04/16/07 Fire danger; roadless comments

The experts who monitor the situation think this could be a long, hot, dry summer in parts of Idaho and Oregon and that means an increased fire danger. Acting BLM Director Jim Hughes says the fire season normally starts first in southern California and Nevada. HUGHES "Its sort of a swath stretching from eastern Oregon across southern Idaho into Wyoming and southern Montana appear to be at risk for an active fire season. The March winter snowpack in general has been below. But Hughes says there is still plenty of cheat grass and other potential fuels. HUGHES "A dry wind in the West can dry things out real quick and make it real susceptible to fires caused by lightning and unfortunately in some cases human activities." One other note. You have less than a month to comment on the environmental assessment of Idaho's roadless areas. The state of Idaho has petitioned the US Forest Service for the management of more than nine million acres of roadless national forest land. More than a half million acres would be opened up to road building, logging and mining. The timber industry supports the Idaho plan but some conservation groups do not. Governor Butch Otter is encouraging Idahoans to weigh in on the plan and look for public meetings on the proposal to be held at a later date. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott