The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Friday, August 13, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Widespread haze. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday– Widespread haze before 7am, then widespread haze after 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday– Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Monday– Sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday– Sunny, with a high near 84.
Active COVID Outbreaks Reported Across Lane County
Last week in Lane County there were new outbreaks reported in two senior living facilities and one workplace, the Oregon Health Authority’s weekly COVID-19 data and outbreak reports show.
The report shows 52 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior and congregate living settings, up from 33 last week. There have been 393 cases and 13 deaths in those 52 active outbreaks.
So far, there have been 15,495 cases and 1,385 deaths in those settings in Oregon.
There are five active outbreaks in those facilities in Lane County:
- Churchill Estates Assisted Living in Eugene with three cases since Aug. 5
- Avamere Riverpark of Eugene with three cases since Aug. 3.
- Avamere Rehabilitation of Eugene with seven cases since July 26.
- Spruce Point Memory Care in Florence with 37 cases since July 15.
- Gateway Living in Springfield with 34 cases and two deaths since July 8; of those, 16 cases and the two deaths were reported in the past week.
The report shows 75 active workplace outbreaks statewide for facilities with at least 30 workers and at least five cases. That’s up from 59 active outbreaks last week.
There have been 24,885 cases and 125 deaths associated with all Oregon workplace outbreaks reported so far.
There is one active workplace outbreak in Lane County:
- Costco Wholesale, 2828 Chad Drive, with 10 cases. The investigation started Monday, Aug. 2 with the most recent onset Wednesday, Aug. 4.
Mask Mandates Start Today
Oregon’s new mask mandate takes effect today. All residents will be required to wear a mask in public indoor settings regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
Governor Kate Brown issued the mandate earlier this week due to rising case numbers being caused by the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.
Health officials say the Delta variant is causing COVID-19 cases to rise to their highest level so far during the pandemic, and masks are the fastest way to reduce the trend.
Brush Fire On Bailey Hill Road In SW Eugene
Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded to a brush fire on Bailey Hill Road in southwest Eugene.
The “fast moving fire” was reported just after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, officials said.
Arriving crews found a fire moving uphill toward a home on Bailey Hill Road with bystanders working to slow the fire with extinguishers and heavy equipment. The fire was stopped at 1/10 of an acre and the cause is under investigation.
Eugene Springfield Fore was assisted by Lane Fire Authority and Oregon Department of Forestry.
Oakridge Evacuation Orders
Oakridge Fire Dept, in partnership with fire personnel and Lane County Emergency Management, has issued a Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notice for High Prairie, Fish Hatchery, Oakridge north of Roberts Road, and Oakridge east of Salmon Creek.
Level 2 (Be Set) means that you must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice, and this may be the only notice that you receive.
Public safety personnel cannot guarantee they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Continue to closely monitor your phone, local media and www.lanecountyor.gov/MiddleForkComplex for information.
Oakridge Fire also issued a Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notice for Oakridge and Westfir on both sides of the river, including Deception Creek Mobile Park, and the Hills Creek Reservoir area south of Highway 58 to Larison Cove.
Level 1 (Be Ready) means you should be aware of the danger that exists in your area, monitor local media outlets and telephone devices to receive further information.
This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property, pets and livestock.
Red Cross Cascades Region volunteers are supporting Lane County in opening a shelter for residents whose homes are in evacuation zones related to the Middle Fork Complex Fire, including the Kwis and Knoll fires which both have active evacuation zones.
The shelter is located at Pleasant Hill High School, 36386 OR-58, Pleasant Hill.
Individuals and families affected by the Middle Fork Complex Fire and in need of assistance are encouraged to simply show up for help. For information on what to bring to a Red Cross shelter, visit RedCross.org.
EVACUATION ASSISTANCE:
If residents will need transportation assistance to evacuate, they should fill out the pre-registration form on the City of Oakridge website as soon as possible.
Campfire Restrictions In Place Across Oregon
Campfires are banned in public campgrounds and day-use areas across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, as wildfire danger persists amid sweltering heat waves and the persistent drought.
Bans include restrictions on all cooking fires, campfires and bonfires on the beach, leaving portable cooking stoves and gas-powered lanterns as the only open flames allowed in much of the state’s public lands. In some places, bans extend to vehicle use, target shooting and other activities that could cause a spark.
Navigating those restrictions can be tricky, with so many different land management agencies in charge of the various parks and campgrounds in Oregon. Before you head out for a weekend getaway, be sure to look at which agency is in charge of where you’re going, and check the current fire restrictions below.
For folks headed outdoors, Oregon’s wildfire season requires extra planning and precautions, in general. Follow these tips for monitoring the fire conditions in Oregon as you plan your summer travels.
OREGON STATE PARKS
Campfires, cooking fires and other open flames are banned at all Oregon state parks east of Interstate 5, including parks in the Columbia River Gorge and southwest Oregon. The same restrictions apply to Champoeg and Willamette Mission state parks, as well as the Willamette River Greenway.
As of Friday, Aug. 13, campfires will also be banned on the Oregon coast from Lincoln County south to the California border. See details at stateparks.oregon.gov.
MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST
All open fires, including campfires, are banned across the national forest. Read the full forest order.
WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST
All open fires, including campfires, are banned across the national forest. Read the full forest order.
DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST
All open fires, including campfires, are banned across the national forest. Read the full forest order.
OTHER NATIONAL FORESTS
Fire restrictions vary between national forests in Oregon. In the Siuslaw National Forest, for example, campfires are allowed in designated fire rings and at specific dispersed campsites. Meanwhile, all campfires are banned in the Umpqua National Forest.
Check in with the national forest you’ll be visiting for specifics on the local fire restrictions.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Campfire restrictions vary between each district. Campfires are banned in many regions, but are allowed in others. Some campgrounds are given specific exemptions from restrictions. Check in with the local district office for the latest information. See all district fire restrictions at blm.gov/orwafire.
TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST
Campfires and motor vehicle use have been banned on the eastern side of the Tillamook State Forest, as well as in some state forest lands in Yamhill and Columbia counties. See the latest fire restrictions at Oregon.gov/odf.
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
Campfires and cooking fires are banned at Crater Lake National Park. See the full order at nps.gov/crla.
LOCAL PARKS
County and city-run parks may have fire restrictions of their own. Be sure to check in with the park or local authorities before you head out.
Two New Large Fires Near Lakeview
Thunderstorms & lightning resulted in 2 large fires in South Central Oregon – Patton Meadow Fire & Willow Valley Fire. Patton Meadow Fire is west of Lakeview – reported at 3:30 p.m. & estimated to be more than 2,000 acres.
Evacuation Levels are in place – Level 3 is Juniper RV Park to Patton Meadow & all of Drews Gap; Level 2 is North of Hwy 140 from Juniper RV Part to Lower Cottonwood; Level 1 is East of Lower Cottonwood Road & Cottonwood Creek. Red Cross contacted to establish an evacuation center.
Willow Valley Fire is on the Oregon-California Stateline, approximately 16 miles southeast of Bonanza & 1 mile east of Willow Valley Reservoir – reported at 4 p.m. & estimated to be 300 acres. No evacuation levels.
Thunderstorms this evening have impacted wildland firefighting efforts. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect tomorrow (Friday) from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
As of Thursday afternoon, there are 29 large uncontained fires and complexes in the Pacific Northwest — 12 in Oregon and 17 in Washington. This translates to 840,254 acres of active uncontained fires.
Here are links to be able to see updated info on the larger fires in Oregon:
- Black Butte InciWeb
- Bootleg InciWeb
- Bruler InciWeb
- Bull Complex InciWeb
- Devil’s Knob Complex InciWeb
- Elbow Creek Inciweb
- Jack Fire InciWeb
- Rough Patch Complex InciWeb
- Middle Fork Complex/Knoll Fire InciWeb
- Skyline Ridge Complex InciWeb
Oregon reports 2,387 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 9 new deaths
There are nine new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,928, the Oregon Health Authority reported 2,387 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, which is a record number of cases and brings the state total to 236,698.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (6), Benton (21), Clackamas (198), Clatsop (35), Columbia (62), Coos (55), Crook (10), Curry (25), Deschutes (108), Douglas (137), Harney (3), Hood River (11), Jackson (416), Jefferson (20), Josephine (133), Klamath (15), Lake (1), Lane (210), Lincoln (31), Linn (32), Malheur (5), Marion (148), Morrow (14), Multnomah (210), Polk (42), Tillamook (27), Umatilla (121), Union (22), Wallowa (7), Wasco (25), Washington (189) and Yamhill (48).
Chinook Winds Casino Resort Closes Because of Covid
Chinook Winds Casino Resort will close for at least two weeks because of COVID-19, the casino said Thursday.
Guests will have to leave the casino, hotel and golf course by 6 p.m. August 12. The Siletz Tribal Council, which oversees the casino’s operations, said they hope to reopen by Aug. 26.
“Despite the progress we have made to vaccinate our team, their families, and the community, increases in cases in the county and state have led us to make the difficult decision,” General Manager Michael S. Fisher said in a news release.
The casino hasn’t said whether the closure is because of positive tests among staff. It’s also unclear whether guests who are currently staying at the hotel will be given alternate accommodations at other hotels along the coast.
UPS Driver Rescues Couple From House Fire In Scottsburg
A United Parcel Service worker rescued a retired couple after their home caught fire in Scottsburg.
Pat and Shelly Ryan, who have lived in Scottsburg for nearly 15 years, had been using their home as a bed and breakfast in the summer. Last Thursday, their house went up in flames, destroying all the rooms, everything inside, their boat and their garage.
When the smoke was billowing, UPS driver Jed Massey happened to be making his usual route and he jumped into action making sure the couple got out.
The couple says they recall hearing several strong explosions until the whole house was engulfed in flames. But without a second to spare, they were able to get to safety.
A neighbor helped get the Ryans’ dogs, Blackjack and Casino, to safety as well. The couple recalls the scary situation as one that “could’ve been a lot worse.” The Ryans said although they’re devastated that “45 years of accumulation” is destroyed, they’re just happy they and their dogs are alive.