My Spearfish neighbors have been casting a nervous eye toward smoke on Crow Peak. Lightning Saturday sparked a fire that has burned 125 acres on the rugged west side of the westerly jewel in the Queen City's crown.
We get all hopped up on images of brave firefighters risking the heat to battle Nature. But expert outdoorsman Larry Kurtz wonders if all that effort is necessary:
Winds are out of the southeast as is typical for the season, moving the fire into oak and aspen breaks where it slows. There are no structures threatened anywhere near the burn zone where decades of slash and overgrowth burden aspen restoration in there.
Dozers reopened an old road and the scar will be visible on the north face for years to come: gawd.
Cooler temperatures and some rain are forecast for the next few days: let 'er burn [Larry Kurtz, "Crow Peak Fire: Let It Burn," Interested Party, 2012.06.26].
I've seen that west side: there's not much out there but a darn fine view of Wyoming. Could we do more for the health of the forest by doing less?
One challenge is that when unscheduled fire moves onto private ground it becomes a liability issue and triggers immediate response. There really is no place for this fire to go but to burn itself out.
Typical of the RCPD shoot to kill cougar response: paranoia guides reactions, not science.
For you praying people: get on it for Colorado Springs.
Yes, every winter the forest service should create large controlled burns. If you go through burn sites immediately following a fire you can see how the flora has adapted to burn cycles. Mhill in rapid is a great example. This spring the east side burned and now it's absolutely gorgeous.
Update: "Firefighter priorities are to provide for firefighter and public safety, protect heritage resources, and keep the fire from advancing to the west. The management strategy for the Crow Peak fire is full containment with aggressive suppression." Inciweb.
Kinda like rolling the rock back up the hill so we can put more stuff in its way for next time.
I hope this fire kills some more mountain lions, or chases them into the city where they have to be put down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPXVGQnJm0w
Peace be among you, South Dakota.