Trout Lake fire rages on
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Fire crews raced this week to get flames under control as the area’s biggest fire this year raged near the base of Mt. Adams.
Officials said the Cold Springs fire, which began near Trout Lake and is currently heading east through Yakama Nation tribal land, is the largest the Gifford Pinchot National Park has seen in “decades.”
Crews first responded Saturday night.
By Sunday, a plume of smoke had emerged that could be seen from Vancouver and Portland. It was torching trees and sending flames more than 100 feet in the air.
“Folks thought Mt. Adams had erupted,” said Earl Cordes, public information officer for the Central Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team. “There was so much heat in there. The way the convection works it just shot the smoke 20,000 feet in the air.”
About 8,000 acres had burned by Tuesday afternoon and it was still out of control moving eastward. One structure, a historic guard station, was wrapped for protection.
Officials estimated it had burned an average of 2,000 acres per day due to heavy fuel content and high winds.
“It has moved very, very fast,” said Paul Reis, public information officer for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland.
“This is certainly one of the more fast-moving fires we’ve seen in this area this year.”
No other structures had been threatened and the closest town in the fire’s path was 50 miles away. Officials said the chance of a populated town or other structures being threatened was unlikely.
“Their main line of concern for this fire beyond natural resources would be recreational facilities – campgrounds, trailheads, and picnic areas,” said Reis.
There were 387 people involved in fighting the fire, which is still listed as having a “high potential for growth,” by the fire command center.
Reports about the onset of the fire are inconsistent, but there is agreement that a huge fuel load in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest allowed the fire to expand rapidly as westerly winds drove the flames to the east with spotting reported up to one-half mile downwind. “When it really gets running and gunning, you just get out of the way – there’s nothing you can do, absolutely nothing you can do…you get a plan and amass resources and when Mother Nature gives you a chance, you jump on it.” Said Cordes.
The Forest Service reported that the fire was contained in a four-acre area on Saturday. It had grown to 30 acres by 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. An air tanker and two firefighting helicopters joined the fight at that time. By 3 p.m., the fire was reported to have spread to 500 acres.
The estimate grew to 3,000 acres by Monday morning.
According to Chris Strebig of the Forest Service, the fire jumped the Aiken lava bed on Sunday. The lava bed was a natural barrier to the fire, but once crossed, there was plenty of fuel leading to the Yakama Reservation. Road 23, leading out of Trout Lake around the west side of Mt. Adams was temporarily closed, as were roads 80 and 82 which lead into the recreation areas.
The noon report on Monday estimated 6,000 acres were on fire and much of the leading edge was on Yakama Reservation land. By 6 p.m., 8,000 acres were affected and area loggers were bulldozing fire breaks north of Glenwood. Incredibly, it is believed that the fire began from a lightning strike on June 29. According to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest news release, it wasn’t until 8 p.m. on July 12, that the fire was first reported. That doesn’t square with Trout Lake residents Bill Smith and Roger Huffsmith. Smith, who says he has a direct view of where the fire began in dead timber, believes he would have seen some evidence of it sooner.
“It’s like a tree cemetery up there over five or six acres. It should have been logged, but the Clinton administration decided against it.”
Smith says he first saw two plumes of smoke as early as 5:30 a.m. Huffsmith, a volunteer fireman at Trout Lake, also doubts the fire could have started as early as June 29. “That’s crazy,” said Huffsmith. He also believes the fire started on Saturday. He recalls that a friend stopped by and said “there’s a fire up there.” According to Huffsmith, “we called it in to Goldendale at 4 p.m. They said they already had several calls on it.”
Glenwood resident, Nate Putnam, a forester with Hancock Forest Management believes a delayed fire from a lightning strike is very likely the cause of the fire. Putnam was working with local logging contractors on Monday, bulldozing fire breaks and setting back fires along roadsides north of Glenwood. He believed the fire would be controlled as it moved into the better managed, private forest land.
“There are an incredible number of dead trees from spruce budworm on Forest Service land,” said Putnam. In 2004, Mt. Adams Ranger Station Ranger, Nancy Ryke filed a legal decision to clear and reforest an area within the Gotchen Planning Area, a 19,700 acre area that includes spotted owl habitat. Ryke wrote that the “Yakama Indian Nation and the largest private landowner” saw a risk of fire “originating in the Gotchen area and moving into adjacent, non-federal lands.” Ryke also concluded that the threat of lost spotted owl habitat due to continued insect and disease damage and the potential of a large scale fire, justified taking action to clear and reforest portions of the Gotchen area.
As a result of the decision, approximately 400 acres of dead trees were felled and either left for wildlife habitat or offered for firewood, and another 400 acres were harvested for commercial timber and replanted with tree seedlings.
According to the Forest Service, the fire has burned north of all the Gotchen treatment units.
Hospital CFO resigns
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
The chief financial officer (CFO) of the Klickitat Valley Health hospital has stepped down.
Wade Sturgeon, who took the top finance position with Klickitat Valley Health hospital in January of 2005, put in his last day Friday, July 11.
Although the resignation announcement comes on the heels of the board’s decision to not renew its contract with Brim Healthcare — the facility’s management firm — officials stressed there is no connection.
In fact, development director Jeff Teal said Sturgeon decided to go about a week and a half ago, well before the Brim issue was concluded.
“In a way it is kind of a coincidence,” said Teal. “It was not because that decision [about Brim] was made.”
That said, Teal noted Sturgeon’s loyalty to Brim, adding that the decision would have likely prompted him to go anyway.
John Rohrer, the hospital’s interim CEO, agreed. He added that Sturgeon was worn out by ongoing politics surrounding the issue.
“He came in here when the hospital was really in dire straits financially,” said Rohrer. “They made some really tough, difficult decisions – decisions that didn’t sit well with some people. He got caught up in political relations within the community.
“His personality was such that he was almost like a lightning rod in some cases and I think he got tired of it.”
There is no doubt the news came suddenly. The announcement was made Thursday, July 10 and by “8:02 a.m. on July 11,” according to coworkers, he was gone. He did not, however, break any work contracts, according to Teal.
Rohrer confirmed Sturgeon had accepted a job in Nevada and commended his work with the Goldendale facility.
“I think Wade did a fine job here,” said Rohrer.
“During his tenure, Mr. Sturgeon was a driving force in the significant growth and increased financial strength of KVH,” Teal added.
Efforts are underway to appoint a full time replacement.
Last Monday, the hospital’s board of commissioners decided not to renew their contract with Brim, which had managed the facility since late 2003.
They will instead employ a CEO that will report directly to the board and specialty consultation will be arranged as needed.
The vote was split 3-2, with commissioners Wayne Claussen and Bill Martin voted in favor of keeping Brim, and commissioners Michael Macy, Jim Daniel, and Ron Ihrig voting against it.
At least one administrator speculated that Ihrig was the pivotal vote.
Public controversy had surfaced in recent months over how well the firm was doing its job, particularly after an audit returned with several negative findings. Among them were an administrative failure to comply with open meetings, incorrect employee retirement contributions, and improper payment logging.
A large portion of hospital staff, however, was happy or neutral about the management firm, according to administrators.
“I am convinced the professional oversight and management team Brim put in place advanced KVH to where we are today,” said Martin. “Given the condition our hospital was in, we would have been extremely naive to think this process would be easy or painless. With the adjustments behind us, I believe we could have continued to work together.”
Commissioner Jim Daniel said he agreed they helped get the hospital out of financial trouble, but “failed to address the divisiveness that was created by administration personnel.” That failure, he said, was important in his decision to vote against renewal.
Commissioner Bill Martin said he thought the company helped lift the hospital out of trouble and would have continued to do so.
Commissioner Michael Macy reiterated the feeling that Brim helped pull them out of financial hardship, but he ultimately felt a new direction was needed.
“Based on many little items, the adverse WA State Auditor findings, and the divisive affect BRIM had on our community I voted to end the BRIM relationship.”
There will be a transition including a Brim interim CEO and continued consultation with fiscal and clinical resources.
Green energy district gains steam
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
The idea of creating a “green energy” district in Klickitat County gained further momentum this week as a group of economic development officials met at the Goldendale City Hall.
Solar towers, electric car manufacturing, algae-based biodiesel production, heirloom seed agriculture, and continued wind energy were among projects cited as possibilities.
The hope, officials said, is to generate jobs by cashing in on natural resources like sun and wind which are abundant in eastern Washington. One organizer referred to the region as the “Saudi Arabia of green renewable energy.”
“The resources that we have here are so incredible,” said businessman John Gotts. “We have 300 days of sunshine across the Yakima Plateau…right here we can grow all sorts of wonderful things from wind to sun to algae and more.”
Planners want to focus on a handful of green industry projects that would ultimately establish the region as a center for eco-production. The concept has been circulating for awhile but has gained steam in recent weeks since Gotts has become involved.
The crowd of about 25 at Friday’s meeting included people from the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDC), the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Klickitat County Economic Development, Yakima County Economic Development, Klickitat PUD, the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce, and Puget Sound Energy.
David Porter, USDC economic development representative, said he was particularly interested in the idea of a solar updraft tower — a greenhouse-like structure that produces electricity — although much feasibility research would need to be done.
His organization gives out grants ranging up to $3 million for projects focused on job creation and retention.
“It’d probably be easiest for us to get involved with something like a solar project, but I haven’t seen the numbers.
“I thought [it] was an intriguing project.”
Porter added it is far too early to determine if a grant could be a possibility in this case.
Mike Canon, economic development director with Klickitat County, said he too is interested in solar towers, but noted funding would be beyond the scope of the county. He said it could instead act as a conduit for investment.
Canon said if the project ever got off the ground, a specialized location would be needed in a region with a minimal number of homes.
“A solar tower is more than 1000-feet tall,” he said, noting the likelihood of resident protest. Canon suggested a stretch of land between Bickleton and
as a possible location.
Water scarcity was one of the issues brought up as a possible roadblock to several of the projects. Furthermore, a mound of bureaucratic red tape would have to be navigated through before projects can begin, officials said.
Nevertheless, organizers remained optimistic.
“I believe this is incredibly doable,” said Gotts.
Wind plant to power 25,000 homes
A dedication ceremony for the 94-megawatt Goodnoe Hills wind farm near Goldendale was held Wednesday.
The plant, owned and operated by PacifiCorp, will supply enough power for 25,000 average homes.
By the end of 2008, Pacific Power will be providing its customers with enough company-generated or purchased renewable energy to power more than 330,000 average homes, according to company representatives.
“We’re pleased that Pacific Power is investing in new, clean energy sources in Washington,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire in a written statement.
“Resources like Goodnoe Hills can benefit the economy and the environment, and highlight the role renewable energy can play in meeting the future needs of our region.”
The Energy Trust of Oregon provided a grant of $4.5 million for Goodnoe Hills.
The plant features 47, 2-megawatt turbines built by German company Repower and a rotor diameter of 303 feet.
The project developer was enXco Development Corp., a subsidiary of EdF Energies Nouvelles, which, in turn, is a member of the Edf (Electricite’ de France) Group.
State representatives Bruce Chandler and Dan Newhouse both spoke at the event.
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