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Show iThe Page B7 iEtnifS-pInbcpntbf- Thursday, October 4, 2001 nt Former Moab resident spends work days on front lines of Washington fires by Garrett Reed The special to Times-Independe- nt ah. OMAR, VYhen firtf.fchters called in the Arm to help snuff nut wildfires in northeastern Washington, the son of two Moab residents traded his rifle for a pick and shot el and M-1- joined the cau.-Alongside more than 500 other soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash , Army Sgt. Jefferson A tt 01cn, son of ArlaJean and Ray Olsen, both of Moab, e Pa.-ke- deployed to Omak in late August to back up freighters working to contain wild land fires burning across nearly f0,000 acres on the Colville Indian Reservation. With fire crews stretched past their limits battling over 50 major blares in 11 states across the western U.S., federal officials brought in military reinforcements to rtheve firefighters who had been fighting the Colville Reservation fires since Aug 12 Ai:bj-g- h ' A' Li u J .JTSC. boring communities The soldiers, mostly infantry- v tf) -- e men and engineers, worked in teams and 25-ma- n performed feSA- v- - - It- Ar-- ; i khl r fire-fightin- Ron Allen Consulting Sen ices, Inc. Soldiers dressed in firefighting gear march up a mountain trail on their way to build a fre line on the Baney Mountain complex in Washington. Sc'diers spent about 10 hours a day performing mop-u- p operations to keep wild land fires in the state contained pected. Were handling the mop up, so the trained firefighters can concentrate on the larger fires, he said. Before heading out to the fire lines, soldiers were trained on wild land fire behavior, line con- ef- g forts in this area, and it's going very well, said Olsen, a 1992 graduate of Grand County High School. With struction techniques, fire prevention and extinguishment the personnel and Army Sgt Jefferson A Olsen was one of more than 500 soldiers called to he'p the Forest Service contain a group of wild land fires burning over 80,000 acres. (Photos by Keith Bron) equipment Army has the vided, the fire is coming under control faster than ex- - Sr Dtenoem e g i as-si- i i fire-fightin- SERVICE g Southbound Northbound Depart SLC Airport 2.00pm 6 30am Depart Monticello Moao 7.30an Depart Arrdep Green River 8 30an 9 30an Ardep Price Amve SLC Arport 12 00 Noon Renervanons Thomas A. Ehmer (435) Toll-fr- Windows (435) 259-788- Maintenance Moab Property Management 84532 Center Street. Moab, 435.259.5955 fax 435.259.6079 50 East luvvl rwt t' . Stone Cleaning Create I package. 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Salt Lake City $49 259-692- 7 Kay W J AIRPORT CONNECTION 4:30pm Arrdep Price Arrdep Green River5:30pm Arrive Moab 6.30pm Arrive Monhcello 7.30pm Commercial landscape Services Sales and Service provider YOUR SALT LAKE CITY Daily Service - 7 days a week what Grows Applet Authorized lr-- ate 2001 SERVICE Sept. 1 Dec. 31 Desert Revegetations, Complete Revidennal use chainsaws, water pumps tools and other such as the Pula.-k-i lan ax and hoe combination tool and McCleod a raking and scraping tool But for most of the solis still a far diers, fire-fightin- G cry from their normal duties "Back at Fort Lewis, I m a fire support sergeant I enemy targets and destroy them using indirect fire, which means artillery and mortars. I a No the commander in all fire planning The same type of teamwork it takes for weaponry fire is what it takes for working w ith wild fire." explained ONen methods, initial attack strategy and tactics They also learned to pro- (J)esert fjand (Escapes We know how unconven- tional the mission, for OUen and his colleagues, fighting the f res in Washington is ju-- t another wav to serve their countrv and extinguished fires still burning in tree root systems. We are here to assist the federal - matter No mop-u- p operations to keep fires from restarting in scorched forest areas. Soldiers dug fire lines, put out hot spots, cut down burnt trees S isn't g lead.ng soldiers under stressful cond.tions The enemy isn't human. but Olsen and his colleagues are battling a force that could be ju-- t a deadly as any tank, gun or bomb 'It is our duty to protect the American es.ple, and to protect our nation It is a privilege to of Washington help the and they have really shown their appreciation It makes" all the hard work worthwhile v A f The fires also threatened the town of Omak and other neigh- vV5l i ijl . f.re-f.ghtin- hat most of tr.e siudiers wtre trained to do. the experience st.ll provides squad leaders. piatooH sergeants and platoon leaders an opportunity to gain experience w 4 patios steps sidewalks garages retaining walls curbs ALSO STUCCO & BLOCK Llf KNSf.D & ISl wo ShMOR DtS f t "VTS Ijm au r Owned & Oersted 30 Yfars IhrMRiNc, FxmiiT.v t S'1, |