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60 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 17, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 14, 2004 Medford air tanker approved By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune For the second fire season in a row, the Oregon Department of Forestry will have an air tanker based at the fire center at the Medford airport beginning in August. The state Legislative Emergency Board has earmarked $500,000 to pay for the tanker as well as helicopters to be deployed in the 2004 fire season, according to department spokesman Rod Nichols. The tanker will be sent south from Alaska, where fire season traditionally ends by the end of July, he said. The helicopters will be used throughout Oregon. "We’re pleased to see the tanker coming back — we used it quite a bit last summer," said Dennis Turco, fire prevention officer for the department’s Southwest Oregon District. In early September alone, aerial drops from the tanker and helicopters and tankers assisting from Klamath Falls were credited with helping to douse many of the more than 50 spot fires sparked by a series of thunderstorms rumbling through Jackson and Josephine counties. Advertisement How long the tanker remains based at Medford hangs on several factors, particularly the fire danger, Turco said. "It all depends on how the fire season goes from August on" when fire danger usually is at its highest point, he said. ODF firefighters protect private, county, state and U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands. Air tankers deployed by the Forest Service are expected to be sent to Medford as needed earlier in the summer, depending on availability. Despite the spate of early- September thunderstorms, the 2003 fire season proved to be relatively mild in the two counties. "It’s too early to tell how this fire season will be," Turco said. Fire season usually begins in late May to mid-June. "Right now, everything is indicating we may have normal fire season but that can change with rain in May and June," he said, noting that a drier-than-normal spring and summer will increase the fire danger. Meanwhile, local residents living in rural areas should take steps now to reduce the chances of a wildfire threatening their home, he said. "They can do general clean-up — cutting brush and grass," he said. "They should make sure all needles and other light debris are out of the rain gutters." Come the hot days of summer, the debris can easily be ignited by wind-borne sparks, triggering a house fire. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities