Western governors discuss potential of catastrophic wildfire season

SPOKANE, Wash. -- With drought and the threat of catastrophic wildfires facing the Northwest this summer, the governors of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho were meeting in Spokane on Wednesday to share information on how to deal with the problems.

The governors also planned to discuss issues related to the Columbia River, which drains portions of all four states, and economic development, said Kim Contris, a spokeswoman for Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat elected in November.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne will also attend.

"They'll be talking about cooperation," Contris said. "It's an opportunity for the governors to get together and get all their ducks in a row before they face a significant fire season."

This winter was unusually dry in all four states, raising concerns about a major drought. Earlier this month, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center said drought was expected to persist or intensify over the coming months in most of Oregon and Washington east of the Cascade Range and into Idaho and Montana.

The dry, warm winter has fire managers and forecasters holding their breath. Experts in some areas say they can't remember the last time the mountain snowpack was this low.

In parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, the snowpack is only about 25 percent to 50 percent of normal, with Washington the worst off. The U.S. Drought Monitor, which tracks conditions across the country, shows vast tracts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to be in "exceptional drought," the worst of five drought categories.

The fire season in the Northwest states could start as soon as late May, but it will depend on spring rains and lightning. Rain in late spring could take the edge off the season, and lightning usually is the biggest wildfire spark.

There's also less federal money for emergency situations if fires get out of control. The emergency funding, which can only be used after the suppression money is depleted, dropped severely for 2005, from $699.2 million to just $394.4 million.

Some governors fear fewer National Guard troops will be available to fight fires because of the war in Iraq.

In Washington, where a statewide drought emergency has been declared, Gregoire has been cleared to activate members of the Guard as needed.

Schweitzer has asked the Pentagon to return some of the state's troops and helicopters. Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told Schweitzer in a March 17 letter that he could not direct the early return of soldiers, but that half or more of each state's Guard force would be available to help in disasters.

Blum also said the Pentagon would help Montana acquire troops from other states if they are needed.

. . . This winter was unusually dry in all four states . . .

And down here in AZ where it's been an unusually wet winter, we too have a very high chance of wildfires because of the additional growth of grass and weeds on the desert.

Wet= fire hazard; dry=fire hazard. Guess we'll all have to live where it's never wet or dry. :o)

Yep. Thanks to the enviro-Nazis, states are forbidden from touching the dead wood acting as the fuel to start the major forest fires every spring and summer.

Woe is me, woe is me...

I've been watching our Southern California fire officials play this game for the last 35 years. Let explain why I say, "This GAME".

When there is no rain, the fire season is predicted to be terrible, because everything's so dry. When it rains in the spring, the fire season is predicted to be terrible, because of all the undergrowth that grew during the spring is going to make things worse than ever when fire season comes.

Look, I don't mind supporting the fire agencies, and I am willing to buy into this to a certain degree. Sadly I have to assess that this is about 85% a shell game the officials think we're too stupid to figure out.

4 posted on 04/27/2005 5:27:04 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservative.)

If you live in rural areas and are fit, consider joining your volunteer fire department, or get involved with sandwich and drinking water support. Attend fire training meetings at your local fire district. It's a public institution, get involved. Work with your Fire District Chief, and or your Fire District Commissioners.

Remember always, fire departments don't prevent fires. At best they prevent loss of life and property after they arrive on scene. Insure your property and if, God forbid you lose a structure of forest acreage, don't blame the department. Your losses are realized when the alarm is raised, not after the department mops up. Insure!

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