Local firefighters trained in wildfire hazard lot assessment – The Times-Independent

A wildfire hazard property assessment class was held in Castle Valley Aug. 25 to train eight members of the Castle Valley Fire Department and several fire personnel from the State Division of Forest, Fire and State Lands.

The class was held to train students on assessing the fire risk by using several homes in Castle Valley as examples and used a point system to determine how likely they were to catch fire during a wildland blaze. The class was conducted by Grand County Fire Warden Bruce Jenkins and FFSL Wildland/Urban Interface Coordinator Duncan Fuchise.

When determining the assessment for each property, the evaluator looks at the road leading to the property to determine if the road and bridges are adequate for fire engines to enter. The roads in the town are mostly adequate, but some are steep with inadequate cul-de-sac space at the end of the road. The evaluator also looks at the driveway leading to the structure and whether access is restricted by gates, low overhanging limbs, inadequate culverts or bridges, or narrow passage with no turnarounds. There should also be a reflective noncombustible address sign that can be seen from the road.

The construction of the structure is also considered in the assessment. The chimney should be screened, the gutters should be made of noncombustible material and are clean, fences that are attached to the house should be of fire-resistant material, windows should be double or triple paned or tempered glass. The eaves of a house, the vents, roofing material, exterior siding, and decks and balconies are also considerations, not to mention the defensible space around the house.

Anyone can ask for a free assessment of their house and property by calling the fire department and leaving a message at 435-259-3655. One or two of the evaluators will visit your property to determine how firewise it is and make possible suggestions.

It is sad to report the death of our longtime neighbor, Hank Freeman, who died at home during the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 28. Born Harris Brown Freeman on Dec. 12, 1938, he lived in Castle Valley for many years and worked at various occupations, including as surveyor and satellite television technician.

He was an avid ham radio operator, having many friends, and was in contact with fellow ham operators around the world. He was very intelligent and had a technical mind with interests in many technical fields and he was always friendly with a keen sense of humor.

Hank was proud of his service in the United States Air Force. As an airman first class, he served six years in the Strategic Air Command during the turbulent Cold War years after the Korean War. He spent time at a SAC base in Wichita, Kansas, serving in an armament and electronics squadron and traveled on many missions to SAC bases across the country.

He spent a lot of time in the air in those historic B-52 Stratofortress bombers. During those years of high alert, he told me once, SAC kept a third of their fleet in the air at all times.

One night earlier this month Hank was out in the yard after dark getting a photo of the comet NEOWISE that was visible at that time. He tripped in the tall grass and damaged the bone around the area of an earlier hip replacement. After an operation in Salt Lake City and a period of recuperation at Moab Regional Hospital, he returned home but a reoccurring lung illness finally took its toll and he died. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

It was also tragic to learn of the untimely death of one of our former Castle Valley young women. Deone Ehlers Rhorer, 54, died unexpectedly from heart failure Saturday, Aug. 22 in Ogden. Even though Deone, the daughter of the late Jerry Ehlers and JoAnna Stoddard of Castle Valley, hasnt lived in the valley for a long time, she will be remembered by people in Castle Valley and Moab as a beautiful, bright and happy young woman.

Her family moved to the valley when she was 10 years old and she attended elementary and high school in Moab along with her nine sisters and a brother. Deone was a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and a 30-year real estate professional who left this world as a successful contributor to society during her short life.

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Local firefighters trained in wildfire hazard lot assessment - The Times-Independent