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Show usum Ksnsb Civic Orchestra plays Salt Lake City Pegs 11 VOLUME 65 WEDNESDAY COLOR COUNTRY'S HOME TOWN NEWSPAPER NUMBER 20 50c JUNE 26, 1996 Lightning starts majorfireon Kaibab the Pass fire. By Tuesday, more Its a blaze, actually three than 400 people were fighting separate ones, that Forest Ser- the blaze, with more expected to vice Air Tactic Supervisor arrive by nightfall Hot shbt and By Dixie Brunner Wayne Mangum says is displaying extreme fire behavior.' The June 20 fire ignited by lightning below the north rim of the Grand Canjon at Bridgets Knoll, burned fast, fueled try heavy underbrush and 30-4-0 m.pJh. afternoon winds. It blew up onto the North Kaibab Ranger District Friday afternoon at the Bill Hall Trailhead burning into ponderosa pine and oak forest. Park officials were attempting to contact canyon hikers who had been issued permits to hike this trail. As of Tuesday morning the three significant, fires, Bridger Knoll, J ump, and Pass fires, had together consumed approximately 8,300 acres of land, with containment achieved only on hand crews were concentrating on supporting existing fire lines, but felt they were fighting a loosing battle with the extreme drought and wind conditions. Tucson-base- d fire specialist said three origithatthe Mangum nal fires were now being managed as one, the Bridger complex fire. As of Monday morning, Mangum said that there were four helicopters, one lead plane and two air tac planes in the air. Water was being drawn out of Big Springs. "We offer" firefighters an eye in the sky said Mangum ofhis charges, "We talk to people on the ground and in the air. Mangum said that the lead plane tells other air sup-See FIRE, Page 2 This volunteer seems outmanned trying to help ol1 at last Friday's tire in Kanab. A shed used to store electrical supplies tor Swapp Electric was burned to the ground, a total bss. A neighboring house belonging to Dave Crosby also sustained some damage to one bedroom and a deck. Swapp 's house, along with others m the area, was spared following quick action by the Kanab City Fire Department Another fire occurred Tuesday morning to a house owned by Larry and Melanie Switzer : Both fires are under investigation settlement reached in Kolob Creek drowning case Out-of-co-urt United States attorneys in Salt Lake City representing the Na- tional Park Service agreed to an settlement with at- for 13 claimants in the 15, 1993, drowning deaths of David Fleisher and Em Ellis in the Kolob Creek drainage on National Parks fully rescued the surviving trip user bears the responsibility for leader aid five youths, safety, he noted. The permit itself should not convey a guarFalvey noted that, the court agreement settles adis-toroey- s antee of safety, as some may puled claim 2nd does not estab-Jul- y believe. The permit system is, in lish case law or legal precedent, fact, an effort to regulate and This case is unusual because the minim he visitor impacts cm park difficulty of the route was com-Zio- n resources. north pounded by the artificial release of water into the Kolob Creek urt boundary. Under conditions of the agree- - drainage, He said the park will continue ment, the claimants will be awarded 51-4- minion, accord- - to examine its permitting proce-in- g to park superintendent dures to provide the best back 9 Donald A. Falvey. Fahey expressed sympathy for families of the victims. "For afl concerned, we at Zion are glad that the case has come to an early resDlution,he said. He also praised the work ofWashirgton volun- Forest Service Air Tactic Supervisor Wayne Mangum (!) along with two ofhis County Sheriffs officers, teer searchers and his own staff pilots were at the Kanab Airport refueling their aircraft Monday morning. The fire where who, sometimes working under are and piiots Hy lead planes to instruct firefighters where hot spots hazardous conditions, success-- , retardent drops should be made. country recreation experience for rapidly growing numbers of us-th- e ere. We need to make it crystal dear to both new and seasoned back country users that there are inherent risks in wilderness travel, he said. A trip through the canyon is not just a walk in the park." Ultimately the back country |