Hagg Lake on August 3, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley A man died while swimming in Hagg Lake Saturday, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. The agency said deputies were dispatched at 3:35 p.m. to reports that a swimmer had gone under water. Marine deputies, already on[Read More…]
Chas Hundley
Crews mopping up fully lined 74 acre Cedar Butte Fire
Aircraft support at the Cedar Butte Fire. Photo: ODF The Cedar Butte Fire is now 74 acres, crews have fully lined the fire, and are now focused on containment and mop up. In what the Oregon Department of Forestry said would likely be their last update on the fire in[Read More…]
Cedar Butte Fire remains at 60 acres as crews expect to begin mopping up this weekend
The Cedar Butte Fire. Photo: ODF Friday afternoon update The Cedar Butte Fire remains at 60 acres, the Oregon Department of Forestry said Friday afternoon. “Ground crews made excellent progress today, working through hot, dry conditions to extend lines around almost the entirety of the fire’s perimeter,” a press release[Read More…]
Cedar Butte Fire grows to 60 acres
Photo from the scene courtesy ODF In an afternoon update regarding the Cedar Butte Fire, the Oregon Department of Forestry said the wildfire had grown from an estimated 50 acres to 60 acres, calling the growth “moderate” as it burns largely within slash in the unit it started in. Crews[Read More…]
Cedar Butte Fire is burning in the Tillamook State Forest 18 miles east of Tillamook
Photo from the scene courtesy ODF Update, 3:40 p.m.: The fire is now estimated to be at around 40 acres in size, and the Hagg Lake closure has been extended until 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to allow Single Engine Air Tankers to scoop water from the lake. The park surrounding the[Read More…]
Eastern part of Tillamook State Forest and surrounding areas to enter ‘Extreme Fire Danger’ Wednesday
The Gales Creek Overlook in the Tillamook State Forest on July 14, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley Facing another heat wave, the Oregon Department of Forestry will move fire danger to “extreme” in the eastern portion of the Tillamook State Forest and surrounding ODF-protected areas, and prohibit a number of activities[Read More…]
As hospitals fill up, Gov. Brown will mandate indoor masks
File photo: Chas Hundley Oregon Governor Kate Brown will reinstate an indoor mask mandate for the entire state, the governor’s office announced Tuesday afternoon. The governor will also require state employees to become vaccinated, with exceptions only for medical reasons or religious beliefs. Additional details are expected to come during[Read More…]
Brown declares state of emergency for entire state as triple digits threaten
The Sun in Gales Creek on June 23, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for the entire state in advance of triple digit temperatures expected across much of the state beginning Wednesday. The declaration, Brown said, allows the state to provide resources[Read More…]
National Weather Service issues ‘Excessive Heat Watch’ beginning Wednesday
The sun in Gales Creek on June 23, 2021. The Portland office of the National Weather Service issued an “Excessive Heat Watch” Sunday afternoon for much of Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon beginning Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening. The NWS said that dangerously hot temperatures around 100 degrees could be[Read More…]
Clean Water Services asks public to stay off Balm Grove property
The former Balm Grove Tavern on May 5, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley Clean Water Services is asking the public to stay off the historic Balm Grove property in Gales Creek. “We know that historically this has been a popular gathering place in the community. However, the fish passage barrier poses[Read More…]