burn barrel fires are the No. 1 cause of wildfires on state-protected lands in Oregon. Preventing these wildfires is an individual responsibility. Here are some points to follow to burn safely. • Before you burn, obtain a burn permit from your local fire district or the Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry. • Call each day before you burn to assure burning is al- lowed. • Follow all burning regula- tions and • Keep piles small; add de- bris to the pile a little at a time. • Know the weather forecast, especially the wind prediction. • Stop burning IMMEDIATE- LY and put your fire out, DEAD OUT, if the wind starts to blow. • Monitor your piles or bar- rels for at least two hours. • Keep burn barrels away from structures, overhanging branches, or autos. • Clear at least a 10-foot ra- dius of all vegetation around the barrel. • Make sure the barrel is covered with heavy mesh Forestry Board agenda includes state forest plans The Oregon Board of Forestry will review questions and comments from an April workshop on the management of the Tillamook and several other state-owned forests, and will also hear recommenda- tions on how best to provide tree seedlings to family forest landowners when it meets June 7 in Salem. The 8:00 a.m. meeting is open to the public and will be held in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State St. in Salem. The April workshop was held to determine if newly available information warrants changes in the management of state forests. Department staff have reviewed the questions raised at that session and will respond to them during board discus- sion at the June meeting. The board will also receive a background paper and a pres- entation on draft strategies as- sociated with the marbled mur- relet, northern spotted owl and other species proposed for in- clusion in the draft Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan. The plan, under develop- ment since 1996, encompass- es forestlands managed under the Northwest and Southwest State Forest Management plans. The majority of these lands lie within the Tillamook and Clatsop State forests in northwestern Oregon, and the Santiam State Forest east of Salem. The Committee for Family Forestlands will submit its 2005 annual report and will present recommendations to the board for making seedling stock read- ily available to small forest owners, to facilitate replanting following timber harvest. The committee advises the board and the state forester on issues that affect family forestland owners. The Annual Forest Health Report, which describes insect and disease conditions in Ore- gon’s forests, will also be pre- sented. The findings include a 27 percent decline in 2005 in tree death caused by bark bee- tles. This was due to higher precipitation levels and im- proved tree vigor, which re- duced the incidence of fir en- graver insect mortality in true firs. Despite the overall trend, mountain pine beetle infesta- tions in lodgepole pine contin- ued to increase. The health re- port is a compilation of aerial and ground survey data collect- ed by the Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. The winner of the 2005 Mary Rellergert Forestry Education Award will be announced at the meeting. Each year, the award, named for a department em- ployee who passed away in 2004, recognizes an Oregon educator for making an out- standing contribution to forest education. Shortly after 8:00 a.m., the public may comment on forestry-related items that not included in the agenda. Mem- Action Ads INEXPENSIVE – EFFECTIVE 503-429-9410 bers of the public wishing to comment on a specific agenda item will have opportunity to ad- dress the board during the time the item is scheduled. More information on the Board of Forestry can be found on the web, http://www.ore- gon.gov/ODF/BOARD/. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assis- tance can be arranged by call- ing the Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting - (503) 945-7200, text telephone (503) 945-7213 (in Salem). Cordless listening de- vices will be available to any- one with impaired hearing. They may be obtained at the sign-in table in the Tillamook Room. screen to avoid flying embers. • Burn only backyard debris (no construction materials or household waste). Perhaps you have burned for 30 years and nothing has ever happened, but would you want your carelessness to be the cause of another wildfire? Be concerned and be care- ful. Help the Keep Oregon Green Association by taking re- sponsibility for your actions and prevent further human-caused wildfires in Oregon. Boys invited to join Cub Scouts Boys in Kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to join Banks Cub Scout Pack 581. Scouting helps develop future leaders and summer is a great time to find out about scouting. Cub Scout Pack 581 will be involved in the following activi- ties this summer: National Trail Cleanup Day at Buxton Trail Head on June 3; Pack Open House at Banks Scout Cabin, June 12 at 6:30 p.m.; Banks Parade/Flag Ceremony at Sun- set Speedway on July 4; Day Camp at Camp Ireland in Hills- boro, July 10-14; Webelos Camp at Gilbert Ranch, July 16-18; Pack Family Swim at Forest Grove Aquatic Center on July 22; Cub World Camp at Scouter’s Mountain, August 11- 13; Banks BBQ and Parade August 19-20; and Pack Sum- mer Awards Picnic at Sunset Park, August 29. Join now and enjoy all the activities planned. It’s never too late to join Cub Scouts. For more information or to join, call 503-324-6800. Health Fair June 4 at Banks Curves A Health Fair will be held in Banks on Sunday, June 4, from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Curves, 163 N. Main, Suite B. There will be tests and screenings of metabolism, bone density, total cholesterol, glucose, body fat and blood pressure. Bone density screen- ing will cost $20 and an ap- pointment is needed. Choles- terol and glucose testing will be $5 and the other tests are free. The “Got Milk” people will be on hand to do Milk Mustache photos and offer free milk sam- ples. To schedule appointments or for more information, call Curves at 503-324-9262. Jim’s Famous Bar -B-Que 11a.m - 6 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays 1/2 BBQ Chicken Dinner...................$6.00 Beef Rib Dinner (1/2 Rack)...............$6.00 Pork Rib Dinner (1/3 Rack)..............$8.00 1/2 BBQ Chicken..............................$5.00 1/2 Beef Ribs...................................$5.00 Full Rack Beef Ribs........................$10.00 1/3 Pork Ribs...................................$7.00 Full Rack Pork Ribs........................$21.00 Dinners include: Potato Salad, BBQ Baked Beans & a Dinner Roll. 660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171