Hello all,
Hopefully you are all aware of the dry and tinder conditions we have in the Pacific Northwest this summer (only about .2" of rainfall all of August).
This is a critical concern for Simpson Resource Company (host landowner of Wild West), and I'd like to plant the seed in all of your minds to be aware of the extreme fire danger we have this year as you enjoy the exciting Wild West rally as a competitor, crew, spectator, or organizer.
It is so bad, Simpson's tree farm will be closed to the public until we get enough rain to alleviate this danger (hunting season starts Sept. 1, but our gates will remain closed).
We hope to allow all the public spectating locations as planned, but may have to limit it to only parc exposes, ORV park, and the gravel pit (stage 6 I think). Sorry for the inconvenience (if we must cancel spectators), but hopefully you all can understand our concern due the dry conditions in the woods.
What you can do to help:
All:
No smoking in the woods.
Smoke in cars only, and always use your ashtray.
Report any visible smoke or flames IMMEDIATELY to any rally official or call 911.
Competitors:
Don't roll or otherwise leave the road (yeah, right)
Report any visible smoke or flames to the finish control workers IMMEDIATELY.
If you see a fire started next to the road, please aggressivly fight it (you have 2 fire extinguishers, please use them).
I hate to sound like an extremist, but the danger is real. And as a landowner (one of the only rally friendly landowners in Washington), I am seriously concerned about the repercussions if a fire were to start on our timberlands due to rally.
Thanks for help during this dry summer,
Rick
(half landowner, half organizer, remaining fraction driver ;-) )
Hopefully you are all aware of the dry and tinder conditions we have in the Pacific Northwest this summer (only about .2" of rainfall all of August).
This is a critical concern for Simpson Resource Company (host landowner of Wild West), and I'd like to plant the seed in all of your minds to be aware of the extreme fire danger we have this year as you enjoy the exciting Wild West rally as a competitor, crew, spectator, or organizer.
It is so bad, Simpson's tree farm will be closed to the public until we get enough rain to alleviate this danger (hunting season starts Sept. 1, but our gates will remain closed).
We hope to allow all the public spectating locations as planned, but may have to limit it to only parc exposes, ORV park, and the gravel pit (stage 6 I think). Sorry for the inconvenience (if we must cancel spectators), but hopefully you all can understand our concern due the dry conditions in the woods.
What you can do to help:
All:
No smoking in the woods.
Smoke in cars only, and always use your ashtray.
Report any visible smoke or flames IMMEDIATELY to any rally official or call 911.
Competitors:
Don't roll or otherwise leave the road (yeah, right)
Report any visible smoke or flames to the finish control workers IMMEDIATELY.
If you see a fire started next to the road, please aggressivly fight it (you have 2 fire extinguishers, please use them).
I hate to sound like an extremist, but the danger is real. And as a landowner (one of the only rally friendly landowners in Washington), I am seriously concerned about the repercussions if a fire were to start on our timberlands due to rally.
Thanks for help during this dry summer,
Rick
(half landowner, half organizer, remaining fraction driver ;-) )