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From: Rik Bergethon (rberg@RMI.NET)
Date: Fri Jul 28 2000 - 03:48:25 CDT
Thanks to whoever posted that information about the fires here in the
West. You've heard of military spouses, I'm a Forest Service spouse.
My wife set up and ran the Pueblo Dispatch center for seven years,
before burning out and moving on to Fire Prevention work.. That's right,
she works for Smokey Bear.
To the point and how this effects Boy Scouts and Scouting. Right now,
even smokers at summer camps here in the west are afraid to light up, it
is so dry. Each afternoon, the clouds build up and the lightning
starts, but no rain. These fires have all been lightning started. There
are three summer camps within 100 miles of each other, and nary a
campfire has been lit for the entire summer. At our summer camp, troops
that opted for patrol campsite cooking got a semi-rude awakening when
their bill was upped about $10 per person, to force them to eat in the
dining hall, because we didn't want any fires in campsites. Our camp is
on private property, abutting Forest service land. The opening and
closing campfire ceremonies were more opening and closing lantern
ceremonies, and the fellowship was shared around a lantern, not a fire.
Next week, our Wood Badge course starts, without any fires allowed.
Once again, fellowship around the lantern.
Usually in an entire fire season, about 3 million acres burn up. This
year, so far, 2.6 million acres have already burned, and the driest part
of the season is yet to come...August. Pass on to all scouts and
scouters to be specially careful with fire, matches and smokes. With
tongue slightly in cheek, maybe all smokers should be accompanied by
chewers, for extra fire protection (get it? spitting).
Rik Bergethon
Pueblo, CO
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