By Sheila Corson
Chronicle staff

     OKANOGAN - County commissioners sat down Sept. 22 with state Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark and about 20 audience members, who all shared frustrations with how the Oden Road Fire was handled.
     Commissioners had sent a letter to Goldmark on Aug. 31, asking that he meet with them and legislators.
     Commissioner Mary Lou Peterson told Goldmark and other Department of Natural Resources representatives that several local fire protection contractors were waiting to work on the fire at a moment's notice while resources from five and six hours away were being called to battle the blaze.
     The fire west of Okanogan began Aug. 21 and burned nearly 10,000 acres, two homes and 11 out-buildings.
     While homes and property were burning, the biggest contractors in the area were sitting and waiting, she said.
     That's why every year the commissioners pass a resolution to send around to DNR and other state agencies that requests that local people get called to fires first - they are the closest, most familiar with the terrain and roads, and know the people, she said.
     Goldmark, an Okanogan rancher, said he feels the same way - that locals should always get the first call. But he said he doesn't have the control over who gets called.
     That duty falls to the state mobilization unit, under a branch of the Washington State Patrol and military department.
     As far as he could tell, DNR Northeast Region Manager Loren Torgerson said DNR hired locals first and almost only. But it wasn't up to him to decide who state mobilization called.
     Fire District No. 3 co-chief Gordon Hennigs said that using local and regional departments brought minimal costs to the department. Getting strike teams and resources on contract was more expensive.
     Hennigs said the district called for state mobilization because until it is brought in, local volunteer firefighters putting in the work don't get paid.
     Local contractors in the crowd shared their stories of what happened that weekend.
     Cates and Erb called state agencies to offer its services, but was never called back, representative Jenny Cox said. Instead, units from Tonasket and Aeneas Valley were called.
     Bob Tollefson said he had equipment waiting while he expected a call. He was called twice over the weekend, asking him why he wasn't there, but he had never been asked officially to come.
     Both times he was told that his services had been canceled.
     Bill Hanson, Carlton, shared a similar story. He had been called and asked why his communications trailer wasn't on site, but he had never been called to bring it.
     Instead, a Spokane contractor brought his trailer over while Hanson was waiting to get hired.
     Another contractor shared that he may be more expensive, so that was why he wasn't called. However, the state should take into account more than just the cost, such as the response time, experience and expertise of contractors.
     Meanwhile, he said he might quit the business and go back to farming.
     Tim Dietz, Mesa Verde Aviation, wrote in a letter about his two aircraft he keeps stationed at the Omak Airport. He said he had a pilot waiting at the terminal to battle the blaze but never received a phone call to go.
     He said he is now out of business because of such situations.
     That was a huge concern for Peterson, who said she is afraid that local contractors have taken an "economic blow" and will go out of business, leaving the county with fewer resources.
     And with catastrophic fires occurring nearly every year, the county needs these resources more than many others, she added.
     Goldmark said that in a rush to get things done in such an "explosive fire" such as Oden Road, things fall through the cracks. No fire is ever managed perfectly.
     He acknowledged that there must have been some errors in the way the process had been conducted, saying some actions were "regrettable" and "inexcusable."
     He said that state mobilization is clearly not running efficiently and that local resources should be used first before others get tapped.
     Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, pledged at the meeting to go to work on the situation. The 7th District representative said wildfire protection policy is under discussion in legislative committees and she would be sure to make some comments.
     Goldmark said that although he can't change the way state mobilization works, he will contact and discuss the matter with those who can.
     Peterson said she received positive feedback after the meeting from those attending who were glad that Goldmark listened to their concerns and had the same concerns that they did.
     Peterson said commissioners will pursue the issue either through legislation or policy with DNR.
     "We still have to hold everyone's feet to the fire," Peterson said.