Sept. 16, 2020
Liz Writes Life
In a surprising turn of events, Scott Valley’s Ray Haupt received a prestigious invitation to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the devastation from wildfires. Ray is Siskiyou County Supervisor for District 5 and is currently serving as vice-chairman on the county supervisors’ board. His expertise in wildfires and (watching) the demise of forest management is extensive and, hopefully, will prove useful for President Trump.
Back in his college days, during the 1970s, Ray graduated with a major in Forestry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and found a career in the U.S. Forest Service. He has been fighting wildfires on-the-ground and in command positions for nearly 50 years. After retiring as ranger for several local U.S. Forest Service Districts, including Scott River, he has been participating on several regional and national forestry groups that are working to affect policy change of the public’s forests. Creating healthy forests with low impact from fires is the goal.
Since he was elected county supervisor in 2014, Ray has been dealing with the destruction from wildfires. Last Tuesday, the Slater Fire destroyed 150 homes in Happy Camp, which is in his district. In July of 2018, there were 31 homes burned during the Klamathon Fire, which is also in his district. Residents have died in both fires. The destruction and loss is vividly long-lasting and feeds his passion to stop the madness.
During the many fires that have occurred, while serving as supervisor, Ray has participated and offered boots-on-the-ground information during daily fire command center meetings. After the Slater Fire attacked Happy Camp on Sept. 8, 2020, Ray and Siskiyou Co. CAO, Angela Davis, were escorted down closed Highway 96 by Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services Director, Jason Vela. Ray said the incineration was worse than he has ever seen. He met with Happy Camp Volunteer Fire Chief Eric Haskell, firefighters, community leaders and at the Forest Service Incident Command Center. So, he is armed with first-hand information.
Because of the deadline of this week’s publication, I do not have a report on Ray’s meeting with President Trump – next week! But, in my observation, it is Ray’s dogged-determination that provided this opportunity to talk directly with President Trump.
For years, Ray has been fervently working to change policies that would save the forests from these huge devastating wildfires. Several years ago, the county sent Ray back to Washington D.C. He prefaced his visit by sending his “Healthy Forest Management” documents to various agencies and White House officials.
He met with the Director of Internal Governmental affairs, which communicates with state, county and city governments and has continued networking with the agency. He also made appointments and met with other officials like Undersecretary of Agriculture, James Hubbard. He also meets often with CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa. It looks like these meetings have proven beneficial.
Ray told me the trip to Happy Camp, last Friday, was extremely sad and so very disheartening. After following-up on local and county issues that needed immediate attention, he wrote a letter (on Saturday) to the Director of Internal Governmental Affairs explaining the dire situation of the county, fire fighters and the many residents who lost homes. He asked for help from the federal government and offered to help with on-the-ground knowledge and wildfire expertise.
Shockingly, on Sunday morning, Ray received an email from this White House agency telling him to be at McClellan Air Force Base at 8 a.m. on Monday for Covid-19 testing and then be escorted by Secret Service to attend a press conference with the Office of Emergency Services and congress-people. Ray was also told there would be a private meeting, where he would be expected to discuss healthy forest management with Trump.
What an incredible opportunity for our county supervisor, who is also a professional California Licensed Forester!
On Saturday, (before the exciting news he would be meeting with President Trump) I interviewed Ray about his guided trip to Happy Camp with the new county Chief Administrative Officer, Angela Davis. He had nothing but praise for the local fire chief, Eric Haskell and all fire fighters. Eric and four local fire fighters lost their homes, but continued to fight the inferno. It was through heroic efforts they were able to save the one grocery store in town and the Karuk Housing development.
The fire is under investigation. It started up on Slater Mountain and the high red-flag-warning winds pushed it hard and fast down through the bone-dry conifers to Happy Camp. Ray said the horrific scene is hard to describe. Only three or four homes survived in the Indian Creek area and those were surrounded by large green pastures and were open with few trees.
As they drove up Indian Creek Road, the wood was charred-off the bridges and power poles burned through with the top-crosses eerily hanging by the wires. Blackened trees bent and frozen by the suction of the fire’s own intense behavior were falling across the road. Etna Police Chief, Josh Short, and several Siskiyou Telephone Company crew members had chain saws and were cutting the trees and limbs out of the road.
At one point, Ray snapped a photo of CAO Angela Davis helping pull the limbs from the roadway. The trees are dead and hazardous -- and there are 1000s of them. Power was still out for the rest of Happy Camp residents as 20 miles of power poles and line were destroyed. Quickly, Pacific Power was trying to restore power to the town and actually brought in a giant generator to utilize at their Happy Camp station. But, the evacuation notice is still in effect, because of the danger.
Ray also praised CAO Davis. She was Deputy CAO of Shasta County, when the Carr Fire hit on July 23, 2018 burning over 1,600 structures, killing eight people and causing over $1.6 billion in damage – much of it in the City of Redding. Davis has literally been through the various “fires” and immediately knew what to do and who to contact to begin helping the county, residents and businesses cut-through the red-tape of bureaucracy.
During this time, Ray is serving as acting chairman of the county supervisors’ board as Chairman Michael Kobseff is out-of-state on a planned trip. After his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ray will be driving the five-hour trip back to Siskiyou to preside over the Sept. 15, 2020 regular supervisors’ board meeting. Yep, it was a busy and, hopefully, productive few days.
Planning
September is “Be Ready and Prepared” month. Between Covid-19 and the fires, all of us should have assessed our food, supplies and storage needs. Make a plan for how to shelter in place and how to evacuate. Write it down. Tell neighbors, friends and family. We never know what might happen next. Do it!
Patriotism
Last Friday, I drove through Fort Jones and Etna and was proud to see all the American flags lining Main Streets in memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 from the terrorist attacks. Thank you!
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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