Smoke hovers above Gales Peak on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley Here are the most recent updates from official sources regarding local Washington County and Clackamas County fires. Check out the State of Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard for maps, evacuation levels, and more information on fires locally[Read More…]
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Column | The Diaries of Esther Lilly Hundley: September 17 – 23, 1931
The farm that Esther Lilly Hundley and her family lived on in Gales Creek Thur Sept 17-Cloudy & sunshine and some showers in p.m. I put out a wash, first since before hop picking, washed my hair and pulled up dryed seed beans all in fore noon. Gladie set a[Read More…]
Powerline Fire is ‘well secured’; all evacuations to lift at 7 p.m.
Smoke from the Powerline Fire rises near Hagg Lake on Tuesday, September 8. Photo: Chas Hundley The final update, barring an unforeseen change in conditions, from the Oregon Department of Forestry on the 126 acre Powerline Fire near Cherry Grove was issued Sunday afternoon. According to the update, “the Powerline[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…]
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…]
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