The Associated Press
Brandon Apodaco, 21, of the Snake River Valley firefighters from Vale, Ore., is part of a crew mopping up the Thirtymile fire Friday in the Okanogan National Forest.

Check conditions, officials urge

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 14, 2001

OLYMPIA -- With summer shaping up to be a lively fire season, state and federal officials urge people heading for their favorite outdoor pursuits to find out about conditions in the area they're going -- especially in Eastern Washington.

"Now is a good time to go camping in Western Washington," said Cindy Neff, spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources.

Two campers recently were trapped along with a crew of Forest Service firefighters by the Thirtymile fire in the Okanogan National Forest north of Winthrop. Four firefighters were killed and several injured in the fire, including the woman who pulled the two campers into her emergency fire shelter.

Neff recommends contacting the regional DNR office to find out about local restrictions and closures before heading into an area.

People heading into the backcountry in the vicinity of a fire should think about an alternate route and reduce the risk of being trapped, she said.

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Washington Department of Natural Resouces

George Rubiaco, acting fire staff officer with the Olympic National Forest, also encouraged people headed for national forest land to call ahead and ask about conditions before heading out. People should ask about fire danger, any fires in the area and areas closed because of fire or fire danger.

He also suggested checking the weather forecast. If dry lightning or thunderstorms are included in the forecast, fires could start with little warning, Rubiaco said. Land managers try to inform the public through local media of fire danger or ongoing fires.

Once firefighting efforts are under way, roads usually are closed and trailheads posted. But it's not always possible to warn people backpacking, Rubiaco said. Friday, officials were dropping leaflets warning hikers threatened by the Thirtymile fire.

If there is evidence of fire or smoke in the air, people should consider leaving the area and going somewhere else, or they should ask if there's an established fire base camp.

If ranger stations or DNR offices aren't open, people can contact local fire stations or the sheriff's office.

The Hoodsport and Quilcene ranger stations in the Olympic National Forest are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Because of the increased fire risk, DNR has imposed a ban on outdoor fires in nine southeastern Washington counties, including campfires -- except in metal or concrete-lined fire pits in designated campgrounds. Fires in primitive campgrounds are not allowed.

The department encourages people to use camp stoves.

The ban covers state lands in Kittitas, Yakima, Chelan, Asotin, Garfield, Columbia, Klickitat, Douglas and Walla Walla counties. More than 85 percent of the 1,100 wildfires on DNR lands annually are caused by people.

Campfire restrictions also are in effect on some areas of national forests in Eastern Washington -- none on the Olympic National Forest, Rubiaco said. Fire danger on the forests of the west side is moderate, he said.

N.S. Nokkentved covers the outdoors for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5445.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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