Road Conditions Keep Loggers Out Of Fire Area

Late winter snow and warming temperatures mean logging trucks will not be hauling fire-killed trees from the Thunderbolt fire area until early summer, a move designed to protect existing roads.

Loggers will continue to work for a few more weeks, and helicopters will haul the trees to a landing pad where they can be loaded onto trucks, said Cascade District Ranger Ronn Julian.

Steve Patterson said protection zones at least 100 feet wide on either side of dry stream channels - 300 feet on either side of rivers - are more than wide enough to prevent any sediment that might be caused by logging operations. The protection zones are needed to maintain salmon habitat in the South Fork of the Salmon River. Search halted for boy lost after mom slain Bonney Lake, Wash.

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