Better technology, equipment expected to increase protection Firefighters would wear GPS devices that track their location. Maps of fire boundaries would be updated in real time. And information about the risk of mudslides would be available earlier, enabling timely preventive measures. Those are just some of the safety features that will be required if the […]
firefighting
Still a need to assess the health risks for wildland firefighters
Little research so far on long-term effects By Marcy Stamper Wildland firefighters face many risks on the job — working near flames in thick smoke with heavy machinery and sharp tools — but there has been relatively little research into the long-term health impacts of their work. A new law creating a voluntary nationwide registry of cancers in firefighters […]
Advanced study in firefighting
“When I first encountered the fire world, I pictured them as heroic or too macho — and not that approachable,” said Methow Valley resident Abby Ludeman, who spent last week at an intensive training for firefighters. “But the people here have amazing stories and are humble about their experiences and want to …
USFS cuts number of aircraft dedicated only to firefighting
New contracts allow Forest Service to shift on-call planes as necessary By Marcy Stamper There are fewer aircraft dedicated exclusively to fighting fires for the U.S. Forest Service this year, since more of the planes that drop water and retardant on fires are now on a “call-when-needed” basis. The reorganization of air tankers came after […]
Agencies discuss response criteria for wildland fires
A recent community meeting about wildland firefighting raised questions about how agencies coordinate in fighting fires, the ramifications for firefighting of closed roads on public lands, and how decisions are made about protecting …
District 6 annual reports summarizes busy year of responding to Methow Valley’s emergencies
Okanogan County Fire District 6 responded to 228 emergency calls in 2017 and spent 1,884 hours on emergency responses. The activity is similar to 2016, which had 54 more calls and almost an equal amount of time spent on responses, according to a 2017 annual report by the district.
Finances remain big barrier to new fire hall site
District 6 owns one property, looks at buying another By Ann McCreary Deliberations about a future new fire station in Winthrop continued this week as Okanogan County Fire District 6 commissioners looked at financial implications of buying new property for the station. Commissioners are considering property on White Avenue, next to Little Star Montessori School, […]
Christmas Eve fire
Firefighters from Okanogan County Fire District 6 responded to a Christmas Eve mobile home fire at 68 Magers St. in Twisp. Fifteen firefighters from the Twisp and Winthrop stations worked to keep the flames from adjacent homes from 10:30 p.m to 1:45 a.m. Laura Turner, owner of the mobile home, said a friend who was […]
‘SuperTanker’ gets OKed by Govt. Accountability Office for firefighting
A jumbo jet that is converted to fight wildfires had to sit out most of the massive fires that raged across the West this year.
But the Boeing 747-400, which can drop 19,000 gallons of water or retardant on fires, may be able to fly more next year in the United States, after a federal agency advised …
Moody stays aloft to help develop ‘SuperTanker’ for fighting big wildfires
For most of his career as a firefighter, Bill Moody of Twisp attacked wildfires with the help of a light, nylon parachute. Today, the longtime smokejumper is helping fight fires with a more formidable tool — a Boeing 747 “SuperTanker” aircraft.
For more than a decade, Moody has been involved in helping with …
