Keep engine idling fine high at filling stations

Kudos to the Ketchum Police Department for their diplomatic approach in asking the City Council to reduce the stiff $100 - $300 vehicle idling fines. I was wondering why I hadn’t heard about any motorists being actually penalized yet, and was impressed when I heard this appeal. While the City Council may compromise on this, I would like to suggest that there is at least one sector, where they should keep the fine as high as it is, or perhaps even increase it: That area is right at our local gas pumps. Since the wintry weather has set in, I have witnessed several motorists filling their gas tanks, without turning off their engines!

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Curious about this, I asked some local station attendants about how frequently they see this, and was told that it is occurring on a daily basis. I’m wondering if the motorists who fill their gas tanks with engines running realize how dangerous this is, because the results could be quite terrifying.

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Unlike the idling ordinance, which I find posted nowhere in town, clear warnings are highlighted on the front of every gas pump to shut off the engine before filling your tank. However, with dozens of motorists in the valley apparently ignoring this basic safety tenet every week, the odds have increased for a simple bit of static electricity to cause a tragic event.

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If not fining people for this, I believe that it is at least a concern, where the Ketchum City Council should ask our Police and Fire Department leaders to refocus vigorous educational warnings on dangerous idling engines.

Castle Rock Creep

Castle Rock Creep

An incident on day 3

As the fire & brim approached K-Town, Col. Kinderhook grabbed the shutterbugs off his home-office desk. He leapt in with Sergeant J.J., into their impervious vehicle and headed out that old hot springs road.

J.J. hit the wipers on intermittent, to keep the ash brushed off. They waved past the barricade and did a radio-check. It was a gusty day and the fire threatened town more so than before. Not all the fighting aircraft were designed to fly in such winds.

They rolled around the bends for some wellness checks. The last of the moving vans had rolled out hours before, but there were always a few stragglers in these situations. Suddenly, coming down a pass, they spied a sheepherder trailing most of his flock down the steep ravine with fire creeping hot down its side. J.J. and the colonel hopped out the truck for a closer look. Minutes later, some baby lambs started coming down the trail, which was now the only escape route. The lambs were being closely tailed by a trio of Navaho fire fighters with knives drawn and large appetites for fresh meat.

Col. Kinderhook and J.J. could hardly believe what they were witnessing as they rubbed the smoke and ash out from their eyes. Suddenly, the Navahos stepped aside as a wolf pack also fleeing the flames intercepted the lambs they had in mind for a meal. The Col. was too stunned from this zoo-like activity to remember photographs. A permanent picture was imprinted into his head though, as he turned to J.J. and remarked, “Now the only thing that’s going to scare off these wolfs is the man who walks backwards.” J.J. replied, “And the onliest thing that’s going to scare off the man who walks backwards is the cacophony coming from one of my winter pig roasts, up the avalanche chute, by Trail Creek Summit.”