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CLEAR Temp: 91 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Wednesday, July 9, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 13, 2003 Plentiful spring rains will delay the start of fire season but will also spur the growth of potential fire fuel, as evidenced by the grasses surrounding a llama in this field near Eagle Point. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Soaking-wet spring eters fire season By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Mother Nature is offering a helping hand to wildland firefighters in Jackson and Josephine counties this spring. With the Oregon Department of Forestry facing a lack of funds because of state budget cuts, above-normal regional rainfall is helping put a damper on the coming fire season. Fire season normally starts around mid-June in the region but will likely be delayed this year, officials predict. After all, the year has brought ample rainfall, now totaling more than a half a foot above average for the water year which began Sept. 1. The rainfall total at the Medford airport as of 5 p.m. Monday was 22.49 inches, compared with the average of 16.13 inches. Advertisement "Because of this rain, we’ll probably see a later start for the fire season than we’ve had for the last few years," said Jeff Schwanke, forester in charge of the department’s Southwest Oregon District. "If we continue to get the rain all the way through June, we’ll have a late start," he added. "If we have an early fall, we’ll have a shorter fire season this year." Last year, fire season began June 11 because of an abnormally dry spring. It began even earlier — May 15 — in 2001, thanks to drought conditions. While Schwanke appreciates the wet spring, he is concerned that budget constraints could fuel problems for the department, whose firefighters protect state, county, private and Bureau of Land Management lands. The state Legislature is expected to discuss the ODF budget in June, he said. However, because of cutbacks, the department won’t be able to hire seasonal employees until July 1, he said. Those employees are usually hired in mid-June. Meanwhile, the lush green grass brought on by the ample spring rains has a double-bladed edge, he said. "It’s a mixed blessing," he said. "It looks nice now but it’s going to dry out." What’s more, the mountain snowpack whose summer runoff feeds streams is a bit low for this time of year, he said. While fire season is still weeks away, now is the time for rural residents to reduce fire danger by cutting brush and grass around their homes, said Dan Thorpe, Medford Unit forester for the ODF. Preventive measures include everything from removing flammable brush near a home to removing dry leaves from rain gutters. Dry grass and brush serve as a ladder for the fire to climb trees. Firefighting experts from the ODF will inspect rural homes at no cost to make recommendations on how to reduce threats from wildfires. In Jackson County, call the ODF at 664-3328; in Josephine County, call 474-3152. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times