Fire Report

Around eight fires are burning in this eastern Idaho region.  Most have been caused by dry lightning -- and a couple via humans, though not deliberately. Firecrackers, which I don't like, sparked at least one.  The fires range, say, from 100 acres to 15,000 [the latter mostly scrub stuff, wheat grass and sage.]  As far as I know, they're contained.  There's been some rain, more in the higher mountains but we got a moderate amount right here yesterday which will help what passes for our lawn [lately looking somewhat like Death Valley.]  

Josie, our youngest daughter, and her Cameron and the two Babies (Aidan and Finley) spent a couple of days this weekend at Cameron's family home at the small community of McCammon which is about 35-40 minutes from Pocatello, for the annual rodeo -- but midway the rodeo was mostly rained out.  Rain and mud and rodeos don't mix very well.  The Babies were earlier in the rodeo parade.  Ten days or so ago, they had  a brief airplane ride as well.  They like these adventures.

They're a pleasant adventure in their own right.

With rain comes lightning and surveillance planes fly over us frequently.

Not far away at all in the Teton/Jim Bridger National Forest in western Wyoming, an exceptionally bad fire. much of it in big, prime timber, went on for three weeks or so and the scope exceeds 18,000 acres.  It's essentially contained now.

Utah has its own considerable problems.

The LDS church took the lead in providing food and shelter etc for the many victims of the fire here -- the one which burned 66 homes.  Other denominations have joined in and ecumenical and other efforts are now underway to clear out the damage in the burned area.  That'll take a lot of time.  Scattered pets are still being located and placed with their families.

Up in our own area, adjoining public BLM and USFS lands, no problems so far.  I did clear some dead brush away from our setting and our shovels and an axe are handy.

Most people around here certainly believe global warming/climate change is a key factor in these disasters.

I don't look for fire danger in the West to end until snow flies.

Hunter

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis 
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk 
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´ 
and Ohkwari' 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
www.hunterbear.org 
(much social justice material)
 
See the Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Expanded and with more photos in June, 2012.)
 
For the new, just out (11/2011) and expanded/updated
edition of my "Organizer's Book," JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- 
with a new and substantial introduction by me.  We are now at 
the 50th Anniversary of the massive Jackson Movement of
1962-63.
http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm
 
And see My Community Organizing Mini-Course -- with much 
down to earth how-to material and updated into 2012:
http://hunterbear.org/my_combined_community_organizing.htm