NJFFSA16
11-05-2002, 03:00 AM
VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) - The chief of the U.S. Forest Service came
to south Georgia Monday to learn how the state fights fires in the
Okefenokee Swamp.
"My background is in the West, so I need to learn more about
this area, what the problems are and learn what works," Dale
Bosworth said.
Bosworth wanted to know how various interests came together to
fight the Okefenokee fire earlier this year, one that burned more
than 120,000 acres.
The Forest Service manages 192 million acres of National Forest
land, of which nearly 7 million acres burned last year in a series
of highly publicized fires. The Service is continuously searching
for ways to more effectively manage the fires.
After viewing a demonstration of the latest fire fighting
equipment, which was used to successfully battle the swamp blaze,
the group toured Kinderlou, a Langdale property since the early
1940s, to learn how the company manages its resources.
Langdale Company Chairman Harley Langdale said having Bosworth
visit was an honor as its been a number of years since the head of
the forestry service has been to South Georgia.
The group then traveled on to Fargo to meet with members of
GOAL, the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners, to learn
more about their cooperative firefighting efforts in the swamp this
year.
GOAL is comprised of members of the Georgia Forestry Commission,
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forestry Service, the
Florida Forestry Commission, private non-industrial and private
industrial landowners.
"The swamp edge break crosses all their lands, so they're all
involved. When there's a fire in the swamp, they all have the same
goal - to put it out," said Wesley Langdale, vice president of
land management for The Langdale Co.
The costs for fighting the extensive fire were estimated at a
fraction of what it costs to fight a typical forest fire in the
West.
The level of cooperation between the various interests is being
considered as a model for similar organizations in other states.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
to south Georgia Monday to learn how the state fights fires in the
Okefenokee Swamp.
"My background is in the West, so I need to learn more about
this area, what the problems are and learn what works," Dale
Bosworth said.
Bosworth wanted to know how various interests came together to
fight the Okefenokee fire earlier this year, one that burned more
than 120,000 acres.
The Forest Service manages 192 million acres of National Forest
land, of which nearly 7 million acres burned last year in a series
of highly publicized fires. The Service is continuously searching
for ways to more effectively manage the fires.
After viewing a demonstration of the latest fire fighting
equipment, which was used to successfully battle the swamp blaze,
the group toured Kinderlou, a Langdale property since the early
1940s, to learn how the company manages its resources.
Langdale Company Chairman Harley Langdale said having Bosworth
visit was an honor as its been a number of years since the head of
the forestry service has been to South Georgia.
The group then traveled on to Fargo to meet with members of
GOAL, the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners, to learn
more about their cooperative firefighting efforts in the swamp this
year.
GOAL is comprised of members of the Georgia Forestry Commission,
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forestry Service, the
Florida Forestry Commission, private non-industrial and private
industrial landowners.
"The swamp edge break crosses all their lands, so they're all
involved. When there's a fire in the swamp, they all have the same
goal - to put it out," said Wesley Langdale, vice president of
land management for The Langdale Co.
The costs for fighting the extensive fire were estimated at a
fraction of what it costs to fight a typical forest fire in the
West.
The level of cooperation between the various interests is being
considered as a model for similar organizations in other states.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)