Fighting wildfires--Status quo not acceptable in no man's land

This editorial appears in the Nov. 27, 2009, Yakima Herald-Republic

Anger over the Dry Creek fire still smolders among landowners who tried in vain to fend off two wildland fires that grew to 49,000 acres in late August.

A meeting in Sunnyside earlier this week did little to calm the frayed nerves of those who live in what's called "no man's land," pockets of rural sections in Central Washington that are without fire protection. The Dry Creek fire, caused by lightning strikes starting Aug. 20, burned down a state highway bridge and destroyed the iconic Silver Dollar Cafe at the intersection of state routes 24 and 241 -- in the heart of no man's land.

State lawmakers from Central Washington conducted the meeting in hopes of assessing what went wrong and figure out what could be done in the future to provide better protection for residents living outside established fire districts.

They got an earful, and most of it was highly critical of firefighters.

The Silver Dollar Cafe owner said fire officials didn't allow him to bring a water tank to fight the blaze that eventually destroyed his restaurant. Another described a tragic scene involving a long-time family friend who was allowed to drive down a smoke-filled highway -- State Route 24. He was found dead later in the evening with his fifth-wheel rig stuck alongside the road in a pasture. He apparently died of a heart attack.

Several lawmakers vowed after the meeting to introduce legislation that would require equipped fire crews to fight fires wherever they can regardless of whether it's in their district or not. Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, termed it a "duty to serve" law.

While we understand the anger of those who felt firefighters didn't provide enough assistance during the Dry Creek fire, we also realize the enormity of what firefighters have to deal with during a wildland fire. Communication among fire crews is difficult in these far-flung rural areas, with firefighters forced to work in deep ravines where cell phones and radios prove ineffective.

The unpredictability of these fires also makes fighting them extremely hazardous and frustrating. The cafe fell victim to a fire's fickle nature. Though the cafe was used briefly as a staging area, firefighters had no proper equipment available when fire erupted suddenly and gutted the restaurant.

Liability and costs are legitimate concerns for rural fire districts. Providing firefighting services to those who wish to live in no man's land is something lawmakers may seek to require, but the state also must offer adequate compensation for this "duty to serve."

Residents can -- and should -- seek to be included in nearby fire districts or set up their own district.

Living in secluded rural areas has its benefits, and its costs. Wildland fires are a fact of life in these scrub-brush regions. It's also equally certain that something more needs to be done. The status quo isn't working for anyone.

What we don't want is a repeat of Dry Creek.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.