PORT ANGELES — The temporary fireworks stands popping up in parking lots and empty lots on the Olympic Peninsula are a sign for most people that the Fourth of July is almost here.
For Jeff Bortner, Olympic National Park’s interagency fire management officer, their appearance signals the start of the wildfire season that runs from July through September.
Wildfire management is a key responsibility of the National Park Service, and the focus isn’t necessarily saving trees.
“Our No. 1 priority is the safety of our fire crews and the public,” said Bortner, who oversees wildfire preparedness, prevention and suppression at the nearly 1 million-acre park, as well as supervises and trains permanent and seasonal park fire staff.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which coordinates wildfire responses, the Northwest currently has a preparedness level of 2 on its scale that ranges from 1, the lowest, to 5, the highest.
“This means it’s above average for large and costly fires,” Bortner said.
The park follows the National Weather Service fire weather map and the U.S. Drought Monitor to stay on top of changing conditions.
The forecast is for a summer than will be drier and hotter than average, creating ideal conditions for increased fire risk.
It isn’t unusual for Olympic National Park to experience lightning strikes at its highest elevations during the summer that can cause wildfires, Bortner said.
Throughout the season, he will watch for smoke columns, track lightning strikes and, if necessary, make observation flights in an aircraft provided by another fire agency. The park does not have its own.
It’s more difficult, though, to keep an eye on park visitors who create most of the problems.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, nearly nine out of 10 of wildfires in the U.S. every year are caused by humans doing things like leaving campfires unattended or unextinguished, tossing away cigarettes and not securing metal safety chains on trailers so they drag on the pavement and create sparks.
People underestimate how little it takes to start a fire and how fast it can spread.
“Within seconds,” Bortner said.
Some seem to believe that activities near water are less risky. Setting off fireworks near lakes, for example.
People still want to celebrate American independence with pyrotechnics, even though they’re illegal in all national parks, all National Forest System and all state Department of Natural Resources-manged lands.
“They pick a scenic spot by a lake and set off fireworks,” Bortner said. “A spark can easily reach a faraway tree.”
Managing fire is a year-round job for the 26-person Olympic National Park firefighting team.
They have been called out during the winter when the mountains are covered with snow to put out campfires left behind by hikers.
“We are always on call,” Bortner said.
The park’s team also works with other agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the DNR, sharing firefighters and equipment when they aren’t needed for an Olympic National Park mission.
“It’s a collaborative process,” Bortner said. “No fire agency can do it all on their own.”
That could mean lending a hand to local fire districts or to anywhere in the world where their assistance is needed.
Already this year, Bortner has been on fire missions to Guam and Tennessee.
Engine captain Paul Staley recently returned from fighting a fire in California’s Modoc National Forest.
With wildfires becoming more frequent and intense, mitigating those caused by humans becomes more critical for many reasons. For one thing, they’re not just destructive, they put a tremendous strain on park staff.
Firefighters on a handcrew who have to hike 9 to 12 miles to reach and extinguish a smoldering campfire — each carrying a 35-pound backpack, a three-day supply of food and water, as well as Pulaski axe, chainsaw and other gear — can’t exactly hustle to a natural lightning fire in another area of the park.
“There is a limit to our resources, which is why we encourage people to be careful,” Bortner said.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com
Basic wildfire
• Pay attention to weather and drought conditions — if they aren’t right, choose an activity that doesn’t involve a flame.
• Completely extinguish a campfire by pouring water over it, making a slurry with some dirt and stirring until it’s the consistency of a mud pie. Don’t cover it with dirt and walk away. That can actually hold the heat inside.
• Don’t throw cigarettes on the ground — extinguish completely and discard in a metal bin or container.
• Check the tires, bearings, axles and safety chains on vehicles and trailers to make sure they’re working properly and can’t create sparks.
• No fireworks at any time.
For more information:
Best practices for campfires in national forests: Prevention How-Tos from Smokey Bear.
Campfire regulations in Olympic National Park: Superintendent’s Compendium – Olympic National Park.
If you see or suspect fire in the park, call 911.
Engine Captain Paul Staley closes a compartment on a new fire engine acquired by Olympic National Park for fighting wildland fires. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
