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SUNNY Temp: 64 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, August 29, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 18, 2002 From left, John Rouhier, Clyde �Pete� Bedingfield and Matt Cook watch the helicopters work the Squire fire on the hillside above Cook�s home. Click the photo to see a larger (37k) version; use your Back button to return to the story. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Related stories: � Neighbors pitch in to help property owners in the path of the Squire Fire . � The Wall Creek fire threatens rural homes; a roundup of major wildfires in Southern Oregon and Northern California . Fire bosses keep locals informed about conditions By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune There’s a new ritual in the Applegate Valley that seems likely to last as long as local residents have burning questions about the Squire fire. Every evening at 6:30, fire bosses meet local folks at the Upper Applegate Grange. Fire bosses explain what they tried to accomplish during the day and what they hope to do during the coming night, then field questions from the crowd. The nightly meetings began Monday as the fire grew to more than 1,000 acres and threatened houses and barns along Spencer Gulch and Sterling Creek. By Wednesday, with the fire at 2,300 acres and just 40 percent contained, the questions reflected Applegaters’ growing knowledge of wildfire and their concerns for firefighters’ safety. "When will we know it’s safe to go back to our homes?" one asked. When the road closures are lifted, firefighters said. "Does the weather just get too hot sometimes to send in firefighters?" someone wondered. No, fire bosses said, "we just tell them to drink lots of water." Then they explained how safety concerns, rather than high temperatures, preclude sending firefighters into some situations. The nightly meetings are just one aspect of state and federal fire agencies’ effort to provide local residents with accurate and timely information about a force of nature that often defies humans’ best efforts to guess what it will do. They’ve posted information officers at major road junctions and given them maps to show local residents where the fire has burned and explain what it’s doing. They’ve also utilized the Ruch office shared by state police and Jackson County sheriff’s deputies as an information center. "We’re doing a better job working with other agencies," said Mike Barsotti, a fire information specialist for the Oregon Department of Forestry. "When I started doing this, in 1978, we used to create our own information distribution system. More and more, we realized there were other distribution systems that were in place that we could use." Applegate residents staff the Ruch office, buoying friends’ and neighbors’ spirits while they share the latest news about the fire. "Every one of us in this office lives less than three-quarters of an air mile from the fire," Polly Wharfield said as she took a break from the phones. Wharfield spent much of Wednesday listening to anxious callers who wondered why retardant planes had stopped working the fire and patiently explaining that firefighters needed the planes in other places. "We’re only one of so many fires," she said. Most people at the meetings seem pleased with the quality of information they’ve been getting. Confrontational questions have been scarce, and the tone has remained cordial. "I think they’re doing the best they can," said Leah Wingfield. "Their willingness to hold these meetings at all is excellent." Firefighters who specialize in sharing information with the public were surprised by the Applegate community’s highly developed communication system. Local residents have built phone trees to share news, and they have an e-mail network, too. "I don’t expect to find a sophisticated community like this when I go to my next fire," he said. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [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 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S