Removing hazards left by fire

Three years ago, flames from five fires that made up the Clearwater Complex burned more than 50,000 acres in the Kamiah area, destroying more than 40 homes and leaving countless trees barely standing or completely collapsed.

ITD operations crews were on alert then, ready to close routes when necessary to protect the traveling public, but since then they have turned their attention to clearing roadside hazards left by the fires.

This summer, Orofino maintenance foreman Blake Thompson coordinated with the Idaho Department of Correction—which manages a facility in town—to remove dead trees from previously scorched slopes along US-12.

ITD routinely relies on a group of inmates to address maintenance concerns like weed -eating, but last month the department was able to use 12 inmates over two weeks to clear five miles.

“We didn’t have enough people to do what we wanted to do, so we worked with inmates to get the job done,” D2 transportation tech. Eve Arneson said. “It’s a hilly area, so it’s not about clearing trees within a certain distance, but about removing trees that had the potential to fall on the road.”

The inmates involved were supervised by an IDOC officer and had prior experience with tree removal. They were able to flag the area while ITD workers hauled some trees to local sites frequented by those looking for easy firewood.

“Partnering with the IDOC allows us to supplement our crews at a minimal cost to the taxpayers,” Thompson said. “It’s something we do every year, and this year we were able to get this done.”

Published 11-16-18