July 15--GLENNS FERRY -- There isn't much to say about the 5-acre fire that burned on John Solosabal's property.
Lightning struck, smoke rose and flames erupted. Yet the wildfire destined to spread across the dry and windy rangeland never got to its goal. That's what makes it remarkable.
Solosabal is a member of the Saylor Creek RangelandFire Protection Association. Its one of several recently formed associations made up of professionally trained ranchers who are allowed to engage in initial wildfire suppression on public lands.
The groups give ranchers an opportunity to keep flames to a minimum even as this year's wildfire season is expected to reach record levels.
Three associations have formed in the Magic Valley, with more expected to be approved next year.
When Solosabal saw dark skies and heard thunder on July 5, he already was anticipating flames. The nearest firefighter engine was almost an hour from his ranch just south of Glenns Ferry, and he needed to keep the surrounding grazeland from going up in smoke.
"We make it a practice to have somebody out watching," he said. "Last Friday, it was my turn. We had a lot of lightning, and all of a sudden smoke showed up."
Solosabal immediately contacted the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to let them know flames were on the ground. He then rounded up help to get a tractor and disc out to the wildfire. The small group of ranchers used the disc to dig a line around the fire, containing the flames in one place, before BLMfirefighters got to the scene.
"The fire was out before they got here," Solosabal said. "It wasn't anything out of the ordinary."
The fire remained small because Solosabal and his men were able to respond within the first 10 minutes, said BLMspokesman Josh Olsen
"The fire didn't get very big," Olsen said. "Which is a good thing. That's what these groups are designed to do."
Earlier this year, Gov. C.L."Butch"Otter approved a $400,000 appropriation to help train and form rangeland fire protection associations across the state. After taking online and hands-on training with the BLM, ranchers were given radios and permission to respond to wildfires on public lands.
Before the associations won approval, ranchers were prohibited from suppressing wildfires on public land. They had to wait and watch valuable rangelands go up in smoke. Agencies such as the BLMconsidered it a big liability to allow private citizens to respond to wildfires on public land.
This year, ranchers and the BLM have formed a partnership to share their knowledge of the land and rely on the agency's resources.
"It's nice to have a radio and let them (BLM)know if a fire is more than we can handle," Solosabal said. "Maybe if we need an airdrop, we can communicate that need. It's a very good thing. Now we have coordination."
Copyright 2013 - The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho
