A local resident looks at the Valley Road fire map during a meeting in Stanley, Oct 05. Photo copyright Lynne Stone.

A community meeting has been set for Monday evening, October 10th, in Stanley for a presentation by the Forest Service regarding rehabilitation efforts on the recent 40,838 acre Valley Road Fire. The meeting will start at 6:00 PM at the Community Center Building in Stanley.

 

“This meeting is open to everyone who has an interest in the Valley Road Fire and what has been and will be done to rehabilitate the burn area,” said Joe Harper, Deputy Area Ranger for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). “The presentation will be made by Terry Hardy. Terry was the lead person for the Burned Area Emergency Response Team.”

 

Hardy’s program will provide information regarding his Team’s assessment of the effects of the fire on natural and cultural resources. “Terry will also share the recommendations that his Team made for various activities that will be employed to rehabilitate portions of the burn area,” Harper stated. “This will be an excellent opportunity for people to learn about the effects of the fire and what is being done in the way of emergency rehabilitation.”

 

Some rehabilitation work has already been done. This involved rehab activities in areas affected by fire suppressions activities, such as the fire camp site, helicopter bases and constructed firelines. “People traveling through the Sawtooth Valley will start to see stacks of straw and equipment being assembled to begin the major rehab work,” Harper stated. “The base location for these activities will be where the fire camp was located, at the junction of the Valley Road and Highway 75.”