| Governor Nomex?
(Note: This is a 'two-for-one,' two gems penned by the inspired pen, total honesty and indomitable spirit of Washington State Legislator Joel Kretz.)
August 24 and September 5, 2006
Okanogan, Washington
Each day brings a new total number of acres burned, with the Tripod Complex fire now topping 133,000 acres, and the Forest Service still assuring us that we're right where we want to be. But rest easy folks -- the governor touched down in Conconully Wednesday (August 23) for a brief photo op and news conference. Resplendent in her new yellow Nomex fireproof shirt, the governor gave a brief but courageous statement with the cameras rolling -- but ducked out pretty quickly when some unscripted questions started to fly. It seems there was a bigger news conference scheduled for Spokane with better Associated Press coverage. Besides, twenty minutes in this derned smoke gets really irritating. The governor did manage to declare a statewide fire emergency after what -- nearly a month of Okanogan County infernos? I am glad she noticed. You know folks, that bright yellow Nomex shirt really stands out against a carefully staged backdrop playing on the Seattle evening news. In fact, that bright yellow Nomex shirt fairly exudes concern, caring and compassion for the rural unwashed, er, uneducated, uh, unelected, I mean, unfortunate. But I feel compelled to point out that -- had the governor gotten anywhere close to the actual fire -- that bright yellow Nomex shirt wouldn't have done her much good with her non-yellow, non-Nomex, non-fireproof black slacks and suburban-style hiking boots. Yes folks, if, God forbid, the governor had ventured too close to the fire, that bright yellow Nomex fireproof shirt might have helped a little, but not a lot. I guess the moral of the story is: It’s better to have a half-baked governor than no governor at all.
One week later
The governor recently declared a statewide wildfire emergency. What a relief; I know I'm sleeping better. What could have inspired that declaration? The Tripod fires been burning since early July, so why now? It appears it took the tragic Carbon Copy fire to jolt the governor enough to “wake up and smell the smoke.” What is it about the Carbon Copy fire that finally fired up the governor? It’s not big, it’s not growing fast, no fatalities. What it is, is that it’s on the west side of Mount Rainier and is visible from Olympia and Tacoma. I can assure you the Forest Service isn't making any silly statements about “this is Mother Nature's way, so let’er burn.” Nope, they're taking this one seriously -- and might even put it out. Just for fun, let’s make some comparisons in Forest Service reactions between the Carbon Copy and Tripod fires. Both are burning in 'old growth forest.' On the Tripod, it’s “Mother Nature's way.” On the Carbon Copy, it’s the “Mother of All Fires, and we've got to stop this inferno.” On the Tripod, there are 1,744 firefighters battling a 140,000-acre blaze -- about one firefighter to eighty acres. The Carbon Copy has burned 162 acres with 242 firefighters on the scene, or one firefighter for each little more than half-acre. Does that tell you anything about priorities? I'm really trying to figure this out. I mean, it seems like anyone that's ever smelled Tacoma would be glad to smell a little honest wood smoke. At low tide, Olympia doesn't smell too good, either -- or for that matter, when the legislature’s in session. Could it be that a little wisp of smoke in Olympia could convince the governor to declare a statewide wildfire emergency? Or do you think she’s just blowing smoke?
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