Letter to the Editor: Win one, lose one
Though I generally agree with most of the letter “Save the trees; start the sawmills,” I must point out some “stretches.”
Within the last ten years, Plumas News reported on a lightning-caused fire in the McCrae Meadows area, Beckwourth District, Plumas National Forest, which was allowed to “burn itself out.” Factors allowing that decision were mainly timing and location. The fire started in October, shorter days and cooler temps, was close to 6,000’ elevation, and was on a north-facing slope. The area was shaded by both a ridge, and the tall trees in the vicinity. The fuel-moisture was much higher than it is now (understatement of the century). I’m sure that wasn’t the only instance when a prescribed fire, or a “let it burn” approach, has been successfully employed by the United States Forest Service.
On the other hand, a difficult lesson was learned on the Lava Fire. From what I understand, with some help from Inciweb, the Lava Fire was determined to be out on June 24th, the same day it started. It is conjectured that a root was still smoldering underground, or there were still live embers burning deep inside one of the lava tubes; a shift in the winds might have fanned the flames back to life. According to the Inciweb report today, July 16, the Lava Fire is at 26,316 acres, and is 77% contained. The Fire Management Officer on that forest stepped forward and took responsibility for the mistake.
The “Save the trees” statement began with an historical reference to Spanish missionaries observing smoke as they sailed up the California coastline. Checking with Wikipedia, it was the Spanish explorers Cabrillo, Balboa, Viscaino, and an English sea captain, Sir Francis Drake, who “discovered” California by sea. The military contingent, led by Gaspar de Portola, and the missionaries, led by Saint Junipero Serra, traveled primarily by land. In fact, some segments of California State Hwy 1, are still identified as “El Camino Real.” Another concern is that the development of safety matches was still more than a century in the future, meaning that a cooking fire needed to be tended night and day; so that might account for at least some of the smoke.
The characterization of a “knee-jerk reaction” in “Save the Trees” to “The Big Burn” of 1910 seemed to overlook the genuine heroism of Mr. Pulaski, and the inspired development, through blacksmithing and welding, of an invaluable fire-fighting tool.
The piece seemed to frequently cast blame, and rarely, if ever, give any credit due.
Gene Nielsen
Crescent Mills