Soda Fire 3

Soda Fire 3

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
The Soda Fire started in Owyhee County Monday, August 10th, 8 miles northeast of Jordan Valley, Oregon.  The fire burned almost 300,000 acres in Owyhee County and eastern Oregon. The Bureau of Homeland Security has provided the Owyhee County Sheriff’s office with special equipment to record damage in the fire areas. Anyone who has experienced significant damage that needs to be immediately dealt with should contact the Owyhee County Sheriff non-emergency line at 208-495-1154 so your losses can be recorded with the equipment provided. 
 
Before removing debris or burying animals please make contact so losses can be recorded. The Sheriff’s office will work as fast as they can. Losses that should be recorded include, but are not limited to, livestock, forage, structures and/or vehicles. Any and all data collected will be available to property/livestock owners.
 
Priority will be given to those with livestock losses so carcasses can be disposed of.
According to the Idaho Statesman, the Soda Fire, burning eight miles northeast of Jordan Valley, Ore., grew to 283,686 acres by Sunday but fire activity was minimal. Fire officials reported activity was limited mostly to smoldering and creeping,. Firefighters battling the Soda Fire in Owyhee County will continue walking containment lines and mopping up. Fire crews made significant progress as of Sunday and Monday, according to the federal Bureau of Land Management. Firefighters continue to look for heat pockets, but have found very few.

The Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office issued road closure orders for all use except for local residents. Recreational use of roads leading into Idaho City is prohibited. The closure primarily affects roads in the Silver City, Trout Creek and Cow Creek area. Upper Reynolds Creek Road is closed, as is the Jump Creek recreational site and trailheads from Silver City to Jump Creek.
Interior islands of brush and short grass continue to burn.
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter issued a disaster declaration Saturday for Owyhee County so communities affected by the fire can get more assistance. The state also made tools available to the Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office to record property, livestock and other losses.
But this fire breathing Dragon monster has impacted many ranching operations. In Owyhee County of Idaho the cattle outnumber the people. The ranchers are as resilient as they come. “We’ve got a pretty good bunch of hay right now but it will take more if we don’t find some pasture. It took the rest of our summer pasture, our fall pasture and all of our winter pasture too. We are going to be feeding a 100% form now till spring unless we find some place to go.” Just doing your job, working your cattle. Ted Blackstock had to survive the horrendous Soda Fire. “Trying to take care of them. That’s what we do I guess.” That is a typical example of the American rancher. Resolve and guts.

 

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