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Show CHILLY TIMES - APRIL 15, 1997 - 3 FIRE DEPA RTM ENT NOTES Most of us know that the native vegetation that surrounds us in the valley is highly flammable. This is especially true in the summer when the water is baked out of it and only the flammable oils remain. We can give our homes some protection from wildfire by using 7 firebieaks. A fireka is not necessarily a wide barren strip around your home, though that would work. A more desirable break am include trees, grass and shrubs. Plant the trees far enough apart so that the branches do not form a dense canopy. This eliminates the possibil— ity of a fire traveling through the upper foliage. Next, prune the lowest branches so that a fire on the ground will not reach the lowest remaining branches. Part of this step will include removing flamable debris from under the trees and keeping growing vegetation cut to six inches or less. Finally, keep your plants well watered. This will keep their moisture content up and retard any fire that might try to move through them. How wide should a firebrmk be? Fifty feet is generally enough. If you live on a hillside, the downhill break should be about a hundred feet. A fire will burn faster and hotter on an uphill sleping run. Hopefully, you will get the idea from this that, rather than being an eyesore, a firebreak can be an attractive asset to your home. Don’t be shy about talking to your neighbors and contractors and others who are in the valley from time to time about the severity of our local fire hazard. I don’t know of anyone who wants to see a fire get out of control. An awareness of the potential hazard is one of the keys to a safe summer. We don’t need to be paranoid about fire. It is a good servant and is easily harnessed by some safe practices. I have seen a number of perfectly safe fires this spring. A few of them MORE SILV EY. from p. 2 Williams, the unknown prospector at Piute Spring, and also the battle or rather massacre on the north side of the La Sal Mountains in 1881 when ten white men had been trapped and killed. So they warned the Indians to keep out of that district and not hunt there any more. The Indians. after much slaughtering of deer, left that year. In 1891 the Indians came back in large numbers and were saucy and defiant, and killed a number of calves that belonged to cattle men and ranchers. Again they were told to vamoose, pronto, and never show up again on the east side of the Dolores River. After a few days the Indians suddenly retired back to their reservation. In June, 1892, near Stump Springs, about twenty—five miles northeast of Dolores and near the head of Beaver Creek a band of Utes were camped in an isolated spot. They were discova'ed by settlers who hastily got a bunch together of cowboys and settlers and attacked the Ute camp just at dawn of day. All were killed except one who was badly wounded, but got away. The whites did not lose a single man in the massacre as the Indians were taken by surprise. This was an unfortunate affair. and was condemmed AS THE WORLD TURNS HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY Full Moon...Tues...April 22rd Rises...7:12pm....Sets..8:24am New Moon...Tues...May 6th Rises....6:24 am Sets 8:17 pm Full Moon...Thrus...May 22nd Rises...8:57pm....Sets..6:33am Star Gazing: Everyone’s favorite star—the Sun is entering an 11 yr cycle when suspots are in an upswing increasing the likelihood of catching the Northern Lights display. Castle Valley's dark, unpolluted sky is what is needed for properly seeing the Aurora, which appears almost monthly over the northern third of the U.S. Meanwhile, the Sun itself becomes suprisingly powerful in May; 'I_‘h_e Sun’s rays are intense. Cover up! Meteor Showers: Lyrid: 2am, April let, 10—15 rate per hr, from the southern sky. Eta Aquarid: 2am, May 4th, 10-40 rate per hr, from the SE sky. COMET HALE-BOPP: 'Ihe comet is visible to the naked eye during the first hour after night— fall. (Look straight down the valley, just above the horizon.) by a few, but no Government Binoculars give a dramatic view of investigation of consequence was ever had, and it is stated that for many years following this event no Indians were seen on the east side of the Dolores River. the comet. Optimum moonless viewing occurs April 26-May 9. Next month: “Silvey is Pocket." Much appreciation to the Timeslndependent for giving permission to reprint these selections from the History and Settlement of Northern San Juan County. Utah. from the writings of Frank Silvey, an early pioneer in this area This is the weather the cuckoo likes And so do I; When showers be tumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly. —Thomas Hardy Excerpted from Old Fanna’s Almanac —Jennifer Redding Cobb’s CLEAN WINDOWS 'Commercial:-.- ’ ° Residential i...‘ -High ladder work resulted in heavy smoke laying near the ground. Before you burn, call the Sheriff’s dispatcher at 259—8115 and ask for the clearing index number. If it 'Hard water stains ' Referrals is above 500, smoke will rise high enough that it will not cause discomfort to your neighbors. Think before you burn, and keep up your great record on fire prevention. —Floyd Stoughton, Fire Chief For FREE Estimate BO. Box 591 call Alex ' >259'8791V A leave message Moab. Utah 84532 |