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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY – News Release<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Wildland Arson Patrol starts July 1 </span></b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'>June 19<b><span style='color:#0033CC'>,</span></b> 2012 Major media distribution<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'> Contact:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:ideograph-numeric'><i> </i> Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, <a href="mailto:rnichols@odf.state.or.us">rnichols@odf.state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>About two-thirds of the wildfires that occur in Oregon each year are caused by people. Most result from carelessness, but a few are deliberate. To curb arson fires, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), U.S. Forest Service and Oregon State Police (OSP) will activate the Wildland-Urban Interface Arson Patrol on July 1. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Retired state troopers Jim Davis, Klamath Falls, and Bill Lyons, Bend, will take on the twofold duties of fire prevention education and arson investigation. The beat is a familiar one to both men, as each worked the arson patrol in years past.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Arson likely accounts for only a small percentage of the total wildfires. But arsonists often become most active at the peak of the season, when firefighting resources are stretched thin. By deterring wildland arsons, Lyons and Davis can help free up firefighters and equipment to battle other blazes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The patrol began in 1997 in response to significant forest resource losses caused by arsonists earlier that decade.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“Initially the main mission of the project was to patrol high-risk arson areas and respond to critical or emerging situations,” Forestry’s Jeff Bonebrake said. “It later expanded to provide increased investigative capacity, basically tapping the skills and training already possessed by these senior troopers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>During the 2012 wildfire season, the two officers will conduct patrols in their home areas. Klamath County and Deschutes County are considered “high fire” areas by ODF, due to the hot, dry weather, vegetation types and general remoteness. They will also be on call to travel elsewhere in the state to assist with arson investigations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A federal State Fire Assistance grant funds the Arson Patrol, which will operate throughout the fire season. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The public is encouraged to report suspected arson activity by calling the Arson Patrol Hotline, 1-800-452-7888. </span><b><span style='color:#0033CC'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>###<span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>