It appears that we may be escaping the inferno that threatened the area for the past couple of days. The McDonald Pass fire which started Friday afternoon and had Helenans holding their breath all day yesterday went from “disaster in the making” to “Whew!” overnight. That’s a good thing.
What’s not so good is that the reason for the concern being so great is that we’re only a teensy spark away from a conflagration that could have unfathomable impacts on thousands of people on the south side of town. Nothing that has given cause for relief this weekend can be taken as assurance that the same factors will come into play the next time a blaze breaks out.
This is certainly not a new situation, and our city and county officials are not unaware of the problem. The question is – Have they and others who are in positions to impact the situation done enough to protect the citizens, businesses, and buildings in the area?
While the county commissioners were busy focusing their time, attention, and tax dollars on a non-existent “water crisis” in the north valley, the pine beetles were devastating the trees on the south hills. While the city fathers were agonizing over humane ways to cull the excess deer population, culling the dying trees was absent on the council agenda week after week. While the chamber folks were convening about branding the city, Mother Nature was conspiring to burn it down. While the Forest Service, DOI, FWP, and all the rest of the alphabet soup along with the private timber industry were doing whatever they could to promote healthy forest practices, the Sierra Club, MEIC, and the other wacko environmental advocacy groups were obfuscating. suing, and obstructing efforts to take the common-sense action that could prevent a wholesale disaster. While the Independent Record was waxing eloquently about our northern border and doing passionate exposes on mental illness, where were the editorials exhorting the powers-that-be to take action before the problem became severe?
When the worst happens, who will stand up and take the blame?
There will be plenty to go around.
Amen sister. I kept asking and getting the same answer: “We’re studying the situation.” Leadership vacuum.
PS God bless the firefighters!
I work for the agency with the three white helicopters and I was there at the incident from the start.
Yes, thx to the firefighters and the Baxendale volunteers, especially the Chief who helped on the knowledge side of this potential disaster.
I’m involved w/the Wolf Creek – Craig VFD in my off season, but this day I witnessed an aviation ‘atta boy’ for the pilots and ground crews involved in the initial attack of this Mac Pass fire.
Mike-