October 2, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: David Gates, Operations Division, at 234-6201 or Jerry Sepich, Parks and Recreation Director, at 232-3901

SACAJAWEA PARK WILDLAND REJUVENATION AND LIVE FIRE TRAINING
Trial Joint Fire Project Will Be Held October 6, 2008

Weather permitting, Monday, October 6, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the City of Pocatello will have a trial “live fire training project” at Sacajawea Park. This project is a joint venture between various City departments: Parks and Recreation, Environmental Control, Urban Forestry, and the Fire Department. The outcome of this trial fire training will be used to plan future trainings and habit and vegetation restoration.

Sacajawea Park has a significant amount of noxious weeds, heavy undergrowth, and large amounts of dead vegetation, which pose several problems. The aesthetic beauty of the environment is adversely affected by the heavy and dead vegetation. Heavy vegetation greatly complicates the abatement process of noxious weeds. There is also a concern that the heavy cover could pose a potential safety issue for park visitors. In addition, the large fire load, caused by the undergrowth and dead fall, greatly increases the potential for a significant fire. The extensive heat caused by large fires, as witnessed across the nation, is destroying all vegetation and sterilizing the soil several inches below ground resulting in extensive rehabilitation time.

The City is testing a plan to remedy all of these issues through a series of controlled live fire trainings conducted by area fire agencies. This controlled burn will provide essential wildland training and interagency coordination, while reducing the heavy under growth, help abate noxious weeds, and lessen the risk of a catastrophic fire.

To ensure the safety of both the public and the firefighters, Sacajawea Park would be closed during the actual burn training but would re-open upon conclusion of each day’s operation. The public can expect heavy smoke in the area during the actual trainings and park visitors can expect a strong odor of fire and blackened ground for a period of time following the burns. New growth may be expected within 2 to 3 weeks depending on the weather.

For more information or to submit comments about the “live fire training project,” please contact the Pocatello Fire Department at 234-6201 or the Parks and Recreation Department at 232-3901.

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