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HomeMy Public PortalAboutSITPA - Southern Idaho Timber Protective AssociationSITPA receives award The Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association has received an award from the state for firefight- ing efforts in 1992. SITPA received the Excellence in Fire Management Award from the Idaho Department of Lands on Dec. 2 at an annual state - sponsored fire meeting in Coeur d'Alene, said Bill Williams, SITPA fire warden. The award was presented by Stan Hamilton, department of lands direc- tor. The award, a plaque bearing a chrome pulaski, was given in recognition of SITPA's initial fire attack effectiveness, slash hazard management and coordination and cooperation with other firefighting agencies, Williams said. With a full - strength summer staff of 26 members, SITPA battled 58 fires during last summer, Williams said. The largest fire fought was the 65 -acre Crown Point Fire north of Cascade, he said. SITPA carries out wildland fire suppression and slash hazard man- agement over about one -half million acres of state, private and some fed- eral lands in Valley and Adams counties, Williams said. Photo courtesy SITPA This photo from about 1937 shows dignitaries gathered around the newly rebuilt fire lookout on No Business Mountain southwest of McCall. The lookout is still operated by the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Assn. and was rebuilt by the Civilian Conservation Corps. protection agency In 1919, the name of the associa- tion was changed to the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association, with the principal subscribers being the state, the Boise Payette Lumber Co., (formerly the Payette Lumber and Manufacturing Company), and the Barber Lumber Co., along with the federal government. After the Idaho State Forestry Law was enacted in 1925, the number of subscribers was greatly increased by voluntary enrollment of private tim- berland owners. In 1929, the first year an annual report was written, the association had 54 members and protected a total of 1.1 million acres of state and pri- vate land in Ada, Adams, Boise, Elmore, Gem, Idaho and Valley coun- ties. The protection area stretched south to Fairfield, north to Pollock, and west to the Snake River. Today, 65 years later, the association protects 404,851 acres in Adams, Idaho and Valley counties. The association has 62 members with Boise Cascade Cor- p. (formerly the Boise Payette Lumber Co.), and the state being the two larg- est landowners. SITPA provides wildland fire pro- tection for several hundred additional timberland owners. Under contract with the state, the association also protects 121,185 acres of national forest land in Valley and Adams coun- ties. Early Fire Detection Good information is scare on what year the association started building fire lookouts, but a picture exists of East Mountain Lookout taken in 1914. The association eventually con- structed and operated seven lookouts on Brundage Mountain, East Moun- tain, No Business Mountain, Packer John Mountain, Peck Mountain, Shafer Butte, and Sunset Mountain. The lookout crew members in those days were mostly men, but a 1929 photo exists of Mrs. William J. Moore, known as "the Lady Lookout," oper- ating the Shafer Butte Lookout. Most of those lookouts were re- mote from any road, and the lookout person and all supplies had to be trans- ported by pack train. Several of the lookouts, including Brundage Mountain, East Mountain, No Business Mountain, and Packer John Mountain, were rebuilt using log construction during the 1930s by Finnish craftsmen with assistance from the Civilian Conservation Corps program. Today, only Brundage, East, and No Business Lookouts are still in use, and all three are now accessible by primitive roads. Timber BY BILL E. WILLIAMS For The Star -News 6 / 7 7 Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association is celebrating 90 years of protecting private forest lands in west central Idaho. During its existence, the associa- tion has protected hundreds of thousands of acres of timber while maintaining a variety of historic look- outs and buildings in the area. SITPA originally started out in 1904 -1907 as a cooperative effort by four private timber companies, Boise Lumber Co., Barber Lumber Co., A. W. Cook Timber Co. and Payette Lumber and Manufacturing Co. These private companies pooled their log- gers and mill workers to provide fire protection to their timberlands. In 1908, cooperative forest protec- tion was set up under a "gentlemen's agreement" among the timber com- panies, the state and the Boise and Payette national forests. This coop- eration was so satisfactory to all parties that a more formal organization was established. In 1911, the organization was called The Southern Idaho Co- opera- tive Fire Protective Association and consisted of the timber companies, the state, and the Boise, Payette, Idaho and Weiser national forests. Early Fire Fighting From 1914 to 1937, the associa- tion battled 1,520 forest fires, or an average of 63 fires per year, that burned an average of 4,548 acres per year. The highest numberof fires dur- ing that period was 110 in 1917. In 1931 the association had 68 fires, but it was a dry year and 56,345 acres burned. "In 27 years as a firefighter, I never saw anything like this 10 -acre blaze that in nine days burned an entire township (36 square miles)," wrote H.C. Shellworth, then secretary -man- ager for the association, in a SITPA pamphlet about the 1931 fires. In 1931 most firefighting was done by men with shovels, axes, cross cut saws and mule trains, as helicopters, smokejumpers, air tankers, and fire. engines were not yet available. As a comparison, from 1989 through 1993, SITPA fought an aver- age of 59 fires each year. Burned acreage ranged from 5,386 acres in 1989 to 14 acres in 1993, for an aver- age of 1,116 acres per year. Costs have risen as well over the years. In 1929 the association spent $969.20 to suppress 54 forest fires. In 1992 the Crown Point Fire, which burned 60 acres, cost over $100,000 to put out. X. Private Association Protects Forests The picturesque lineup of log buildings at the part of the roadside scene for many years. SITPA headquarters at Smiths Ferry has been a A man who drives a pickup truck out in the forest and makes a career of putting out forest fires is a Forest Ranger. Right? Not necessarily, but Bob Kirk of McCall, Idaho, has about decided that there is no point in confusing the public with details. As Chief Fire Warden of the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association, Bob is responsible for fire protection on some 280,000 paying acres of State and private forestland on- the watersheds of the Payette, Little Salmon and Weiser Rivers. As the lands the Association protects are often adjacent to, or even intermingled with, National Forest lands, the blurred identity is understandable. Because the Association and the National Forests work very closely together on a basis of mutual respect and appreciation, the occasional confusion over who is the real Smokey Bear is more a subject of amusement than operating methods have changed remarkably over the years. In size the Association now protects about 280,000 acres, in contrast to the 1,100,000 acres covered in 1929. Much of the decrease in acreage is due to the Federal and State agencies assuming responsibility for protecting more private land adjacent to Federal land. In addition to his Fire Chief's hat, Kirk wears a Forest War- den's hat. The State of Idaho contracts with the Association to do slash work. In this capacity he is responsible for hazard reduction work — principally slash disposal — on State and private land. The State, in effect, hires the Association to perform hazard reduction on State land. Private landowners pay a slash disposal fee to the State which goes to the Association to pay for hazard reduction. This work is financed be fees paid by the timberland owner or operator as installations at McCall and Smiths Ferry, the Association has look -out buildings at Brun- dage Mountain, East Mountain, No Business Mountain, and Packer John. The Association has five permanent employees and an additional 15 to 17 people during the fire season. Six tanker trucks, a road grader, two crawler tractors, miscellaneous trucks and pickups, and an effective radio communication network provide the mobility necessary to get the job done. The southern Idaho unit is one of two private Associations (the other one is in North Idaho) helping to protect Idaho's forests. They were the pioneers nationally in cooperative forest protection, and the concept is apparently as valid today as it was seventy years ago. . truck out in the forest and makes a career of putting out forest fires is a Forest Ranger. Right? Not necessarily, but Bob Kirk of McCall, Idaho, has about decided that there is no point in confusing the public with details. As Chief Fire Warden of the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association, Bob is responsible for fire protection on some 280,000 paying acres of State and private forestland on- the watersheds of the Payette, Little Salmon and Weiser Rivers. As the lands the Association protects are often adjacent to, or even intermingled with, National Forest lands, the blurred identity is understandable. Because the Association and the National Forests work very closely together on a basis of mutual respect and appreciation, the occasional confusion over who is the real Smokey Bear is more a subject of amusement than concern. Historically the Association and the two adjacent National Forests are almost con- temporaries and their original objectives similar. Forest protection was, and still is, the nearly exclusive preoc- cupation of the Association. Although the National Forests have always had much broader responsibilities, review of the available records indicates that forest protection — or more properly, watershed protection — taxed the meager resources of the fledgling Forests for many years, allowing few opportunities for other activities. The Association recognized early that there is more to forest protection than putting out fires. The 1922 Annual Report mentions several forest insects and diseases (including the Tussock moth) that were damaging the forest and, in some cases, credits timely cutting with preventing more serious damage. Somewhat surprising is the early preoccupation with public information and education. Annual Reports from the 1920s and 1930s deal extensively with the importance of providing forest visitors with background information. One of the ad- vantages of better roads is that more people will get out in the forest and see what is going on, according to these reports. Discussing the objective, "Keep Idaho Green," the following timely statement is made in the 1929 Annual Report: "The hazard is heavy. Ill con- sidered (though not ill - intentioned) acts or attitudes may result in arousing harmful or unfair prejudices — prejudices more deadly to forestry than the grassland fires, or the desert bred lightning storms that run into the forest from avid sagebrush lands." Although the basic objective of the Association is unchanged, remarKawy over Lne years. In size the Association n protects about 280,000 acres, contrast to the 1,100,000 ac covered in 1929. Much of t decrease in acreage is due to the Federal and State agencies assuming responsibility for protecting more private land adjacent to Federal land. In addition to his Fire Chief's hat, Kirk wears a Forest War- den's hat. The State of Idaho contracts with the Association to do slash work. In this capacity he is responsible for hazard reduction work — principally slash disposal — on State and private land. The State, in effect, hires the Association to perform hazard reduction on State land. Private landowners pay a slash disposal fee to the State which goes to the Association to pay for hazard reduction. This work is financed be fees paid by the timberland owner or operator as the timber is cut. This money (currently $3.00 per thousand board feet of timber cut) nor- mally finances all hazard abatement activities. In some instances the lan- downer may contract with the Forest Warden to have additional work done on a cost basis. With all costs climbing steadily it is becoming increasingly difficult to do an adequate slash disposal job at the $3.00M rate. The two functions — fire control, which includes road maintenance and maintenance of facilities, and hazard reduction — are performed by the same crew, using some jointly owned equipment. The efficiency of this system is indicated by the fact that only about 10 acres have been burned over on the average annually during the past five years. This burned -over acreage contrasts with an average of 4500 acres burned annually from 1914 to 1937. The fire occurrence is fairly constant, averaging 63 per year from 1917 to 1937. In 1972, 69 fires were reported. Apparently better access, better methods and better equipment have enabled the Association to almost eliminate large fires. Despite the encouraging statistics, the Association's fire control job is becoming more difficult every year. Although the public is generally very fire conscious, the simple fact is that there are many more people out in the forest and this inevitably increases the probability of man - caused fires occurring. Proliferating recreational developments in forested areas mean more flammable material, more people, and greatly in- creased fire risks. Considering the size and complexity of its assignments, the physical resources of the Association are not too im- pressive. In addition to the headquarters i ow has look -out buildings at Brun - in dage Mountain, East Mountain, res No Business Mountain, and he Packer John. The Association has five permanent employees and an additional 15 to 17 people during the fire season. Six tanker trucks, a road grader, two crawler tractors, miscellaneous trucks and pickups, and an effective radio communication network provide the mobility necessary to get the job done. The southern Idaho unit is one of two private Associations (the other one is in North Idaho) helping to protect Idaho's forests. They were the pioneers nationally in cooperative forest protection, and the concept is apparently as valid today as it was seventy years ago. . Martin J. Heikkila ._ Services for Martin J. Heikkila, 86,. of Baker City, Ore. formerly of the Nampa - Caldwell area, who passed away Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997, in a Baker City hos- pital of natural . causes will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 1997 at the Heikkila Fu- neral Chapel, Mc- Call, with Pastor Karen Slotta of the Baker United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Finnish Cemetery. Martin was born May 9, 1911 at the Heikkila homestead on Farm To Mar- ket Road near McCall, to Peter and Liisa Heikkila, Finnish Pioneers of Long Valley. He attended Wood Grove and Elo Schools. He married Hilda Kantola, June 29, 1939 in Emmett, Idaho and together they raised three children. He worked for the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association, building the Fire Warden's home and other SIPTA buildings in McCall and Smiths Ferry. He builtthree of the Long Valley Lookouts, all jobs he was ex- tremely proud of. Hilda and Martin moved from Mc- Call to the Sweet- Montour area in 1954 and went to work for the Hoff Lumber Company in Horseshoe Bend. He was a self taught mechanic and machinist and loved his work at the mill. Hilda passed away in Novem- ber of 1959 and he married Dorothy Mabee Hackenberg in June of 1962. Martin retired from Hoff Lumber Com- pany as their head machinist in 1976. During his retirement, he enjoyed camping, fishing and working in his shop. He moved to Baker City, early this year, to be lovingly cared forby his daughter, Bernice and her husband Gib. Martin was always very proud of his Finnish heritage. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Of Boise; his daughter and son -in -law, Bernice and Gib Walker of Baker City, Ore.; son and daughter -in -law, Mary and Karen Heikkila, McCall; brother, Ray Heikkila of Lovelock, Nev.; and sister and brother -in -law, Edna and Ed Maki of Horseshoe Bend, three stepchildren; six grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and 17 great - grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hilda; daughter, Irene; three brothers; a twin sister; and a grandson, Barry. Memorials may be made to the Finnish Church, c/o Hazel Ruska, 1385 Elo Road, McCall, Idaho 83638. SITPA chief warns of intense fire year Dryness levels up, as are reported fires so far on private forests BY TECLA MARKOSKY The Star -News In light of the recent blazes in bordering states, the chief of the Southern Idaho Timber Protec- tive Association has little doubt McCall will experience an intense fire season this year. "We're a month ahead in terms of normal seasonal drying," SITPA Fire Warden Mark Woods said. "Moisture is only 67 percent of normal. This year is unusual. We had nine fires in May The usual is two to four." To prepare for the expected heavy fire season, SITPA has staged equipment at both offices in McCall and Cascade. A total of 12 seasonal firefight- ers have been through fire season and divided between Cascade and McCall. Three lookouts have been posi- tioned on Brundage, No Business mountain and Tripod mountains. Together, theyfunction as SITPAs primary detection system in ad- dition to the public. In addition to patrolling local areas for fire, SITPA distributes and controls burn permits. SITPA has suspended all burn permits this week in preparation for the increased volume of visitors in the area. Normally, burn permits can be obtained from the McCall SITPA office free of charge. "Burn permits are important because when one of ourlookouts see smoke, the first thing they do is look at the permit list," Fire- fighter Alan Wright said. "They save a lot of time and money." SITPA predates the Forest Service and was originally cre- ated by timber companies and private land owners to protect their property. Today, SITPA is a state - agency that protects over 400,000 acres in the Long Valley area. SITPA only protects wildland but often works with local federal agencies. "We call it cooperative forest management," Woods said. "We work to the same stan- dards, perform the same jobs and use the same tools," he said. "The only difference is the color of our trucks. Theirs are green, ours are red." Star -News Photo by Tecla Markosky From left, Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association firefighters Alan Wright, Jason Hoffman, Daniel Potter and Jacob Perry check their equipment in preparation for a heavy wildfire season. and Health The StarNews page 1 of 1 Fire restrictions lifted; SITPA still withholds permits Restrictions on campfires in the area were lifted on Wednesday, but local residents still not be able to obtain an open - burning permits. The fire restrictions imposed on Aug. 1 were lifted due to cooler weather and lower wildfire dangers. Lifting the restrictions means the public is free to build a campfire, use a charcoal barbecue or sheepherder stove on public lands. However, the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association will still hold off on resuming the issuing of burning permits, SITPA Chief Fire Warden Mark Woods said. "With the high number of lightning strikes that occurred late last week and the warming and drying weather, we are experiencing now the potential for holdover lightning fires remains high," Woods said. Bum permits are required for all buming outside of city limits from May 10 through October 20. hnp: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /info _page.php 9/12/2013 Star -News News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 Stump named new fire warden for Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association BY TOM GROTE for The Star-News A veteran of firefighting management has been named as the new fire warden of the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association. Ken Stump takes over for former fire warden Mark Woods, who retired. Stump, 60, has held fire and aviation management positions in California, Oregon, Montana, Hawaii and Alaska. He was worked for the Idaho Department of lands, the Alaska Division of Forestry, Office of Aircraft Services and the Forest Service. Ken stump "I look forward to serving the employees, land owners and communities within the SITPA fire protection district," Stump said. "I enjoy the relationships and teamwork associated with meeting the wlldland fire protection challenges." The association is a private, non -profit corporation founded in 1904 to provide fire protection for owners of forests and range land. The association protects more than 411,000 acres of forested land spread over parts of Valley, Adams, Idaho and Boise counties. Private land accounts for about 200,000 of the total. Potlatch Forest Holdings and the State of Idaho are the association's two largest member landowners. SITPA firefighters responded to 30 fires last year, which was below the five -year average of 36 fires. Of that total, 20 fires were caused by lightning, six were from escaped campfires and two were from open burning that got out of control. The association has five permanent employees and hires between 18 and 20 temporary workers during the fire season. The association has its headquarters in McCall and dispatches firefighting equipment from state - owned yards in McCall and Cascade. Equipment includes four fire engines, two water tenders, three excavators, two bulldozers and three forklifts. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /groups _page.php 4/21/2016 Star -News News Groups Page FUTURE FIREFIGHTER - Nicholas Monnot, q, of Boise, shows his delight in operating a fire hose on Saturday with assistance from Andy Barsness of the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association. The lesson in firefighting was part of the -rake It Outside" event held at the Northwest Passage Pond at Ponderosa State Park and sponsored by the Payette Children's Forest. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /groups _page.php 7/14/2016