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10TuesdayJune112013LackofroadblockadesduringSaltMountainfireconcernsFortSmithresidentsLocalsseekingclarityondepartmentaljurisdictionoveraffectedroadsHehadtakenashortcuttotrytogettoagravelpitnearSaltMountainthinkingthemainroadwouldbeblockedbecauseofallthesmoke.ThewildrewhichbeganinWoodBuffaloNationalParkonJune1hadjumpedthehighwayandbecomeaterritorialissuejustthatafternoon.Decidingtotakeashort-cutheendedupalmostinthesiteofAuroraCollegesHeavyEquipmentOperatortrainingprogramrepletewithexpensiveequipmentwhichwasatthatmomentbeingovertakenbyames.ImmediatelyHudsonsreac-tionwastogettotherecrewsorsomeonewiththeCollegetoseeiftheycouldgettheheavymachinerymovedfromharmsway.ButsoonafteranotherconcerncreptintohismindhowhadheevenbeenallowedtogetthatclosetothereonanaccessroadPeopleshouldntbeabletodrivedownthatroadHudsonsaid.Theroadshouldhavebeenautomaticallyshutdown.Firewillgowhereveritwantstogoyoucantpredictwhereitsgonnago...Publicsafetyshouldbethenumberonething.WhydidntsomeonedosomethingwhentherewasburningallalongtheroadTheissueaccordingtotheGNWTcomesdowntoamatterofjurisdiction.ThedepartmentofEnviron-mentandNaturalResourcesresponsibilityisforforestreoperationsandforestprotectionNWTForestProtectionActEnvironmentandNaturalRe-sourcesENRspokespersonJudyMclintonsaidinanemail.Thedepartmentdoesnothavetheauthoritytocloseroadsorhighways.ThedepartmentofTransportationDOThastheauthoritytoclosehighways.ButaccordingtoRegionalSuperintendentfortheSouthSlaveGregWhitlockDOThasnoauthorityovertheFoxholesRoadnorcantheyblockaccess.Hedidnotknowwhohadjurisdictionovertheroad.Theremayalsobeanum-berofotherbacktrailsaroundFortSmithsimilartoFoxholeshesaid.Theyneedtositdownwitheachotherandndoutwhosgotauthorityforalltheroads.TransportationspokespersonEarlBlacklocksaidcollabora-tiondoesexistandthathighwayemployeesarewellawareofwhatrecrewsaredoingandthestatusofwildres.Inourexperiencethecol-laborationbetweenENRandDOTisexcellentwithroadclo-suresonourhighwayhesaidinanemail.EachyearDOTPhotocourtesyofENREnvironmentForestFiresKenHudsonsredtruckisseenontheFoxholesroadlastWednesdayeveningaftertherejumpedthehighway.Hudsonwhowasonthewaytohiscabinwonderswhytheroadwasnotblockedoffwhichhearguesisanissueofpublicsafety.ByMEAGANWOHLBERGFortSmithresidentKenHudsonwasdrivingtogetgraveltotakeouttohiscabinlastWednesdayJune5whenhecameuponactiveamesburningupthetreesalongtheroadouttotheFoxholesPrai-riesareanearSaltMountain.Theroadshouldhavebeenautomaticallyshutdown.Firewillgowhereveritwantstogoyoucantpredictwhereitsgonnago...Publicsafetyshouldbethenumberonething.KenHudsonthatmaybeaccessiblefromHwy5thatareonprivateprop-ertyheadded.DOThasnocontrolovertheseprivatelandsandiftheyhaveroadstrailsnorcanwestoppeoplefromusingthem.Hudsondoesntthinkthatmakessense.Hesaysthepeo-pleresponsibleforcoordinat-ingeffortstodealwithresshouldalsohavetheabilitytoblockoffaroadinthecaseofanemergencylikewhenarehasquicklyspreadtoanewarea.Theressomethingwrongwiththesystem.Therehastobemorecollaborationbetweenthedepartmentofhighwaysandrenewablesputsinplacehighwayclosuresforanumberofcircumstances.Thoseareledbyourregionalsuperintendentswhomakethedecisiontocloseahighwayandourregionalhighwaymanag-erswhomanagetheclosure.Wehaveprocessesandstandardsforthoseactivitiesthatdealwithissuessuchassignagebarriersandwhetherpersonnelarerequired.Eachsituationrequiresadifferentresponsechosenfromthetoolsavailableheadded.Whitlocksaidbothdepart-mentsremaininconstantcommunicationregardingthereonHwy5andarepreparedforanyactionthatwouldre-quirethehighwayclosure.