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Show 8k Other repercussions to that hot August had occured even while the fires were s t i l l burning. Idaho governor John Evans flew over the s t a t e ' s 123,000 charring acres and declared them to be "the most serious condition that ever existed." He questioned the Forest Service decision to l e t the Gallagher Peak fire burn even vihen i t had seemed minor before the winds started to blow, saying, "The Forest Service did not recognize the serious f i r e conditions at that time. The fire should not have been allowed to go on as long as i t did." Karen Eckels responds, "It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Each area in Idaho, including Gallagher Peak, had already had a fire management plan. I have faith in the people involved in the f i r e - planning process, but I'm sure that if the agency continues to receive a lot of flak about allowing f i r e s to burn, t h e y ' l l be much more unwilling to do so. That, I think, would be unfortunate." According to Karen, the Gallagher Peak fire did l i t t l e mid-term or long-term damage. A small amount of timber was l o s t , but the range actually improved for livestock vihen nevi growth regenerated the following year. Farmers and ranchers have always deliberately burned rangelands to get rid of sagebrush and other undesirable shrubs, to make way for better feed growth. Controlled fire transforms less valuable range into productive grassland for c a t t l e and sheep. Wildfire can have the same effect if i t doesn't get out of hand. "Even in Mortar Creek," Karen says, "vihere they spent incredible amounts of money to fight that f i r e , I think t h e r e ' s some serious question as to vihether they got their money's worth. The area is not |