n a r r a t i v e : the rattle fire 2008

to be distributed by
the umpqua national forest
spring 2009

image of the illahee lookout taken by robert cunningham,
fire management officer of the diamond lake ranger district.
august 2008. image is unedited.

Preface

“ We don’t call it wildfire for nothing.”
Alexis West, Public Information Officer

Every fire is unique. Every fire is a particular alignment of predominant wind patterns, local terrain, specific fuel types localized weather patterns and humidity cycles. Add to this natural variety two small communities nestled in deep woods on either side of the fire, a two-lane access road to major tourist destinations, and an enclave of hydroelectric power stations on three different streams. Make the backdrop of this fire a Wilderness with slopes covered with six-year-old fire blackened snags in a crazy, steep Wilderness and you can imagine the moving parts of the Rattle Fire. Throw across this spicy mix a lightning complex that ignited over 100 fires and you have a grounded idea of the complexity of the Rattle Fire.

youtube.com: RattleMeYeah:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt4_uZXhgwI