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Show PAGE B6 JULY SUMMIT COUNTY NEWS Being a wildland firefighter SCOTT NAGLE SCN Reporter Being a wildland firefighter, I am asked many questions during the spring and summer months about my occupation. The usual questions are: Are you guys expecting a lot of fires this year? How is the fire season so far? Do you ever feel unsafe in your job? However, the question that I am I asked most frequently is: What is it like being a wildland firefighter? That question cannot be answered with just one sentence because there are so many aspects about the job. First, there are various crews one can be on, which include: Hotshots, Helitack, Smoke Jumpers, Type I or II IA Crews, Squads, and Engines. Positions one can hold range from Fire Management Officer (FMO) to Firefighter Type II. I work on Engine 431 as a Firefight Type I, which is based out of the Heber-Kamas Ranger District. While I can't speak for hotshot crews or smoke jumpers, I have worked with these professionals on many fires. To answer the aforemen- tioned question, working as a wildland firefighter means you have to be mentally and physically fit. It means you have to be willing to work in unbearable heat for long hours at any given time. You must be ready to put yourself in dangerous situations that could occur. Just last week, the Utah wildland community lost a young firefighter from the Bonneville Hotshots while they were in Texas fighting fires. Throughout the summers, firefighters are assigned to 1421 day fire tours throughout the U.S. The benefit to the tours of duty is the incremental pay that is earned; however, the downside is that wildland firefighters spend a great deal of time away from loved ones. On the Uinta-Wasatch Cache National Forest, we have many duties that must be accomplished on a daily basis. Our first priority every year is to attend trainings that are either refreshers or for recertification. We also focus on getting in better physical shape so that we can be proficient on the fire line. Luckily, we have had the same crew for three years Go Classifieds! 783 1471/336 5501 now with some of us being there for eight years. Much like structure firefighters, who spend a lot of time living together, the wildland crew cohesion is extremely important because of all the time spent working together. Once the fire season really begins, our engine may be sent to other fire incidents outside of our response area (we have been sent to Arizona and Texas so far this season). While waiting to be assigned to a fire, we spend a great deal of time on tree cutting assignments in the forest and on various other projects throughout the forest. The start of the fire season this year has been good and we have successfully been assigned to several fires so far. Fortunately, the crew that I work with is experienced and we always look out for each other. We are constantly training on all the safety measures, which helps mitigate any dangerous situations for us to keep us safe. So for me, it is an honor and privilege to be able to work with a great group of guys while fighting wildland fires throughout the United States. 'Fall Classes starting in Clogging b 'ballroom in 'Francis & cflenefer 'beginning in September `beginning-,,VtlanceZ) b Competition LeVels Ages 3 through AWL, "No partner neeeZ) for ballroom, "brohulae `Routines & Competition `Routines `Teen & Ault Classes 'Farm[!' rates 4 or more A Reminder...working and renovating on 1-80 Renovating 1-80 includes all UDOT construction projects on or near 1-80 from Salt Lake City to the Wyoming state line. While the projects extend the life of the corridor and help prevent more extensive reconstruction later, each one will improve the roadways infrastructure and enhance safety along 1-80, one of the most widely driven corridors in Utah. Renovate 1-80 will help minimize inconveniences for motorists through efficient and timely communication and public outreach. Learn more about each project and take advantage of weekly and monthly travel advisories designed to help motorists plan ahead and avoid delays. 1-80 at Atkinson Rail Trail under the Atkinson Bridge is closed; Nighttime 1-80 EB lane closure to begin July 18 1-80 at Summit Park Clearance under the westbound bridge at exit 140 reduced to 14'0" 1-80 Echo Junction at Weber River Ongoing nighttime lane restrictions near the 1-80 /1-84 Interchange 1-80 Climbing Lane, Lamb's Canyon to Parleys Summit Rotomilling and resurfacing to begin; Ongoing nighttime lane restrictions to take place through Fall 2011 1-80, Cable Barrier Installation Ongoing WB and EB left lane closures in Echo Canyon Bridge Replacement Projects 1-80 at Summit Park (about Mile Post 140) Summary. Crews will replace the eastbound and westbound bridges at the Summit Park Interchange. The new bridges will be built alongside 1-80. Timeline Construction March 21 through September 2011 Alerts and Travel Impact • The clearance under the westbound bridge at exit 140 is reduced to 14'O" through June. Please use caution. • Motorists should expect various lane and full freeway closures during the final stages of the project in July and August • All construction is weather permitting 1-80 at Atkinson, Utah (about Mile Post 147) Summary: Construction crews will replace the 1-80 eastbound bridge near Atkinson Canyon over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The new bridge will be built alongside 1-80. Timeline Construction May 16 through September 2011 Alerts and Travel Impact • June 5 through Fall 2011, The Rail Trail under the Atkinson Bridge will experience closures to ensure safety of the trail users. The trail will be open during construction but primarily as an out and back trail. • Work near 1-80 at Atkinson Canyon has begun. Motorists should anticipate shoulder closures and nighttime lane restrictions from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. • Travel impacts are expected to be minimal, but motorists should anticipate various lane and full eastbound freeway closures during the final stages of the project • All construction is weather permitting U.S. Post Offices targets 15 locations - possible closures The U.S. Postal Service is considering closing more than 3,653 of it smaller post offices, and 15 are located in Utah. This amounts to one in ten of its retail outlets. "They are focusing on offices with reduced workload," stated a Postal Service spokesman, Robert Vunder, speaking for Utah and Idaho. The Utah list includes the Airport Station at SLC Inter- national Airport, Old Town location in Park City, others including Park Valley, Rush Valley, Trenton, Vernon, Clawson, Dutch John, Emery, Hanksville, Henrieville, Lyman, Whiterocks, Elberta and Garrison. Most of these located in Utah are only operated by one employee. There have been other considerations which influenced these particular locations, such as whether affected locales have other places where they can go to purchase their stamps and mail packages. The Postal Service will announce more details of a plan called "village post office" where other local businesses would host retail postal services including package mailing or post office box services. Calf now/ for rates 6, schaule 801-693-0900 1-80 Echo Junction at Weber River (about Mile Post 168) Summary Construction crews will replace sister bridges at the I80 /1-84 Junction along the Weber River near Echo, Utah. The new bridges will be built alongside 1-80 and the Weber River. Construction Timeline July through November 2011 Alerts & Travel Impact • The beginning stages of work is underway. Motorists should anticipate various lane restrictions on 1-80 / I-84 until the project's completion • Travel impacts are expected to be minimal • Motorists should expect various lane and full freeway closures during the final stages of the project • All construction is weather permitting Anytime Anywher Any day That's when you can count on State Farm. Bryan R Daybell Ins Agcy Inc Bryan Daybell, Agent 1960 Sidewinder Drive Park City, UT 84060 Bus: 435-649-9161 I know life doesn't come with a schedule. That's why at State Farm you can always count on me for whatever you need 24/7, 365. GET TO A BETTER STATE": CALL ME OR VISIT US ONLINE TODAY. - Subscribe To The News 783-1471 SIATEPARAR 4 1A0 INSURANCE 1101198 State Farm State Farm, Home Officer Bloomington, IL WASATCH & SUMMIT COUNTY . PROFESSIONAL ._... A II : :: SERVICES BAIL BONDS MORTGAGE SERVICES City 1st Mortgage Services is now putting loans under 7. management in the Mortgage Services, LLC Heber Valley! Look for Josh Wright on Midway's Main Street City Fir ... =":4 BEEHIVE ., 210 E Main, Suite 111 / 435-657-5656 / jwright@citylst.com panne Russell ssociate broker BAIL BONDS Blaine Coalville (435) 336-2004 Park City (435) 649-9111 Member Better Business Bureau SLC (801) 328-3329 and P.B.U.S. Any Jail, Anytime, Anywhere SIDING & GUTTERS REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT , ri ■i 9 nt‘ .., b e T .....7 OrikiDe '211 "Installed with Double the Pride" Siding • Soffit • Fascia Seamless • Raingutters Windows • Roofing DAVIS-COLEMAN REALTY Just Stuff 540 South Main Street Heber, UT 84032 435-671-0180 by Jan a, EOCh office Is I nae pe nd e n fiy Bob Grant • 435-654-3024 suzrusse118877@gmail.com YOUR BUSINESS HERE Cell: C.;6'‘. giitterS & —‘ SERVICE Someone really goofed up when they were handing out holidays. August, the month that falls smack-dab in the middle of that time of year when people want to play, is void of holidays. Zip. Zero. Nadda. Not a one. Let's face it. Summer sun, clear skies, barbecues and warm weather, things August is chock full of, are far from being conducive to work. So what better month is there to have at least one holiday on which people can play hooky? August represents the end of the summer in the minds of many, so there's an urgent need to get out and play while the "sun's still shining." But not in August. No hooky holiday here! There's no rest for the weary in August. Of course we could steal New Year's from January, but people need to have a day to recuperate from the rabble rousing of ushering the new year. I guess we could forgo Presidents' Day in February, but it's nice to celebrate Washington and Lincoln's birthdays. March has St. Patrick's Day, and April, April Fool's Day, not to mention quite often Easter. Granted, they're not hooky holidays, but March and April at least each boast a holiday, or two. Such is certainly not the case with August. Poor August is stuck with thirty-one non-holiday days. May itself is a bit greedy, what with May Day, Mother's Day and Memorial Day all falling in its boundaries. June can flaunt Flag Day and Father's Day and July boasts two holidays, both of which are "take the day off work" holidays! In September we honor the worker by taking a day off on Labor Day and October is the month of ghosts and goblins. Luckily, Thanksgiving squeaks in on the fourth Thursday of November, or we'd have another case like August. And December, just around the bend makes all of December feel like a holiday. Yes August, that no-holiday, summer's-almost-over, let's-get-out-and-play, Autumn-is-justaround-the-bend, school-starts-in-just-a-few-weeks, month is upon us and once again I find myself saying "Where did the summer go?" While there may not be any holidays, no special festivities, not even a single long weekend in poor August, I'm going to make the most of it! Have a happy August! 29, 2011 801-712-0545 Office: 801-966-6002 PRINTING _a/ do pfr. li •A rlrlon nnouncements uCe es • Business 1101A—Aillib. • Business Forms / Invoices •c Barorchures • Calendars Printing & • i3O Mess Forms Envelopes • Flyers Publishing •• Laminating 165 South 100 West Heber City, Utah 84032 (435) 654-1471 / Fax: (435) 654 - 5085 www.wasatchwave.com • Letterhead / Stationary • Magazines • Newsletters • Post Cards • Rack Cards SERVICE SERVICE YOUR BUSINESS HERE YOUR BUSINESS HERE Let everybody know you're out there! Advertise your Professional Service here for only $15 a week! Call the Wave Office at 435-654-1471 • Mon-Fri / 8-5 |