Satellite phones make cowboys wildfire sentinels

By JOHN MILLER , Associated Press Writer, Technology / Telecom

Idaho Rancher Paul Nettleton takes his Iridium Satellite phone from its protective case Tuesday, August 26, 2008 near his ranch in Silver City, Idaho. Nettleton was one of seven rural Owyhee County cattlemen to receive a satellite phone from the Bureau of Land Management in order to help alert land managers of wildfires in rural portions of the state. (AP Photo/Charlie Litchfield)

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(AP) -- The craggy gullies where Idaho cowboy Paul Nettleton runs 1,200 head of cattle are often precious minutes from reliable cell phone coverage. That could spell disaster in this region where sudden summertime storms howl in from eastern Oregon, bringing dry lightning that can ignite fast-moving wildfires on sage- and juniper-covered hillsides. Unchecked, the flames could quickly turn this old mining town's historic wooden buildings to ashes.

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