Undated Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. Photo: OSP Oregon is in the midst of one of, if not the, worst fire seasons experienced in modern Oregon history. Today, without explanation, the state’s top fire official — Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker — was placed on paid administrative leave[Read More…]
Chas Hundley
Oregon disaster declaration at White House and other fire updates
Burned trees at the Powerline Fire. photo: FGF&R The state of Oregon was declared to be in an emergency on Thursday by the White House, a move that allows additional federal resources and funding to be deployed as the state grapples with unprecedented wildfires largely west of the Cascades. The[Read More…]
Region closed to logging, other industrial forest use
A “Super Scooper” plane fights the Powerline Fire near Cherry Grove. Photo taken from ODF video Beginning Friday, September 11 at 1 a.m., logging and other industrial forest activities in the entirety of the Northwest Oregon Forest Protective Association region will be closed due to wildfire danger and limited firefighting[Read More…]
September 10 Morning Update
A view of the Chehalem Mountain-Bald Peak fire take Wednesday, September 9. Photo: Brad Burke. The sky is a sickly yellow-orange this morning from the sunlight filtering through air choked with smoke and ash as wildfires continue across the western United States and in Oregon. Here are quick updates on[Read More…]
Updates from the Powerline Fire: 50% contained, helicopter suffers mechanical failure
A helicopter made an emergency landing at Hagg Lake after experiencing a mechanical failure on Wednesday, September 9. Photo: WCSO The Powerline Fire south of Hagg Lake is roughly 50% contained, according to the Gaston Rural Fire District. In a series of updates posted throughout the day on their Facebook[Read More…]
Tillamook State Forest closed to public use
The Gales Creek Overlook in the Tillamook State Forest. File photo: Chas Hundley//Gales Creek Journal The Tillamook State Forest is closed to the public, as are other forestlands protected by the agency in northwest Oregon due to extreme wildfire danger and limited firefighting resources. In an alert issued Wednesday afternoon,[Read More…]
Morning update: Fire stopped near Glenwood, stop calling 911 for smoke
A sign at the Gales Creek Fire Station noting “Extreme” fire danger on Wednesday, September 9, 2002. Photo: Chas Hundley As wildfires rage across Oregon for a third day, here are some quick updates. — Fire danger is still extreme, and a red flag warning remains in effect until 8[Read More…]
Fire burning south of Hagg Lake prompts evacuations
Smoke from the Powerline Fire drifts into more smoke from other Oregon wildfires. Photo: Chas Hundley The active fire burning south of Hagg Lake is largely uncontained, Forest Grove Fire and Rescue public information officer Matt Johnston said, speaking to members of the press at the parking lot of the[Read More…]
High winds beginning early afternoon on Monday drive fire danger up
The Oregon Department of Forestry stages a vehicle at the Gales Creek Fire Station on Tuesday, August 27 2019. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Department of Forestry moved fire danger in the region from “High” to “Extreme” on Monday morning, bumped Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to 3 for the entire[Read More…]
Fires, traffic, COVID-19: Welcome to Labor Day weekend
A vehicle drives toward the coast near Gales Creek on Highway 6. Photo: Brenda Schaffer Traffic and fires and COVID, oh my. Those are some of the top concerns public officials from a number of government agencies locally and across the state are gearing up for this weekend as a[Read More…]
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