Forest Service works to prevent another disaster

CONTINUE TO MOP UP THE BIG SPRING FIRE- THE FOCUS IS CHANGING FROM FIRES– TO FLOODING FOREST OFFICIALS WORKING JUST SOUTH ON THE SAME MOUNTAIN — ARE HOPING TO PREVENT MORE DEVASTATION BEFORE THE MONSOONS SWEEP THROUGH GADI SCHWARTZ JUST GOT BACK FROM THE EAST MOUNTAINS HE JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS WHEN YOU THINK OF FIGHTING FOREST FIRES YOU THINK OF- BULLDOZERS WORKING IN THE SOOT AND SMOKE HOT SHOT CREWS WITH SHOVELS- AND FIRE TANKERS FLYING ABOVE BUT TODAY FORREST OFFICIALS HAVE ARMED THEMSELVES WITH THOUSANDS OF TONS- OF HAY AT THE TOP OF CROWS PEAK- THERE IS A MOUNTAIN OF HAY- WAITING TO TAKE TO THE SKY 26 27 the straw as you can see is being spread about 2000 pounds per acre THAT MEANS THIS CHOPPER IS DROPPING HAY BOMBS ON THE BURNED MOUNTAIN SIDE ALMOST EVERY 5 MINUTES LEAVING GOLDEN SLOPES COVERED WITH PROTECTIVE STRAW 26 54 hopefully the monsoons will arrive in season and we will have grass here shortly BUT IF THE MONSOONS ARRIVE TOO SOON- 30 19 the canyons down here would literally turn into a raging torrent of water and produce some pretty tremendous effects to down stream private properties FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE USING THE STRAW TO PROTECT SEED MIXES THEY DROPPED LAST WEEK IF THEY DON T GET SOMETHING GROWING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS- THE TOP SOIL COULD BE GONE FOR CENTURIES SO FAR LITTLE SPROUTS OF OAK- SEEM TO BE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE 35 50- oak has the ability to sprout back from its roots unfortunately the ponderosa pine and the pinon in this area will not 36 33 your looking at probably 100 years before you see trees like you did here before the fire TONIGHT THE TOWN OF MONZANO WILL HOLD A MEETING AT 7 00 TO TALK ABOUT WHAT RESIDENTS CAN DO TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION BEFORE THE MONSOONS HITS THE EAST MOUNTAINS BACK TO YOU