Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Jefferson National Forest also has sent a contingent - including Forest Supervisor Joy Berg - to help fight the fires that have been blackening parts of the West this summer.
Berg is helping with firefighting work in Utah. Dozens of other Jefferson employees are helping fight fires in Idaho, Washington, Montana and Colorado.
The state fire crews that headed West last weekend are composed of 25 Department of Forestry employees and 15 volunteers from the state's "hot-shot," or elite, firefighting teams. The fire crews came from the department's regional offices at Farmville, Salem and Abingdon.
The two state crews gathered in Blacksburg on Friday before being bused to Knoxville, Tenn., where they caught a flight to Montana. There they were assigned to fight the Yaak-Red Dragon fires in the Kootenai National Forest. The federal government will reimburse the state for expenses.
"Virginia is willing to do our part to save life, property and the nation's natural resources," said State Forester James Garner in a written statement. "Actually, we are returning a favor since crews from both national forests in Virginia assisted the Virginia Department of Forestry during the 1987 forest-fire season, which was one of the worst in recent years in Virginia."
Department spokesman Lou Southard said the Virginia crews are among 36 crews, a total of 1,209 people, fighting the 9,250-acre Montana fire. The U.S. 1st Cavalry and an army artillery regiment have been called out to fight the fire, he said.
High winds and low humidity are creating a dangerous fire situation in Montana. Southard said he was in Montana in the spring and found reservoirs and lakes there at extremely low levels from months of drought.
Garner said Virginia might be in for a tough fire season itself this fall. Last winter's severe ice storms have covered the forest floor with debris from broken limbs, which could be a source of fuel for forest fires.
Recognizing that danger, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded Virginia a $2.99-million grant for fire-prevention activities and firefighting equipment.
Southard said the weather conditions in late October and early November will determine the severity of this year's fire season. While most fires in the West are caused by dry lightning, 98 percent of the forest fires in Virginia are caused by people, either through carelessness or arson.
by CNB