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Show dialogue I An Open Line of Communications I Between People and Government I Dear Sam: D.L. Taylor's inquiry regarding re-garding our policy and procedure proce-dure for fire suppression raises rais-es several valid points. We share his concern for the safety of fire crews and for the ever increasing cost of fire suppression. Immediate action was taken on the Fisher Mesa fire because be-cause of the dry condition we have been experiencing lately, late-ly, the large amount of down material or ground fuels present pre-sent and the predicted path and behavior of the fire. This fire was burning hot enough to sterilize the soil besides destroying what vegetation was in its path. Nevertheless, we are currently cur-rently developing a special suppression plan for the Dolores Do-lores Triangle. This plan will consist of zones in which suppression activities will be limited based upon the "values "val-ues at risk." We hope that through plans of this type wc can prevent the major disaster dis-aster fires and yet hold down cost of suppression. We also believe that this will permit us to minimize suppression in those areas where fire is beneficial in the environment. We realize that some fire is beneficial but we believe that we should have established control zones and crews available avail-able in the event that fire does begin to pose a threat to natural resources or human life. Wc do not feel that all fires are bad and must be put out at all costs. Wc have experienced some 60 fires already this season and we have tailored our suppression efforts based upon the "values at risk." This means that in some cases we have made an all out effort to suppress the fires as soon as possible, while in others we have made minimal efforts consisting largely of observation of the nature of the fire. We hope to attain a reasonable reason-able level of suppression on all fires but certainly we would hope that Mr. Taylor and others in the community support our fire suppression program and report all wild fires to us. Wc arc particularly particular-ly concerned this yenr'with fires along the Colorado River and adjacent to other perennial peren-nial water sources. ' Larger numbers of wildlife are congregating con-gregating In these areas this year due to the drought. Wc believe that areas such as this should receive extra fire protection pro-tection rather than bo subjected sub-jected to the indiscriminate burning resulting in palls of smoke and loss of soil and wildlife habitat that we sometimes some-times observe on lands in privat e ownership near Moab. Sincerely yours, S. (lonn I)ny Dist rict Manager |