Smoke from the Assayii Lake Fire partially blocks the sun at 7:11 p.m. on June 16, 2014. Photo taken from Highway 491 about five miles south of Naschitti, N.M., by Marley Shebala.
RDC MEMBER DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
i don’t know how the president expects to enforce the FIRE RESTRICTIONS on more than 27,000 acres. I also don’t hear fire updates on the radio. But when making radio announcements, make sure that the Navajo translations is word for word. And there needs to be fire permits issued for ceremonies. Also the public needs to kow where fire permits issued.
And wat about the tribe investing in fire pumper trucks. But I DK how first responders work.
And if it is the Fire Incident Management Team that is handling the Assayii Lake Fire, they need to make themselves available. I was calling around and nothing. There is only 24 Council delegates and so it should be easy to contact one of us and keep us informed. Some people from Sheep Springs called me cuz they didn’t know what going on. There needs to be Navajo person on the fire information team. Navajo people listen to KTNN, and so there should be fire updates every 2 hours to keep people informed otherwise have issues with misinformation about evacuations.
I don’t like FaceBook and this is one time that FB had to get it right but it got it wrong. It’s unfortunate that misinformation spreads like fire on FB and it’s cuz it’s gossip. Unfortunate that people live for FB.
And so have fire information and updates broadcast on KTNN, KNDN, KGAK. I haven’t figured out what radio station the youth listen to.
CHIEF OF STAFF ARBIN MITCHELL
President did three radio spots and they’ll be broadcast. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Public Information Officer is also on radio giving updates.
Here is the time we really need Rural Addressing. Firefighters have maps but there are no names on the roads.
And regarding Facebook misinformation, there is a photo of Alpine Fire that someone has identified as the Assayii Lake Fire, which has created panic among some people.
The president’s state of emergency declaration has opened the door for other tribal government entities, including tribal enterprises, to be on standby. Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority is on standby in the area and NECA has watering point permit if communities impacted by the Assayii Lake Fire need water, they are available. Navajo Agricultural Products Industry is also on standby. But all tribal enterprises and any other groups must work thru the SW Incident Management Command Center in Fort Defiance, Ariz.
And regarding the use of water from Assayii Lake for firefighting operations. There are limited water useage from Assayii Lake, and there is a the possibility that the water used from Assayii Lake could be recharged with water from some place else. And air tankers are getting fire retardant from Winslow and Gallup, NM.
We want to put out fire but we don’t want to dry out all the wells so asking for water donations.
RDC VICE CHAIRPERSON DELEGATE ROSCOE SMITH
I recall the SW Incident Management Team 3 Commander Bea Day saying that in time of crisis that individuals experience adrenaline rush. And so she recommended that people walk slowly. This fire is too large for one person and so the tribe and the BIA entered into an agreement that involves protocol. That agency, the SW Incident Management Team 3, is coordinating food, command base, evacuation centers. When assessment time arrives after the fire is put out then that is when tribal responsibility begins.
RDC CHAIRPERSON KATHERINE BENALLY ASKS SMITH TO SPONSOR LEGISLATION TO BAN ALL FIREWORKS ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION, ESPECIALLY DURING THE UPCOMING FOURTH OF JULY, BECAUSE OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF ACREAGE BURNED BY THE ASSAYII LAKE FIRE, THE EXTREME FIRE DANGER AND TO PREVENT OTHER FIRES ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION.
RDC VOTES 4 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED TO ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE ASSAYII LAKE FIRE BY CHIEF OF STAFF ARBIN MITCHELL.
