Too Close For Comfort

I have been mentioning how dry the forest and farm are this year. The last measureable rain we had fell on June 16 and that was only .01″ (1/100 of an inch), with a trace (not enough to measure even 1/100th) on July 2nd. With it still being July, the upcoming month is very scary. At this time there is no rain in the forecast. We watch for information regarding the weather along with fire danger constantly.

The Oregon Department of Forestry, ODF for short, sends out notices about the humidity levels, fires, weather and other concerns. The Bootleg Fire burning in the southern part of the State is over 425,000 acres and the largest wildfire in the United States, ODF is stretched thin with this and all the wildfires needing attention so information is vital to anyone who lives, works or plays in the forest.

An email was sent out just before the weekend reminding us all how vulnerable the forest is right now.

Unintended consequences: Target shooting is the suspected cause of a tree stump fire in the Tillamook State Forest yesterday morning, which fortunately was caught fast and small by a vigilant forest operator. With extremely dry conditions in most of the state, please think twice about fire risk when planning your outdoor activities!

Shooting into an old stump is like setting a flame to tinder, the bullet leaving a gun is about 500 degrees and the stump is bone dry with the little rainfall we have had. Luckily this fire was extinguished quickly but could have become a very serious matter. The Forestry is still monitoring the Game Hog/ Hog Creek Fire (also in the Tillamook State Forest) for any new flare ups or rekindling along a very steep hillside.