Fire threats in Boundary, Los Alamos similar

By KATHY NUSSBERGER

Managing Editor

Volunteer firefighters and local officials from across the County will attend a Wildland Urban Interface fire training tomorrow conducted by Los Angeles Deputy Fire Chief Doug Tucker at the Kootenai River Inn. The presentation will start at 8 a.m., and last approximately three and a half hours.

Tucker was the operations chief during the Cerro Grande 17 day firestorm that destroyed 48 buildings at the Los Alamos National Lab, in Los Alamos, N.M., and the total loss of 239 residences in May 2000.

South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser explained how Tucker's presentation shows that the threat of a major firestorm in Boundary County is not a matter of 'if it will happen,' it is about being prepared 'when it happens.'

"One of the things I noticed about Tucker's lecture on Los Alamos was the strong similarity between the fire conditions there before the 2000 fire, and how much worse our fire conditions are here in Boundary County," Rohrwasser said. "The pictures Tucker presents in his lecture includes before and after photos of the surrounding area of Los Alamos, and it struck me how similar the before photos of Los Alamos were to our current conditions. If anything, our situation is much worse."

Rohrwasser said South Boundary Fire invited Tucker to do his presentation on the Cerro Grande fire, which began as a small controlled burn that also took out 48,000 acres and burned out over 429 families .

"I asked Tucker to focus his lecture on the similarities between our area and theirs. Lessons learned, what worked and what didn't, and what we need to do to prepare for when it hits us. This is presented with a special focus toward the local county commissioners, fire district commissioners, fire chiefs, law enforcement administration, disaster services personnel and members of the public. If there is anyone connected with LEPC, Emergency Services, Fire, etc., please let me know the names and numbers by today, and we will reserve you a seat."

Tucker has dedicated 37 years to firefighting, beginning in 1969 when he decided to chase his dream and joined the Phoenix Fire Department in Arizona. "He received the Phoenix Fire Department Award of Merit for his development, training and dedication to the High Angle & Technical Rescue Team," Rohrwasser explained. "He also developed and led the SWAT-Medic Team, the Critical Stress Debriefing Team and received the Paramedic of the Year award."

Tucker retired as Division Chief in 1994 to become the Assistant Chief of Operations for the LAFD. "He was promoted to Deputy Chief in 1996 and continues to serve their department with the same dedication to duty he has always given to the fire service."

After the Cerro Grande Fire, Tucker received a Los Alamos Achievement Award for the actions he took before the fire to mitigate the threat of wildfire.