A few weeks back I attended a
forum in Happy Camp concerning forest fuel reduction, fire safe councils and the potential
commercial use of small diameter trees.
George Harper, Chair of the Happy Camp Fire Safe Council (HCFSC,) and
Debbie Meyer, Chair of the Seiad Valley Fire Safe Council (SVFSC,) spoke about their
progress. Both have worked with their local Klamath Forest Ranger District to create
Community Fire Safe Plans.
With financial help from the National Fire Plan and our local Forest
Resource Advisory Committee (RAC,) the HCFSC now has a 6 person crew with wood chippers
and other equipment. Working according to priorities identified in their community plan,
the crew has started work in downtown Happy
Camp, clearing brush around the High School, Elementary School, the community parks and the area above tribal housing.
With additional grant funding and permission from local private
landowners, they hope to be able to clear 150 feet on either side of roads that are major
access roads, or where there is an identified significant fuel problem and limited access.
Under MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) agreements, the crew may work
on private land at no cost to the landowner. The crew is covered by its own liability
coverage. The crew does not fall trees. Downed trees six inches or less in diameter can be
cut and stacked for firewood. Blackberries are piled for the landowner to burn and the
rest is chipped.
The SVFSC is comprised of five people. They determined that a
priority need for their community was water availablilty. RAC funding has supported the
set up of three 5,000 gallon water tanks and the hardening of two stream sites to access
water. They have also purchased a portable pump that can be taken to the tank site during
a fire to fill the water tenders. Eventual hopes are that 10 tanks can be set up at
various spots around the community. SVFSC has also worked on getting all county and Forest
Service Roads signed so that emergency services can locate folks.
Fuel reduction work has been limited because of the size of the
group. Seiad Valley Fire Chief Tom Mopas indicated that the fire department will standby
for a landowner who wishes to burn brush and slash for a small donation.
Klamath National Forest Happy Camp District Ranger Alan Vandiver
spoke about the district’s role in fire protection on federal lands surrounding
communities. He distributed a large map identifying 8,000 acres where fuel reduction was a
priority. Projects to accomplish objectives
may include commercial thinning, under burns, hand piling and projects with some timber
sale component. (Only 2,000 of the targeted acres are planned for commercial thinning or
sale.)
Vandiver stated that the main purpose of these projects is to protect
life and property. If timber is sold as a byproduct; if a service contract for product
removal is made; if a stewardship contract is created, that is not the purpose of the
project. What Vandiver is concerned with is what the stands will look like in the end - that they are fire resilient and will drop a
crown fire to the ground.
Among the priorities that have been identified is roadside areas
where there has been a history of fire starts – particularly where there is limited
access. They want to create places where firefighters can feel more secure in coming in to
access a fire.
In a future column I will write about Forest Products Laboratory
researcher Sue Levan’s presentation on the potential commercial use of the small
diameter trees that could be coming from the various fuel reduction projects.
Chris Hughes at the Etna Area Neighborhood Watch (EANW) advises that
reflective address signs with three inch white numbers on blue, double sided, are
available for a minimum tax deductible $20 donation. EANW takes five dollars and the rest
is passed through to your designated ambulance or valley fire service. These signs are
intended to mark the entrance to driveways for emergency access. A duplicate sign may also
be purchased for $10 if there is more than one entrance to mark. (Check with your local
fire department, fire safe council or neighborhood watch for availability.)
On another note, an
individual has complained about people running their dogs in the cemetery. It is a sign of
disrespect to the memory of the departed and their loved ones to find dog doodoo in the
area, Please be respectful and responsible. |
