On Friday July 2 at approximately 1:00 p.m. a vegetation management burn by the Bureau of Land Management on Old Lewiston Rd. in Lewiston California went out of control.  Sweeping through the Lewiston area with incredible speed.  Some 23 homes and close to 2000 acres were burned.  The fire was set as an attempt to rid the control area of star thistle.  All us locals are still trying to figure out why any one in their right mind would of conducted a control burn with the high gusty winds on Friday July 2.
The fire fighters did a remarkable job saving as many houses as they did.
"I apologize for this. It just happens sometimes," said  Doug Held, who was in charge of the Bureau of Land Management control burn fire "I think we're going to have to re-evaluate our prescription burn program."
The July 2 burn came a day after the California Department of Forestry burn permit had expired. The Trinity Journal reports that Dave Grossman who was assigned to help control the burn from the Forest Service in Big Bar arrived thinking everyone would be sent home.  Dave Grossman said he questioned Doug Held: "You're actually going to burn with all this much wind?"
It was an obvious bad decision -- also see the news links for online Record Searchlight article on Meteorologist warned BLM.
July 26,1999 BLM Admits Procedures Not Followed
Now that BLM has admitted errors -- they have become the communities biggest ally in pushing for the Department of Justice not to assert immunity.
There is also a serious question about fire being a safe way to control star thistle when there are more effective ways:
Report on star thistle control by Trinity County Resource Conservation District
Dremann's Species Threshold Test And Yellow Star Thistle Control
Weedfeeders Information by Cornel University
 

At one time there where over 2000 + fire fighters, more than 120 fire engines, 44+ fire crews, 120 fire engines, 15 helicopters, and 20 bull dozers working on the fire.  We at Shirt Magic thank with all of our hearts the brave fire fighters who participated in battling this difficult fire.
This page is to be a vent and information center for those of us who have experienced this inexcusable fire. 
 

LEWISTON LOCAL NEWS AND MESSAGES:

August 22 Lewiston Day of Thanks

Notice!
There has been looting from the burned out home sites!
Know your neighbors and report any suspicious persons or activity that seems out of place.
We as a community must stand together and look out for one another.
Please help stop this crime.
 

Friday July 30th - Official notice from Department of Justice they will not assert immunity

Thursday July 29th
- Supervisor Chris Erikson - says word is official "Justice Department is not going to assert immunity"
Jim Anger of BLM in Sacramento says they have been told by the Department of Justice that they are not going to assert immunity.  They have nothing in writing at this point...
Congressman Wally Hergers office says they have heard same thing but also have nothing in writing yet...

July 26th meeting at the Lewiston School results see:
        July 26,1999 BLM Admits Procedures Not Followed
        SBA Declares Disaster allowing low interest loans for fire victims
              Department of Justice has yet to state if they plan to assert immunity!!!
 

The way claims are paid and approved:
to $2500 BLM
to 25,000 Solicitors Office - Department of Interior
25,000 + to the Department of Justice
 

July 14 -  I spoke with BLM in Sacramento 1-888-830-3473.  They were informative and       helpful.  They said that one has up to two years to file a claim.  This leaves open the possibilities for claims on damage caused by flooding as a direct result of the fire.  They told me the Federal Law 28 CFR Chapter 1 - covers this information.  I was able to find this on the net. Federal Law 28 CFR Chapter 1 Section 14
See also Tort Claims Procedure Law U.S. Title 28 Chapter 171
BLM now has more information about claims up on their web site.
BLM California Web Site

There is a big concern about the devaluation of property in the Lewiston area due to flood risks created by the fire.  A question has been raised as to if BLM is liable for these devaluation losses -- and will they in turn be liable for any losses due to flooding caused by lack of vegetation?  We shall do some research and see what answers we get...  Anyone who has any input or knowledge in this area is welcome to respond...

A fund has been started for fire victims. It is the Lewiston Fire Relief Fund at Humboldt Bank in Weaverville, California.  Lewiston Fire Relief Fund, c/o Humboldt Bank, PO Box 220, Weaverville, CA 96093.  For questions regarding the fund, callers may contact Katie Quinn at (530) 778-3307 or   deardorff@snowcrest.net

BUREAU OF LAND  MANAGEMENT  CLAIMS UNIT  IS NOW LOCATED AT THE
REDDING FIELD OFFICE  355 HEMSTED DRIVE, REDDING  (530) 224-2100
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Monday through Friday

BLM - Bureau of Land Management Field Office 530-224-2153
 

Shirt Magic is currently producing and printing a T-shirt with all proceeds going to a fund for the fire victims.  We are donating all labor, inks and misc. items to print.  T-shirts are being passed on at our cost.  There are other fire shirts on the market.  This is the only one that has all the proceeds donated to the fire victims fund.
THE FUND IS NOW CLOSED... WE WILL STILL TAKE ORDERS FOR THE SHIRTS...
We have a very few natural color 100% cotton T-shirts left S-M for $12.00 and kids medium for $12.00 + 5.00 shipping.
All shirts are printed here in Lewiston with non-toxic water base inks.
The T-shirts were available at Plug and Jug,  Country Peddler, and the Hardware Store in Lewiston,  Mountain Market in Weaverville. Now avaliable only by phone from Shirt Magic.  Over $2400 has been raised by sale of the shirts for the Fire Victims Fund.  A picture of the shirt has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle.   Special thanks to Gary and Gloria at Plug and Jug, to Lee and Carol at the Hardware Store, Terri and Rich at the Country Peddler,  Drew and Angel at the Mountain Market and to Sherrill Lyle for her help on gathering information and stories.
Call Shirt Magic 530-778-9881 for mail order T-shirts
 

Lowden Fire news articles - information
July 27 San Francisco Chronicle - Errors Caused Lewiston Fire - mentions Shirt Magic
July 27 Record Searchlight - Report Blames Agency
July 27 Record Searchlight - Victim reimbursements hang on ruling
July 26,1999 - BLM Admits Procedures Not Followed
July 21 Record Searchlight - Trinity board seeks disaster declaration
July 14 Record Searchlight - Lewiston is told of plans fire aftermath poses concerns
July 14 - BLM Lowden fire Update
July  9 San Diego Union Tribune - U.S. study rips `risky' controlled forest fires
July 9 Record Searchlight - Lewiston may face problems of flooding
July 8 Record Searchlight - Lewiston begins healing process
July 7 Record Searchlight - Meteorologist warned BLM of dangers
July 7 Record Searchlight - Trinity County will aid fire victims
July 6 San Francisco Chronicle article
July 5 San Francisco Chronicle article
July 5 Sacramento Bee news article
July 4 Sacramento Bee news article
 
 

Stories and Email

Story by Sherrill Lyle:
I Live in the Lewiston Subdivision
I returned home from Alabama on the evening of June 30th and “hit the ground running”. My side of the family was in the middle of a big get-together at a local campground. This was the big reason I rushed home from Alabama, where I had been visiting one of my daughters.  I started cleaning house almost as soon as I arrived home and continued on into the next day and night when our youngest son and his SOP arrived. That was July 1st.
     Late morning of July 2nd , my husband and the kids went to Weaverville for groceries, etc., for our share of the camp goodies. I was at the computer catching up with my e-mail when I began smelling smoke. I was immersed in what I was doing and didn't really pay any attention for quite awhile. Thus, it was 2:30 before I went out to check the great outdoors and found all my neighbors in the street. They told me a controlled burn was out of control and to get my roof wet down. Ashes and debris were already falling around us. Because I was alone and have some disabilities, my closest neighbor came over to help me.
     Bear in mind that for the four previous nights I had averaged about 3 hours of sleep per night and was in the air most of Tuesday, flying home from Alabama. My stress tolerance was at an extremely low ebb, so I got pretty uptight in very short order. At times like that, I tend to tears. Soooo, everyone thought I was really upset, when in reality I was just exhausted. I really hate being labeled panicky! ! On with the story….just as I threw the water hose down and turned off the water after my neighbor got the roof wet down, I looked up at the smoking hill just across from us and saw flames shoot up. I ran to get the camera and took a picture. My neighbor commented, “Oh, s—t! We're gonna have to get out of here.” Moments later, sheriff's cars were in the streets with their loudspeakers on, ordering everyone to evacuate immediately. What a helpless feeling, standing in your house, wondering what to grab and run with. I first took our dog out to the care in the garage and put him in the car. Then I ran back into the house, trying to get my brain to function rationally. Went to grab my husband's medications, then mine. I didn't have my bags all unpacked from my recent trip so I just grabbed those up and then fetched our company's bags out of their room. Ran all of those out to the car and threw them into the trunk. Then ran back in the house and began scooping up bedding and pillows. By the time I got outside with those items, my husband and the kids were just driving up. I stood there and yelled at them to hurry up! I was actually angry with them for not being here sooner. Shame on me. Then we couldn't find our cat. The kids were in the kitchen, grabbing….utensils! At that point in time we were told by booming, mechanical voices to, “Get out now!” We had to leave without the cat. Everyone kept assuring me he would be okay; he would run off and hide in safety. Just before leaving the house, I stood in the living room for one last look around, thinking I would never see it again. That was a feeling beyond description. We were out of here by 3:00 p.m. Thirty minutes after I first knew there was a fire.
     We went to my mother's place over on Rush Creek Road, and there we stayed until that evening, when we went to the campground to join family. During that long afternoon, standing on my mother's porch overlooking the Trinity River, watching the billowing smoke and the helicopters carrying “sky buckets” of water to the raging flames, I prayed a lot. I think what I prayed for most was the ability to be thankful we were all safe, without mourning the loss of “things”. By late evening we knew the homes in our subdivision were safe, due to superhuman efforts of firefighters and our own local volunteer firemen. Our hearts were heavy, though, as we began hearing of friends and acquaintances who were not so fortunate. My husband James was allowed to drive into the subdivision that evening, just long enough to fetch a leash for our dog. And our cat was in the house, where he had gone into hiding during the excitement. I just don't want to think, “What if….”.
 

Story taken by Sherrill Lyle - here is a short story from a lady whose home was saved:
At 2:15 p.m., Friday, July 2, 1999, she was in her house when  the phone rang.  It was a friend from her church telling her to look out at the fire.  “What fire”?, she said, alarmed.  The friend said, “Look out your window”.  She ran to the window.  There was no sun.  Everything was dark and red.
Being the daughter of a fireman, she knew exactly what to do.  She acted immediately, wetting down her roof and yard.
At 2:30 p.m., while on the phone with her daughter, filling her in on the fire situation, two deputies came into her home.  She isn't sure if they even knocked.  She tried to hang up the phone, but was told there was no time.  The phone was left dangling, along with her daughter.  She asked to be allowed to get her heart medication and again, was told no, there was no time. “You're going to give me a heart attack if I can't get my medicine”, she pleaded.  She then attempted to get her cat and dog.  One of the deputies managed to get a leash on the dog, but the cat ran out the open door.  She requested that she be allowed able to turn off the running water to keep the pump motor on the well from burning up.  Once again, she was told, “There isn't time”, and was ordered out.
Later when she was able to speak with her daughter again, the daughter commented that she had heard everything over the open phone line.  She said that her mother had been treated badly by the deputies.
On a brighter note, this lady's home was saved.  The fire came right up to her fence at the roadside, but was stopped by quick working fire crews.
Ironically, this lady was burned out of her home just ten years ago and lost everything.
 

July 26,1999 - BLM Admits Procedures Not Followed

I found this page on the net:
Dremann's Species Threshold Test and Yellow Star Thistle Control
July 21 response to my email from Craig C. Dremann:
Thank you for your email.  We are sorry to hear about your fire, and looked at the web pages you referred to.  That fire shouldn't have happened in the first place, because we have a technique that works without fire.  We are only licensing our process to gov't agencies, and we would love to license it to BLM so that communities like yours would never have to risk damage from out-of-control weed-control burns on public lands.
BLM can deal with star thistle on their land without fire if they get a license from us, and your community could be saved from future devastation if you insist on non-fire alternatives for star thistle control.  We can only recommend that communities like yours become advocates for the type of changes we are offering with our programs and processes.
Sincerely,  Craig C. Dremann, The Reveg Edge.
 

About this page
This page is here to help distribute information and to provide a place for people to tell their stories.  It is to help in the healing process for the Lewiston area.  It is to promote fund raising activities for the fire victims.  It is to help with the sale of the fire shirts with all proceeds going to the fund for victims...  If you have something to say - please do - if you know of any fund raising activities or anything else of benefit to the fire victims - please let us know...  Please note we just pass Email and messages along - they do not necessarily represent or reflect our opinions.
DO NOT BE RUSHED INTO FILING A CLAIM -- YOU HAVE UP TO TWO YEARS...
We advise anyone processing a claim against BLM to seek the advice of legal council.   The information on this page is compiled to the best of our knowledge.  It is here to perform a service for the community.  It should in no way be used as a substitute for legal council.
Know your rights and protect them...