press release

January 11, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOREST SERVICE HONORS SWEETWATER AUTHORITY FOR VIEJAS FIRE SUPPORT

An estimated two hundred eighty “helitanker” loads, or 560,000 gallons, of water taken from Loveland Reservoir were critical to the successful suppression of the Viejas Fire last week, according to fire fighters and forest officials. Representatives attended a Sweetwater Authority Board Meeting Wednesday, January 10 to thank the agency and present a commemorative plaque.

Loveland Reservoir played a central role in fighting the fire, said Nelson Dean, District Ranger at Cleveland National Forest. In addition to using “a lot of water,” from the reservoir, he explained that Loveland’s fishing area parking lot was a critical staging area for personnel and equipment used to fight the fire.

Fire recovery efforts will include actions to ensure the health of the reservoir, which may be affected by ash, fire retardant, runoff through burned areas, and increased erosion as a result of the fire. Sweetwater Authority, the USDA Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry are each participants in the multi-agency Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team to assess damage and begin plans for effective restoration.

PHOTO AVAILABLE:

Helicopters carried 2,000 gallons of water per trip, drawn from Loveland Reservoir to fight the Viejas Fire. (Photo by Steve Parker, Sweetwater Authority)

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