The Gales Creek Overlook in the Tillamook State Forest. File photo: Chas Hundley//Gales Creek Journal The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) initiated its administrative rulemaking process to create a permanent rule for implementing state forest closures, and to update an existing rule to include language clarifying that parking fees are[Read More…]
Wildfire
Wildland firefighters now eligible for vaccine
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue clean hoses used to fight the Powerline Fire and the Fern Hill Road Fire on Tuesday, September 15. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon’s wildland firefighters became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, March 29 in Washington County, and that includes many private crews that work in[Read More…]
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue heads to California to battle wildfires
Washington County crews prepare to head to California. Photo: OSFM A Type 6 brush rig and three firefighters from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue have joined a number of Washington County crews along with crews from Clatsop, Linn, Lane, Marion and Yamhill counties to head to California to assist in[Read More…]
Tillamook, Clatsop forests to reopen to public use Friday
An Oregon Department of Forestry fire vehicle near the community of Watts, east of Gales Creek on Tuesday, September 15. Photo: Chas Hundley The Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are expected to reopen to public use on Friday, September 18 at 1 a.m., according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. [Read More…]
Oregon Department of Forestry extends public forest shutdown through Wednesday
A sign at the Gales Creek Fire Station noting “Extreme” fire danger on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Department of Forestry plans to keep all forests under their purview closed to public entry and use through at least Wednesday, September 16. The earliest they could open[Read More…]
In September, 124 South Fork Forest Camp inmates deployed to wildfires
South Fork Forest Camp entrance in November 2017. Photo: Chas Hundley At least 124 inmates from the South Fork Forest Camp, a joint Oregon Department of Corrections and Department of Forestry facility, have been deployed to fight fires this month, according to a spokesperson for the DOC. The men at[Read More…]
State Fire Marshal Jim Walker resigns, Mariana Ruiz-Temple appointed to post
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…]
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…]
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…]
Fire season begins statewide
ODF offices in Forest Grove. Photo: Chas Hundley OREGON – Fire season began July 1 for the Gales Creek area beginning July 1, and as of Monday, July 6, the rest of the state’s ODF protected lands have followed suit, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. ODF’s Southwest Oregon[Read More…]