After the fire

A beautiful late September day seemed like the ideal setting for another ride to Desert Creek and up over Risue Canyon Road to see some of the damage left behind by the Jackass Fire that ravaged the area. The lightning-caused fire that started the afternoon of July 17, was soon whipped out of control in tinder dry conditions of ancient Piñons and sagebrush.

For three days the uncontrollable fire was blown in all directions by the afternoon thunderstorms and finally the rains accompanied the winds and lightning causing another devastation all its own. The fire had burned through the area so hot, little or no vegetation existed to hold the sandy earth in place at the higher elevations and even though the rains assisted in fire suppression they also caused torrents of water to erode bare earth. Gullies and dry creek beds, once passable on quads and dirt bikes, were gouged depths of 5 to 12 feet, making it almost impossible to even access on foot. The road bed of Risue Canyon Road was all but washed away in several places and, what was once a meandering stream that dried in the summer, became a raging river of silt-laden water.

The U.S. Forest Service was able to do a makeshift job of making the canyon road useable to the public for the remainder of the summer recreation season but there is still a lot of work to be done as the Burned Area Emergency Plan was put into action before the first snows of winter can cover the higher elevations of the Wellington Hills in the Sweetwater Range.

According to Bridgeport District Ranger Cheryl Probert, work is due to begin in a couple of weeks to create water diversions in some of the affected areas. Probert was most amazed by the fact that even though the intense heat of the fire seemed to strip the ground of any sign of life, the area is already showing signs of recovery as the green of new growth springs up around charcoal stubs of sage and other bushes. The natural growth of wild rye, so prevalent in the area, shows little base damage and may return on its own without extensive re-seeding. The bad news for the Sweetwater Association of Cattle permittees is, there will be no grazing available on open range for the next two years as the area makes its recovery.

n In other Sweetwater news, a very "happy birthday" wish goes out to TRE resident Ray Ensign who just dropped in at The Record-Courier to announce he just turned 91. Born Sept., 28, 1915, in Star Prairie, Wis., Ensign has been a resident of TRE on Ruby Court for the past 29 years. I met Ensign last year when he stopped in The Record-Courier to announce he had just turned 90. He then told me he was on his way to Reno to have dinner with a lady friend. I had remembered what he had told me and so I asked him if he was going to celebrate 91 in the same way. With a twinkle in his eye, he assured me he was heading for his date, just like last year, and with the same lady friend. Now that's just not too bad. Happy birthday Ray ... make sure you stop and see us at The Record-Courier next year.

n The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Topaz Post No. 3630 is making plans for its annual Spaghetti Feed from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Park building at the end of Carter Way. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12. There will be a no-host bar, lots of raffle prizes and door prizes of $100 and $200. For information contact Dinale Vaughn 266-4833 or Jacqui Mobley 266-3636.

n Also, tonight, the sounds of the Mark Castro Band will rock the walls at Topaz Joe's Grill and Bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The group is well-known for its classic rock performances with songs from Chuck Berry, Santana, Jeff Beck, Hendrix and The Beatles, just to name a few.

Until next week ... just keep on, keepin' on.

n Jonni Hill can be reached through The Record-Courier at jhill@recordcourier.com or by calling 782-5121, ext. 213, or after hours at JHILL47@aol.com