Willamette Valley News, Friday 8/9 – Eugene Health and Wellness Expo This Weekend, Air Quality and Wildfire Updates & Other Local and Statewide News…

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 9, 2024

Willamette Valley Weather

Wildfires continue to produce smoke in the Pacific Northwest. Breathe a little easier by keeping up to date on air quality conditions and concerns at Fire.AirNow.gov.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple says “Our firefighters are doing everything thing they can to rise to this immense challenge, but they are taxed, and we need our fellow Oregonians’ help.

Please take precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire, be familiar with evacuation levels, and have a go-kit ready in case you need to leave your home.”

Fire Weather Tools from the National Weather Service

As we prepare for the peak of wildfire season in the U.S., the National Weather Service (NWS) reminds wildland fire managers that we have tools to help you monitor and fight wildfires. Whether it is a prescribed burn, ground fire or crown fire, fire managers can use this information to make decisions on how best to combat fires and keep the public safe. 

Fire weather forecasters – The NWS issues Fire Weather Outlooks for the next eight days. These outlooks show areas where pre-existing fuel conditions, combined with forecast weather conditions, may result in a significant threat of wildfires.

Our Fire Weather Program supports land managers and firefighters who mitigate and respond to fires. Our weather forecasts are designed to highlight times and locations where a fire may be exceptionally hard to control. For example, we offer Red Flag Warnings, which mean warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds are ongoing or expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger in 12 to 24 hours for specific locations. 

Need a fire weather Spot Forecast? Land managers can request a site-specific, localized forecast for prescribed burns and wildfires to assess a potential threat. NWS recently updated this tool and will deliver additional enhancements to the application later this year. Learn more about the new Spot Forecast tool.  

For federal and select state large wildfires, onsite weather forecasting support to firefighters is critical. An NWS Incident- Meteorologist (IMET) can be deployed to your incident command post. IMETs arrive on scene within 12 to 24 hours after activation and can serve up to 14 consecutive days before being relieved by another IMET. https://www.weather.gov/news/241507-fire-weather-tools

Eugene Health and Wellness Expo This Weekend

The 7th annual Eugene Health & Wellness Expo will be held on Saturday, August 24th-10am-5pm and Sunday, August 25th-11am-5pm at Eugene’s premier meeting facility, the Lane Events Center in Expo Halls #1, #2 and #3. There will be over 120 vendors and educational seminars each day.

The need for blood doesn’t take a summer vacation. Make a blood donation appointment for August 24th at the Eugene Health & Wellness Expo at the Lane Events Center with @bloodworksnw before you take yours and help make sure lifesaving blood is there for the patients who need it. Click on the link below to make your one hour blood donation appointment today and save a life.
https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/…/drive_schedule/82332

Rape Reported Near Fern Ridge Trail/Amazon Creek

On August 8 at 10:50 a.m., Eugene Police responded to report of a rape on Fern Ridge Trail/Amazon Creek by an unknown male.

The female victim described the suspect as white, about age 40, with brown hair and last seen wearing a black/white sleeveless shirt with writing along the back, green shoes and a tattoo on one of his arms. The suspect was pushing a bicycle and later used it to flee.

This case has been forwarded to VCU for investigation. If anyone has suspect information, they are asked to contact the non-emergency line at 541.682.5111. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=912590560913038&set=a.221914853313949

GENERAL PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times

• Do not get into someone’s car even if they display a weapon. It is better to fight back in the street where help is closer at hand and other people may hear your calls for help.

• Walk confidently and don’t avoid eye contact

• Don’t let strangers into your ‘space.’ Keep plenty of distance between yourself and people you don’t wish to approach you.

• Don’t stop to talk with strangers asking for directions or other types of help as this can be a ploy to get close for an attack.

• If you feel you are in danger or being followed, call 9-1-1

• If grabbed, fight back and make as much noise as possible.

• Use the buddy system when walking after dark. You should know the person you are walking with well enough to trust them.

• Walk in lighted areas as much as possible and don’t walk too close to bushes, alleyways or other places where attackers can conceal themselves

LCSO Case #24-4224 – Driver arrested for DUI after attempting to elude deputy

On August 7th around noon, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received three reports of a vehicle driving recklessly, swerving into oncoming traffic, and nearly driving off the road in the Jasper area.

A deputy located the vehicle eastbound on Highway 58 and attempted a traffic stop. The driver attempted to elude the deputy for several miles, but eventually stopped in the middle of Highway 58 in the Dexter area. 

The driver, Angel Sanchez-Vasquez, 39, of Eugene, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. A passenger was also in the vehicle. Sanchez-Vasquez was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, and Attempt to Elude by Vehicle. 

Lane County announced a series of informational sessions to explain its upcoming in-house mobile crisis service : Lane County Mobile Crisis.

The first session will be in person on Friday at the Eugene Public Library in the Bascom-Tykeson Room from noon to 1 p.m.

“These informational sessions will be an opportunity to let the community know what (mobile crisis services) look like, how we complement other services, and in the end, how this program over the long-term, can add to the behavioral healthcare network that stretches from rural to metro Lane County,” Pauline Gichohi, the Lane County Behavioral Health Division manager, said in a press release.

Mobile Crisis refers to an alternate response model where health professionals are deployed to emergencies instead of, or in conjunction with, law enforcement. Founded in 1989, the Eugene-based CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) program has received national recognition as a pioneer of this model. CAHOOTS vans are staffed with a mental health crisis worker and medics deployed to applicable emergencies.

Lane County Health and Human Services Director Eve Gray said the new program would be an additional resource, not a replacement, for CAHOOTS, and that the county and WhiteBird (the nonprofit that runs CAHOOTS) “have been closely aligned in the development of what this is going to look like.”

Lane County said the sessions would include details about Mobile Crisis Services of Lane County’s county-wide pilot phase, the populations served, the services offered, and how to access these services. Additional informational sessions will be announced later. (

ALERT: MISSING PERSON: SPECIAL ATTENTION ALONG HWY 138 EAST

Myrtle Creek Police Department is working on a missing person case involving 69-year-old Kathleen Wilson, who left the Myrtle Creek area on the morning of August 5. Her vehicle, a red or maroon 2012 Chevy Cruz bearing Oregon license plate#747EDB, was last seen heading east on Highway 138E leaving Roseburg just before 7:00 AM.

Her intended destination is Chiloquin, Oregon in Klamath County, where she never arrived. Information so far is that she has medication she did not take with her and was getting confused while driving. She is currently listed as missing and endangered. If you see her or her vehicle, please call 541-440-4471 immediately.

Fire Updates

Cottage Grove – Lane 1 Fires Update

The Cottage Grove – Lane 1 Fire is a total of 18,498 acres and considered 9% contained. Percent containment represents sections of fire line that pose no escape risk without further action from firefighters. There are currently 1293 personnel assigned to the incident. A Level 3 evacuation notice for the Bohemia Mining District and Fairview Peak has been issued by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

For further information visit the Inciweb links for each Cottage Grove-Lane 1 fires below: Lane 1: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/…/or77s-Cottage-Grove-lane-1Clark 900: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/or770s-clark-900Quartz: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/orupf-quartzJack Saddle: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/orupf-jack-saddleAdam Mountain: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/orupf-adam-mountainMineral: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/orupf-mineralPuddin: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/orupf-puddinHours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM E-mail: 2024.lane1@firenet.gov Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CottageGroveLane1Fires2024

Daily #PyramidFire, #SlateFire, and #OreFire Operations Video Update from California CIMT13 for August 8, 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/OreFireInformation2024/videos/869792948388789

U.S. Forest Service – Willamette National Forest –  · The Willamette National Forest has expanded an emergency closure order for the Pyramid Fire on the Sweet Home Ranger District to include the Slate Fire area. The closure order, which is for public and firefighter safety, is effective through Nov. 15, 2024, unless modified or rescinded sooner.

Expect Hwy 126 Closures For Repaving To Impact Belknap Springs Area

The Oregon Department of Transportation will close parts of Oregon Highway 126 to repave sections of the highway and resurface three bridges. While efforts are being made to minimize disruption, local businesses and residents may see an impact on tourism and daily commutes.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is working near Belknap Springs to re-pave parts of OR 126 and re-surface three bridges along the highway. From August 1 to August 8, parts of 126 will be closed overnight — from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. — and August 20 will be the first day of a 48-hour closure.

ODOT said they recommend checking Trip Check before traveling on Highway 126 and always plan ahead. They recommend using Highway 58 or Highway 20 as a detour route during the closures.

Eugene police are actively searching for two suspects involved in the July 13 shooting death of 16-year-old Fernando Aguirre. Arrest warrants for Athel Morgan, 19, and Jayson Blackwell, 18, were issued by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office on July 26.

Both Morgan and Blackwell are individually charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm. Both were present at the scene of Aguirre’s shooting.

Since the shooting, the Eugene Police Department claimed officers were working to minimize acts of retaliation between two groups of teenagers and young adults after responding to two shootings allegedly related to Aguirre’s death.

One shooting was in the 1500 block of Mill Street where property was struck. Another shooting occurred in the 3600 block of W. 13th Ave. where a 20-year-old victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to Eugene Police.

As part of the investigation, detectives identified a suspect involved in the shootings as Lekoff, who was arrested in Springfield and later arraigned in a Lane County Circuit Court for one count of attempted assault in the first degree with a firearm and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm.

Lane County Sheriff’s Office Still Seeking Suspect in Homicide

In June, a deceased female was located in the Cottage Grove area who appeared to be the victim of homicide. Lane County Sheriff’s detectives identified the victim as a missing person, Rozaleena Faith Rasmussen, 29, from Cottage Grove. 

Detectives identified the suspect as Anthony Wesley Tyrrell, 31, of Cottage Grove.  A nationwide warrant has been issued for his arrest. Tyrrell is described as a white male adult with brown hair, brown eyes, weighing approximately 165 pounds and standing approximately 5’9” tall. He was last seen with his head shaved and wearing a white shirt, black trench coat, black pants, and black boots. 

Tyrrell is considered armed and dangerous.  Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 and avoid approaching or contacting him. 

​CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

• Who: Artists who paint and live in Oregon.
• What: Apply for the City of Springfield’s 9th annual UpStream Art storm drain mural painting project. Four artists will be selected and compensated $1,500 for completing custom-designed murals approximately 4-ft. x 6-ft.

Applications are being sought until August 14 for this year’s mural project with four artists selected who will be paid $1,500 each.

The selected artists will paint their murals on September 19 and 20 at four storm drains in the Thurston area of east Springfield.

MORE INFO: https://springfield-or.gov/city/development-public-works/clean-water-and-stormwater/upstream-art/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR094F6k_tR3X5Rb3ZsZRcIsi6dNYOVeV3HL33BIseFxtIGvC2lPOYFJHAA_aem_0XpdE7LOn2ZAXgWJvrUJqQ

“When It Hits The Fan”: A New Podcast by Lane County Emergency Management

Lane County Emergency Management is excited to announce the launch of a new podcast, “When It Hits The Fan,” now available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Listen at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/fan. 

About Lane County Emergency Management – Lane County Emergency Management is committed to preparing the community for emergencies and disasters through education, planning, and response coordination.

Oregon National Guard Soldiers prepare for deployment to the Middle East

SALEM, Ore. – A mobilization ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment will be held at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon at 1:00 p.m., on August 9, 2024, as Soldiers prepare for a year-long mobilization. 

The unit will be mobilizing as part of Task Force DEFENDER, and will be conducting rocket, artillery, mortar and unmanned drone defense operations in the Middle East. Prior to departing overseas, they will first undergo training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma to enhance their proficiencies on the equipment and systems that they will operate as the primary air defenders that American and Coalition partners rely on for force protection.

Upon completing their training, Task Force DEFENDER will be assigned to Iraq and Syria in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, whose mission is to advise, assist, and enable partner forces to secure lasting defeat of terrorist elements across the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

“The Oregon National Guard continues its legacy of simultaneously serving Oregonians with domestic operations here at home while also answering the call for federal mobilizations supporting the United States, said Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon.  “This is what makes the Oregon National Guard the military service of choice for Oregonians.”

Attendance for this event is reserved for service members, their families and invited guests.  The public can watch the ceremony via live streamed and can be viewed at:  www.pacificu.edu/mvs-218

It will also be live streamed on the 41st Infantry Division Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1658604261564488/

Firefighters injured in Single-vehicle Conflagration Response Accident

Press Release from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office via Marion County Fire District No. 1:

Today, while on the way to the Town Gulch Fire, a Type 6 apparatus from the Marion County Fire District #1 on the Clackamas County task force rolled over. Two firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital for evaluation. An Oregon State Fire Marshal agency representative is with the firefighters and Marion County Fire District #1 Chief Kyle McMann is on the way to support. The cause of the rollover is under investigation. Our thoughts are with the injured firefighters.

The Town Gulch Fire, located east of Baker City, grew several thousand acres last night, threatening hundreds of homes. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act and the OSFM Blue Incident Management Team mobilized with four task forces.

Thank you to the those representing Marion County who are responding to help these communities in need. We remain committed to the safety of our personnel, both at home and when responding to help those threatened by wildfire throughout the state.

Oregon leaders call for federal aid for farmers and ranchers impacted by summer wildfires

A helicopter drops flame retardant on the Cow Valley Fire in eastern Oregon on July 12, 2024. (Matt Fisher of Umatilla Task Force/Northwest Interagency Coordination Center)

Gov. Tina Kotek is seeking federal relief for farmers and ranchers in two-thirds of Oregon counties impacted by wildfires and smoke this summer, with the potential to add more counties to the list.

Kotek first wrote to Tom Vilsack, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on July 31, asking for support for crop and livestock farmers who are grappling with the effects of dozens of fires that have burned more than 1.3 million acres this summer. In the days following, Oregon’s congressional delegation and Oregon House Republicans also wrote to Vilsack backing up the Democratic governor’s requests.

“Oregon is currently grappling with severe wildfires that have ravaged our communities, working lands and natural resources. The scale and intensity of these fires demand immediate federal intervention to aid in our state’s recovery efforts,” Oregon’s House Republicans wrote.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture did not respond to questions and requests for comment Tuesday.

In her letter, Kotek asked Vilsack for three things. First, to declare a disaster for 23 of Oregon’s 36 counties, allowing farmers and ranchers to apply for special USDA loans and financial assistance programs. Next, she asked for Vilsack to coordinate with the head of the U.S. Forest Service, Randy Moore, to authorize emergency leniency on federal grazing areas, allowing ranchers flexibility about where and when they can graze to accommodate disruptions from wildfires.

Matt McElligott, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, asked Kotek to further extend her request for aid to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Land Management. He asked that she request the agency open up any vacant or retired grazing permits so ranchers can move some of their cattle onto the public land. Kotek wrote to the agency’s leader, Deb Haaland, requesting assistance Tuesday.

“You know, there’s over a million acres that have burned, and much of it is rangeland. So those cattle that made it through the fire and got moved off have to have a place to go,” he said

McElligott said he spoke with a rancher who sold off most of his cattle due to the wildfires.

“When you lose all of your grazing ground, you’ve got to find other grazing ground or sell your cattle,” he said. “This isn’t just a right-now problem. When all of your grazing ground burns up, you have no fall feed, you have no winter feed, and you really don’t have any spring feed, because you have to let that grass regrow its roots.”

The last request from Kotek was for Vilsack and Moore to waive rules that require ranchers supply certified weed free hay and feed crops for their animals. Feed crops must still be weed free, according to Kotek’s letter, but waiving the requirement that the feed be certified weed-free will ensure animals are fed and that ranchers don’t turn instead to grazing them on forage that should be kept on the landscape.

“Our communities look to us for leadership and action in times of need,” Kotek wrote to Vilsack. “The timely review and approval of our request will provide critical support to the affected farmers and ranchers, helping them recover and rebuild.”

Counties seeking emergency declarations from wildfire: Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler (SOURCE)

Most fires are human-caused and accidental. The most common fire causes we respond to are everyday activities that ODF regulates in the summer in an effort to cut down on these types of fire starts. Help prevent wildfires and Keep Oregon Green by following the current regulations: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/

Organizations are collecting funds and resources for those impacted by Oregon’s wildfires

– The impact of this year’s wildfire season continues to reverberate throughout the state as the number of acres burned reaches 1.2 million.

At this time, the number of acres burned is four times the average when compared to the same point in past seasons. As many as 1,261 fires have burned across the state with more than 100 still active.  

Five megafires, fires that exceed 100,000 acres, are still burning in Eastern Oregon: The Battle Mountain Complex, Lone Rock, Durkee, Cow Valley and Falls fires. These megafires are now between 19% and 99% contained.

Residents in these communities have been deeply affected by the wildfires. As many as 18,000 residents were under a level 1, 2 or 3 evacuation level during the height of the response to date with more than 8,000 still under some type of evacuation warning.  

The full scale of the loss will not be clear for a few months at least. Initial reports show that dozens of people have been injured, and there was at least one wildfire-related death. An air tanker pilot named James Bailey Maxwell, 74, who died in a crash while working in the vicinity of the Falls Fire, north of Burns, on July 25, 2024. 

Initial reports show fires have destroyed as many as 28 homes and 73 structures. Much of the damage has been to grazing land and livestock, heavily impacting the ranching community in eastern Oregon.  

More than 10,000 people are involved in the response including 261 fire crews, 483 engines and 31 helicopters. Local and statewide emergency response departments and agencies are working around the clock to contain the remaining wildfires.

Several organizations are collecting funds and resources for those impacted. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) staff have gathered a list and made it available at Wildfire.oregon.gov. 

Some resources include:

• The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and the Oregon Farm Bureau are collecting monetary donations.  
• Oregon State University is collecting monetary donations, pledges of any in-kind, and donations of hay, feed and transportation.  
• Wildland Firefighter Foundation supports firefighters on the frontlines who have been injured and families of those killed in the line of duty.

OEM and agency partners want to caution the public to beware of scams when donating, and only give to trusted organizations. Scammers often contact their possible victims by telephone, social media, email or in person so be suspicious of direct asks. Also, be cautious if the person asking for donations creates a sense of urgency and won’t let you think about it or donate later. If you want to donate money to support the wildfire recovery effort, it’s best to donate to the organization directly.

OEM has compiled a library of additional recovery resources with information from multiple agencies to help residents during and after of a fire. 

This library includes but is not limited to:

• Basic needs support: List of shelters, food pantries, replace SNAP benefits, medical equipment replacement and vital document replacement
• Stay informed: Sign up for ORAlerts.gov to stay tuned for updates and additional resources.
• Returning home: Assess damages to home, vehicles and property, report damages to local county emergency management office, file an insurance claim. Follow guidelines for safe cleanup because ash contains hazardous materials. How to avoid scams when rebuilding.
• Mental Health: Help is available 24/7 to anyone who is struggling or experiencing a crisis. Call 988 for support statewide or visit Lines for Life. AgriStress Hotline serves those in the farming, ranching, fisheries and forestry communities. Call 833-897-2474 or visit their website.
• Agriculture resources:  
  • OSU Extension Service’s list of resources for those impacted by wildfires in Oregon.
  • Livestock wildfire resources on the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s website.  
  • Oregon Cattlemen’s Association Wildfire Fund Donations page.
  • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality wildfire resource page.
  • USDA Farm Service Agency’s Disaster Assistance Programs and Disaster Assistance Programs At-A-Glance fact sheet.
  • USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool. 

For additional information about current wildfires, response and recovery, go to Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery. Sign up for ORAlerts.gov to get lifesaving alerts and instructions during emergencies to help you and others stay safe in Oregon.

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It is the mission of Oregon Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem.  

Large wildfires have burned tens of thousands of acres across the PNW, with human activity and lightning being a significant contributing factor. The uptick in human-caused fires, which include those started by campfires and debris burns strains firefighting resources significantly​. Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitoring Fires in Oregon

Incident	Type	State	Incident Size	UpdatedSort ascending
Microwave Tower Fire – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	1313 Acres	6 seconds ago
Whisky Creek Fire – ORMHF	Wildfire	Oregon	1447 Acres	1 minute 16 seconds ago
Oakridge Lightning Fires 2024 – ORWIF	Wildfire	Oregon	Acres	5 minutes 7 seconds ago
Porcupine Fire – ORBUD	Wildfire	Oregon	6491 Acres	5 minutes 48 seconds ago
Battle Mountain Complex – OR97S	Wildfire	Oregon	182766 Acres	8 minutes 6 seconds ago
Courtrock Fire – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	20019 Acres	12 minutes 9 seconds ago
North Willamette Complex – ORWIF	Wildfire	Oregon	Acres	15 minutes 45 seconds ago
Pyramid and Slate Fires – ORWIF	Wildfire	Oregon		16 minutes 31 seconds ago
Ore Fire – ORWIF	Wildfire	Oregon	2221 Acres	17 minutes 10 seconds ago
Middle Fork Fire – ORCLP	Wildfire	Oregon	4012 Acres	19 minutes 11 seconds ago
Diamond Complex – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	7629 Acres	19 minutes 12 seconds ago
Lone Rock Fire – ORPRD	Wildfire	Oregon	137222 Acres	32 minutes 27 seconds ago
Warner Peak – ORFWF	Wildfire	Oregon	22974 Acres	40 minutes 57 seconds ago
Town Gulch – ORWWF	Wildfire	Oregon	19251 Acres	44 minutes 30 seconds ago
Cottage Grove – Lane 1 – OR77S	Wildfire	Oregon	15830 Acres	48 minutes 33 seconds ago
Red Fire – ORDEF	Wildfire	Oregon	530 Acres	1 hour 10 minutes ago
Telephone Fire – ORMAF	Wildfire	Oregon	53765 Acres	1 hour 25 minutes ago
Falls Fire – ORMAF	Wildfire	Oregon	147789 Acres	1 hour 26 minutes ago
Crazy Creek – OROCF	Wildfire	Oregon	79971 Acres	1 hour 27 minutes ago
Homestead Complex – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	3384 Acres	12 hours 12 minutes ago
Sandstone Fire – ORMHF	Wildfire	Oregon	385 Acres	13 hours 33 minutes ago
Winding Waters Complex – OR97S	Wildfire	Oregon	752 Acres	22 hours 37 minutes ago
Durkee Fire – ORVAD	Wildfire	Oregon	294265 Acres	1 day 21 hours ago
Adam Mountain – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	12645 Acres	3 days 13 hours ago
Badland Complex 2024 – ORVAD	Wildfire	Oregon	54563 Acres	3 days 14 hours ago
Cow Valley Fire – ORVAD	Wildfire	Oregon	133490 Acres	1 week 1 day ago

Large Fires in Oregon 8/9/24 9:00am per INCIWEB

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page. 

Klamath County Announces Grant Program to Help Farmers Battle Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Infestations

— Klamath County is facing a significant challenge as grasshoppers and Mormon crickets have wreaked havoc on crops, rangelands, and natural habitats. These pesky invaders are threatening the livelihoods of the county’s farmers and ranchers, the food supply, and the overall health of the ecosystem.

In response, the Oregon Legislature has acted by passing SB 5701, Section 408 (2024), along with a Temporary Administrative Order. These measures provide financial assistance for pest management efforts aimed at reducing the impact of these insects on agricultural crops. Klamath County has been granted $100,000 by the Oregon Department of Agriculture to help tackle the problem.

To distribute these funds, the County has set up a reimbursement grant program. A special grant committee has been formed, including representatives from the Klamath Irrigation District, Klamath Drainage District, Van Brimmer Ditch Co., and two at-large citizens. This committee will review applications from affected farmers and ranchers and make funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.

Farmers and ranchers can apply for these grants from August 15 to October 31, with the application window closing at 5:00 PM on October 31. Unfortunately, late submissions will not be accepted. The grant committee will meet in November to review the applications and provide their recommendations to the Board of Commissioners who will make the final determinations for payment.

The application can be found online on the Klamath County Grants Website.

While the County recognizes that $100,000 won’t cover all the damage caused by these infestations, they are grateful to be able offer some help to those who need it most.

For more information, please contact the Klamath County Grants Office at 541-851-2264

As new school year looms, health officials urge measles vaccination

Highly effective MMR vaccine the best way to prevent highly infectious virus

PORTLAND, Ore. — With the start of the new school year around the corner – and as a measles outbreak continues in three Oregon counties – health officials are urging parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated against the highly infectious virus before classes begin.

A total of 25 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Clackamas, Marion and Multnomah counties, all among unvaccinated individuals. Two people have been hospitalized, and there have been no deaths. Ten of the cases are 9 and younger; 10 cases are ages 10 to 19; and five cases are 20 and older.

Marion County has the most cases with 16, followed by Clackamas County with eight and Multnomah County with one.

Paul Cieslak, M.D., OHA medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations, joined Clackamas County Health Officer Sarah Present, M.D., for a media briefing this morning to give an update on the outbreak. A recording of the media briefing is available on OHA’s YouTube channel at this link.

Cieslak said state and county epidemiologists have seen several waves of measles cases since mid-June, “so now about two months of sustained transmission of measles.” It’s the largest measles outbreak the state has seen since 2019, when Oregon experienced 28 cases that were linked to a much larger outbreak in Clark County, Wash.

“Before 2019, you have to go all the way back to the early 1990s to see case counts this high,” Cieslak said. “The reason is we maintained very high vaccination rates and very high population levels of immunity. Unfortunately, we’ve seen an erosion in the percentage of people who are getting vaccinated against measles.”

Since about 2000, an increasing number of parents have chosen nonmedical exemptions from state school vaccination requirements for their children. Before that year, only about 1% of kindergarteners had vaccination exemptions; since then, the number has risen steadily, and during the 2023-2024 school year, the exemption rate reached 8.8%.

“In Clackamas County, as in other Oregon counties, pockets of unvaccinated people raise risk of infection in communities where they live,” Present said. “That’s why the counties reach out to every case that’s been identified and try to determine exactly where they’ve been while infectious.”

Someone with measles can spread the virus up to four days before the tell-tale rash appears, and their symptoms may be mild during that time. As a result, the counties and OHA have been sharing information about specific locations that cases are known to have visited, so “we can let members of the public know they may have been exposed to measles,” Present said.

She noted that since measles is so contagious, an estimated 95% of a population needs to have received two doses of measles vaccine to be able to protect the most vulnerable members of the community via community or “herd” immunity.

Getting the MMR vaccine can also help families avoid the burden of having to isolate at home for several weeks if they are exposed to measles. According to state law, an unvaccinated person exposed to the virus must be excluded from school or child care during the period when they could become sick, which is usually for 21 days after exposure. And this exclusion can be extended if there are more measles cases. 

“It’s really an important time to make sure students and their families are up to date on vaccinations as we go into the new school year,” Present explained.

Learn more about measles at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.

OHA releases annual report on performance of Medicaid care networks

Coordinated care organizations (CCOs) continued to improve access to care for Oregon Health Plan members in 2023

Salem, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the state’s 2023 annual report on the performance of coordinated care organizations (CCOs), local health networks that administer coverage to Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid) members. The report found that CCOs generally improved their performance in most categories statewide from 2022 to 2023.

Oregon is unique in providing Medicaid benefits through a coordinated care model, which is designed to deliver local and regional solutions to primary care. Through this design, CCOs receive monetary incentives in exchange for improving their performance on the quality measures outlined in the annual report.

The 2023 CCO performance report included the following findings:

• For children preparing for kindergarten, dental and oral health services rose above pre-pandemic rates. Dental and oral health services were some of the measures most negatively affected by the pandemic. After falling 27% in 2020, CCO statewide performance on preventive dental or oral health services for children ages 1-5 gradually improved each year.
• CCOs mostly improved on behavioral health care measures. Among behavioral health measures, CCOs improved most on age-appropriate screening for alcohol or other substance use, as well as depression screening and follow-up.
• Disruptions in care during the pandemic continued to affect immunization measures. Immunizations for children and adolescents largely held steady in 2023 and have not yet recovered from the pandemic. Evidence shows that vaccine hesitancy grew during the pandemic, which may have contributed to lower immunization rates.
• CCOs increased capacity to address social determinants of health (SDOH). In 2023, OHA’s CCO Quality Incentive Program launched a SDOH screening and referral measure, which aims to ensure that member’s social needs are acknowledged and addressed. CCO statewide performance also improved on the health equity measure related to meaningful language access, which tracks the percent of health care visits where a qualified and certified interpreter was provided. From 2022 to 2023, this percentage increased from 5.6% to 10.7%.

Last year, CCOs earned $326 million for meeting established performance metrics through the CCO Quality Incentive program.

Access the full report here.

The 47th annual Crater Lake Rim Runs are happening this weekend

Join us in the running of the 47th Annual Crater Lake Rim Runs and Marathon held in beautiful Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, on Saturday, August 10th, 2024 starting at 7:30am. Choose between runs of 6.7, 13.0 miles and The Marathon, or if you are a walker, the 6.7 mile walk. All courses are along the very rim of Majestic Crater Lake and are at altitudes ranging from 5,980 to 7,850 feet above sea level. Be challenged by rugged mountains and breathtaking views.

Runners will make their start at Watchman Overlook on West Rim Drive and run clockwise around Crater Lake on Saturday.

For anyone planning a visit to the park, this means there will be some disruptions to the normal flow of traffic until about 1:30 p.m. Due to road construction on East Rim Drive between Cloudcap Overlook and Phantom Ship Overlook, that section of the road will remain closed to all vehicles.

More information about the event can be found on the Crater Lake Rim Runs website.

Seeking proposals to run Smith Creek Village, other concessions at Silver Falls

SILVERTON, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking proposals to operate Smith Creek Village retreat center, South Falls Café and two historic ranches at Silver Falls State Park.

Smith Creek Village is a retreat center on the south side of Silver Falls that includes lodging (13 cabins and 4 lodges) and a restaurant with a commercial kitchen, dining room and seating area with lots of natural light

“Silver Falls is one of the crown jewels of the park system, and this is an incredible opportunity to be a part of this breath-taking destination,” said Willamette Valley District Manager Sarah Steele.

The park is one of the most popular in the state with an estimated 1.5 million day-use visits per year and features the nationally recognized Trail of Ten Falls. 

In 2021, OPRD signed an agreement with Silver Falls Hospitality to run two services— Smith Creek Village and the historic ranches—and a separate agreement with Oregon Commission for the Blind to run South Falls Café. Both contracts will expire at the end of October, prompting a new request for proposals. The new 10-year contract will include all three business opportunities.

The opportunity includes:

• Smith Creek Village, a retreat at the south end of the park with a restaurant, dining area, and lodging including 13 individual cabins and four group overnight lodges as well as outdoor event space, historic buildings, meeting areas and a commercial kitchen. 
• South Falls Café, a popular café near the trailhead for the Trail of Ten Falls with a full kitchen and indoor and patio space at the South Falls Lodge. Concession services at the South Falls Café currently include casual dining, food to go, and snacks for picnicking and hiking. 
• The Davidson Ranch and the Foothills Ranch, two large overnight facilities with commercial kitchens for private retreats and group lodging for weddings and other gatherings. 

OPRD is looking for a business or individual to run all three opportunities. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30. OPRD will host an open house 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16, and 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 17 for prospective concessionaires. Registration is required. Email utler@oprd.oregon.gov“>Winona Butler by 2 p.m. Aug. 14 to register.

Silver Falls is expected to see continued growth with work now underway to develop the North Gateway: a new campground, visitor center and park improvements slated to open in 2026. 

The park offers everything from camping, hiking and biking to picnicking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing. Several of the park’s structures date back to the Civilian Conservation Corps established in 1933. The architecture features the now-iconic look of stone facades and timber beams seen at Silver Falls Lodge. 

Those who are interested in learning more can contact Contract Specialist Winona Butler at utler@oprd.oregon.gov“>winona.butler@oprd.oregon.gov or go OPRD’s website and click on the Silver Falls Concession Opportunity. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30, 2024.

Photos of the properties are available for download. 

Oregon lottery winner purchased $1 million ticket with dead mother-in-law’s credit card

Christina Goodenow’s millionaire prospects were tarnished after police learned she used her dead mother-in-law’s credit card to buy a $1 million ticket

An Oregon woman may be stripped of her $1 million lottery ticket after police discovered she allegedly used her dead-mother-in-law’s credit card to buy it.

White City resident Christina Goodenow, 38, may have purchased a winning ticket, but she allegedly did so through illegal means—stealing her deceased relative’s credit card. The winner now faces multiple theft charges along with forgery and possession of methamphetamines, said Oregon law enforcement officials who conducted a search of her home Thursday.

“I’ll be fascinated to see how this shakes out,” Lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann said. “In my 12 years with the Oregon Lottery, this is the first time I’ve encountered something like this.” The suspect is said to have bought the winning ticket Oct. 9 using a credit card that once belonged to her late mother-in-law who died more than a year ago.

The woman traveled to Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem a few days later on Oct. 12 to accept the prize, opting for the reoccurring payments of $33,500. This was projected to pay out the $1 million grand prize over the course of 20 years. Investigators began their probe in Goodenow’s finances once they learned she’d allegedly used the stolen credit card to buy several other items beside the ticket.

On Thursday, police were said to have found methamphetamine inside the woman’s home but very little money, George said. “Our investigation is still trying to determine what happened to the $33,500,” George said.

If convicted of the charges, Goodenow’s lottery win becomes null and void, police Lt. Tim George said. State lottery officials did not divulge further details because the investigation is ongoing. (SOURCE)

Oregon utility watchdog asks state to intervene on proposed double-digit electricity rate hikes

If the state’s two largest electric utilities get what they’ve asked for, their 1.5 million customers in Oregon could pay 40% more for electricity next year than they did just three years ago.

Those utilities — Portland General Electric, or PGE, and Pacific Power — say their latest proposed increases are due to the rising cost of insurance and needed investments to expand electrical grids and to make them resilient to extreme weather.

But Oregon’s Citizens’ Utility Board, a watchdog group established by voters in 1984 to represent the interests of consumers, says the companies are using rate hikes to make massive investments in infrastructure in too short a period, as well as creating slush funds for potential wildfire payouts in the future.

PGE wants to raise residential rates by 11% next year while Pacific Power asked for a 15% residential rate increase. But the board asked the state’s Public Utility Commission to cap them at 7% plus the rate of inflation, or 10% annually, whichever is lowest. A rate increase to cover costs that go over that would need to be pushed to the next year or beyond.

The board asked the commission, which is charged with regulating the rates of privately owned utilities, to apply this cap to natural gas companies as well.

“In normal circumstances, it should be rare for utilities to increase rates by more than 10%,” the Citizens’ Utility Board said in a news release. “Unfortunately, we have seen a growing pattern of Oregon’s for-profit utilities asking for 15%-20% increases nearly every year for the last four years. This is a call to Oregon regulators to implement a cap for all for-profit utilities.”

The latest rate requests from the two utilities are not driven by the costs of producing electricity, but by factors such as capital investments, insurance, profit margins and employee pay. In November, when the electric utilities will incorporate the costs of energy production into the rate proposals, they could ask for higher rates again.

The Public Utility Commission will make a decision in December, and the rates will go into effect in January.

The commission declined to comment on the specific proposals. Kandi Young, an agency spokesperson, said it can’t discuss active rate reviews.

PGE – Portland General Electric’s request for an 11% residential hike comes on top of an 18% increase in January and a 15% increase in 2023.

PGEs rates have gone up more than 30% since 2022, according to the Citizens’ Utility Board.

The company said in its rate proposal that the increases were due to needed investments in grid resilience, energy storage and renewable energy.

But Bob Jenks, executive director of the Citizens’ Utility Board, said PGE is making massive and long overdue investments all at once on the ratepayers’ dime. He said big capital projects are appealing to investors who get a financial return on the money they lend to the company, but not to the ratepayers who have to pay those investors back.

“At some point, you’ve got to say you can’t do this all in a three- or four-year period of time. You’ve got to set priorities,” Jenks said. “If the customers can’t afford it, and if the company’s not going to try to manage this situation and set priorities and keep rates affordable, then the Public Utility Commission regulators are going to have to crack down and create restraints on the company.”

In April, three months after a cold snap in January, PGE shut off power to a record number of households — 4,700 in one month alone — due to nonpayment. Citizens’ Utility Board officials said this is clear evidence Oregonians are struggling to pay.

“Because utilities disconnect for nonpayment after 90 days, it is clear that the combination of rising rates and extreme temperatures has pushed customers into debt to PGE,” the board said in a news release.

Pacific Power – If Pacific Power gets its 15% increase in 2025, customers would face electric bills more than 40% higher next year than they were just two years ago. Pacific Power raised rates by 11% at the beginning of 2024 and 21% in 2023.

The company said that would translate to $21.50 more per month for an average consumer.

The company said in its proposal that about half of the 15% increase would cover infrastructure upgrades, including grid and clean energy expansion and weatherization. The other half would help pay for wildfire mitigation as well as insurance and liability coverage.

For both Pacific Power and PGE, corporate liability insurance has gone up rapidly.

Pacific Power, owned by the company PacifiCorp, settled in June with more than 400 Oregon victims of the 2020 Labor Day Fires, paying out nearly $180 million after a judge found the company was negligent and responsible.

Though Pacific Corp can’t raise rates to cover payouts from previous fires, it can start creating a slush fund for future payouts, Jenks said.

“There’s a point at which it’s better for them to just put together a pot of money and call it self-insurance that they could use in these cases,” he said. “But it means customers have to fund it up front and build that pot of money up.”

Both PGE and Pacific Power have also asked for some of the rate increases to cover higher staff wages and company profit margins.

Beyond asking for rate caps, the Citizens’ Utility Board asked that the electric utilities stop raising rates in the middle of winter. Bills are significantly higher during the winter because heating homes takes more energy than cooling them, and heat is often left on at night while air conditioning is not. For companies hoping to show big revenues for the first quarter, boosting rates in the lead-up to January when energy demand is high can be lucrative. But, Jenks said, it’s taking advantage of the utilities’ poorest customers. (SOURCE)

Wyden, Jayapal Support Effort to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger

Washington, DC  – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) are leading more than 25 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief urging the Federal District Court for the District of Oregon to grant the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction in the Kroger-Albertson’s merger case. The brief outlines three major concerns with the merger: harm to consumers, harm to workers, and the growing consolidation of grocery chains leading to monopolistic practices.

“A Kroger and Albertsons merger will mean higher prices and an even tougher time finding a pharmacy,” said Wyden, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. “Every measure should be taken to ensure Oregonians can still fill their prescriptions and put food on the table. Blocking this merger would give mom-and-pop shops a strong line of defense against corporate giants—all while protecting our rural communities.”

“In Washington State alone, 124 grocery stores will be sold off if this merger goes through – including nearly 70 in the greater Seattle area,” said Jayapal, a Member of the House Antitrust Subcommittee. “There are many questions about what this merger could mean for store closures, or their quality if they remain. There is no doubt that this merger would mean fewer options, and it will likely lead to higher prices, more food deserts, and layoffs of hardworking, union employees. Greater competition, not increased consolidation is better for our economy, consumers, and workers.”

The FTC’s current challenge to the Kroger-Albertson’s merger, which threatens 617 stores nationwide, charges that the proposed deal will eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower quality products at stores. These negative impacts were seen in 2015 when Albertsons merged with Safeway resulting in store closures and higher consumer costs. 

A potential Kroger-Albertson’s merger would also limit employment competition, reducing workers’ ability to negotiate higher wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions. For that reason, the FTC has focused this case on the likely harm to nearly 100,000 unionized grocery workers. Federal legislation protects workers from mergers that negatively impact employment, especially for unionized workers. 

Finally, the merger is part of a larger trend toward consolidation in the supermarket industry. The U.S. has one-third fewer grocery stores than 25 years ago. Aside from the direct threats this poses to consumers and workers, it gives large grocery chains monopoly power to disadvantage smaller, independent grocers and farms. 

This case is being heard by the Federal District Court for the District of Oregon where the FTC has requested a preliminary injunction. 

The brief was also signed by Representatives Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-01),  Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Cori Bush (MO-01), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jesus G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mary Sattler Peltola (AK-At Large),  Katherine Porter (CA-47), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Adam B. Schiff (CA-30), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Senators Maria Cantwell (WA), Jacky Rosen (NV), and Elizabeth Warren (MA). —— The full brief can be read here.

Act now to secure Summer EBT benefits

(Salem) – As summer begins to wind down, families have a limited window to secure essential food assistance through the new Summer EBT program. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. With the application deadline quickly approaching on Sept. 2, 2024, it’s crucial for eligible families to act now.

Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) are urging families to check their eligibility and apply before the deadline. Remember, once benefits are received, you have 122 days to use them.

Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:

• Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level 

Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. 

However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children in Head Start programs that participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.

Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328) to verify their eligibility and apply. ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said, “Making sure children have access to nutritious food throughout the summer is critical. This small action could provide significant support to families in Oregon.” 

Interview with ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht

Since June 28, 2024, more than 329,000 eligible school-aged children have been issued $39.5 million in Summer EBT food benefits. More than 60 percent of families receiving benefits in the initial issuance were able to immediately use benefits on existing Oregon EBT cards; the rest received new cards in July.

“The results of the Summer EBT launch so far have far exceeded our expectations, but we know that there are many more families out there who have children who may be eligible for the $120 Summer EBT benefit,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “We encourage our schools and Summer Meals providers to have flyers on site to raise awareness and get our families the benefits they qualify for.”

Interview with ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams

Act now and don’t let this opportunity pass by. Make sure your family receives the assistance it deserves by applying for Summer EBT before Sept. 2, 2024.

To learn more:

• Call 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328). The call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
• Visit sebt.oregon.gov.

SNAP Double Up Food Bucks Benefits for Oregon Residents

You can use Double Up dollars when purchasing eligible items at participating farmers markets across the state. Just bring your SNAP EBT card with you to a participating farmers market and visit the information booth before you begin to shop.

Adapted from the Fair Food Network’s national model, Oregon Double Up Food Bucks makes it easy for low-income Oregonians to eat more fruits and vegetables while supporting family farmers and local economies. Double Up is Oregon’s first statewide incentive program, designed to be convenient for shoppers.

The program doubles the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (sometimes called “SNAP” or “food stamps”) benefits at participating farmers markets, grocery stores, and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms so shoppers can bring home more fresh produce.

Double Up is currently offered at over 85 farmers market locations, 35 grocery stores and more than 40 CSA farms across the state — with new locations joining the program each year.

For every $1 in SNAP you spend, you will get $1 of Double Up Food Bucks to spend on more fresh fruits and vegetables, up to $20 per transaction. For example: if you spend $20 in SNAP benefits, you’ll get an extra $20 free that you can use to buy more produce. Learn more at OregonFoodBank.org/DoubleUp.

Workplace safety conference in Bend offers opportunities to improve skills in fire safety, accident prevention, employee involvement, and more

Salem – A two-day event in Bend will offer employers and workers a variety of opportunities to gain new knowledge and refresh their skills about everything from fire, chemical, and transportation safety to accident prevention, worker involvement in safety programs, and the elements of a strong safety culture.

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA) encourages employers and workers to attend the Central Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Conference, to be held Sept. 16-17 at the Riverhouse Lodge. 

In addition to many workplace safety and health topics, the conference offers sessions focusing on safety and health challenges in fire and emergency services.

On Monday, Sept. 16, the conference will feature a keynote address by Jacy Good and Steve Johnson, the co-founders of “Hang up and Drive.” As public speakers and advocates of phone-free roads, they have spoken at more than 1,600 events in 44 states and three countries. They will share their story of how a distracted driver changed Jacy’s life forever, offering perspectives of both survivor and caregiver. Their presentation will blend powerful scientific and statistical evidence. And they will show what people can do, personally and while on the job, to make things better.

The Central Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Conference is a joint effort of Oregon OSHA and the Central Oregon Safety & Health Association. 

The Oregon Fire Chiefs Association’s Safety and Health Section helped create the conference’s fire service track. The track’s topics include hierarchy of contamination controls in the fire service and lessons of setting up a peer support team for a fire department.

The American Society of Safety Professionals’ Broken Top Chapter provided support in creating the worker safety and health topics for safety professionals. 

Other conference topics include:

• “How to Build a Forklift Training Program”
• “I’m on the Safety Committee, Now What?”
• “Hazard Identification”
• “Nutrition and Wellness in the Workplace” 
• “Oregon OSHA Recordkeeping and Reporting”
• “Preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities in the Workplace”
• “Workers’ Compensation Claims 101”
• “Bloodborne Pathogens”
• “The Job Hazard Analysis”

Registration for the two-day event is $230. Monday-only attendance is $105. Tuesday-only attendance is $125. For more information or to register, go to https://safetyseries.cventevents.com/central24.

### About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Oregon Wildlife Agencies Want Your Help Tracking Roadkill

This summer, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Zoo started asking Oregonians to do their own tracking and upload pictures of roadkill.

“The state wants to get a better idea about where different animals, different species are getting struck and killed by cars,” said Rachel Wheat, the ODFW wildlife connectivity coordinator.

If Oregon’s naturalists can identify roadkill hotspots, then maybe the state can reduce the number of animals killed in interactions with people each year by removing vegetation that attracts wildlife to a specific area or by building a wildlife crossing.

Roadways and vehicular traffic are a significant contributor to fragmentation of habitat and impacts to wildlife, including injury and mortality. The purpose of this project is to improve our understanding of the impacts of roads on Oregon’s wildlife, and to identify roadkill hot spots and vulnerabilities among a diversity of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. This information can help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and make roadways safer.

To sign up and for more information visit: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/roadkills-of-oregon

Campfires temporarily banned at most Oregon State Parks due to dry conditions, nearby wildfires

— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) temporarily banned campfires at most Oregon State Parks due to dry conditions and the strain on firefighting resources from wildfires burning across the state. 

Campfires and open flames are banned at all parks east of the Cascades due to the low humidity and risk of wildfires. They’re also restricted at parks in high-risk areas across the state until conditions improve. Most bans impact parks east of the Cascades and in the valley with some restrictions at select coastal parks.

“We understand that campfires are an important part of the experience at Oregon State Parks. We don’t make the decision lightly to restrict the use of fire, but unfortunately conditions require that response. The decision is made in consultation with our local fire agencies. Thank you for helping us do our part to reduce the risk of any new wildfires,” said JR Collier, OPRD’s deputy of statewide operations.

Campfire restrictions generally ban all “open flame,” but often make exceptions for propane cooking as the flame is contained. Check individual park webpages for details on any restrictions before visiting. Restrictions are listed in alphabetical order in a feature story at stateparks.oregon.gov/ or on the individual park pages. 

OPRD also encourages visitors to know before they go when it comes to the impact of wildfires across the state:

• Several parks have been closed due to wildfires including Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor, Farewell Bend State Recreation Area, East and West Hatfield Trailheads on the Columbia River Highway State Trail and Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor. Check park webpages at stateparks.oregon.gov/ and search by park.
• Some parks have reduced air quality due to wildfire smoke. Check DEQ’s website for air quality information at www.oregonsmoke.org/
• Several roads and highways have been closed due to wildfires. Please use TripCheck to learn about closures and alternative routes. Relying on GPS might lead drivers into unsafe conditions

For more information about current wildfires around the state, go to the Oregon Department of Forestry’s website: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/firestats.aspx. 

For more information about wildfire prevention, please visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/education/pages/prevent-wildfires.aspx.

Campfires prohibited across BLM’s Northwest Oregon District

– Starting July 23, campfires will be prohibited on all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout the Northwest Oregon District. BLM leaders encourage all visitors to be aware of active restrictions and closures as hotter, drier weather sets in around the Pacific Northwest.

In addition to fires and campfires, the stronger restrictions also prohibit smoking in vegetated areas; using vehicles in unmanaged vegetated areas; operating a chainsaw; welding, cutting or grinding; or using an internal combustion engine without a spark arrestor. These prohibitions will stay in effect until rescinded.

These level II fire restrictions help reduce the risk of human-caused fires. They build on the BLM’s statewide fire restrictions prohibiting fireworks, exploding targets or metallic targets, steel component ammunition (core or jacket), tracer or incendiary devices, and sky lanterns, which went effect May 24.

Those who violate the prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. In addition, those found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression.

For the complete order and more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafire.

To learn more about fire careers with BLM Oregon-Washington, please see https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire/state-info/oregon-washington/careers.

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the
aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins.

Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke

Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.

The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s
rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with
hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium

PLEASE Help Prevent Human-Caused Wildfires

• Immediately call 911 to report fires.
• Drones and other unmanned aircrafts are illegal to fly near fires.
• Fireworks, incendiary/tracer ammunition and exploding targets, are prohibited during fire season (May-October).
• Use caution when target shooting. Clear a 20-foot radius around the target by removing all vegetation and rocks.
• Ensure vehicles and trailers are properly maintained
• Make sure chains and other metal parts are not dragging.
• Keep exhaust systems clean and use spark arrestors.
• Do not park on dry grass.
• Carry extra water, shovel, and/or a fire extinguisher with you.
• Ensure your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving your campsite by making sure it is cool to the touch.
• Please don’t smoke and if you do, don’t throw out cigarette butts.
• Please be mindful and think about your actions

To ensure all Oregonians remain safe during the 2024 wildfire season, we urge everyone to stay tuned into these communications channels and follow all official safety guidelines related to air quality and recreation:

Watch Duty app: Download this app on your smartphone to understand where wildfires are in real time as well as monitor air quality and other metrics. https://app.watchduty.org

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: During fire season, this web-based interactive map is updated daily with current fire perimeters and locations. This website acts as the wildfire resource coordination center for the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Oregon Dept of Forestry, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/index.aspx

InciWeb the Incident Information System: The federal interagency all-risk incident information management system provides an interactive map with real-time location information on wildfires. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire News: The official wildfire news blog for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Look here for all wildfire news related to state forest lands. https://odffire.com/

Keep Oregon Green: A partnership comprised of statewide and interagency groups working together to promote awareness of the risk and causes of wildfires and how to be prepared in case of a wildfire emergency. https://keeporegongreen.org/

OregonLive Wildfire Map: A project managed by OregonLive that incorporates data from InciWeb, National Interagency Fire Center, Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, NOAA into an easy-to-use map tool. https://projects.oregonlive.com/wildfires/map

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – Air Quality Monitoring Data: A real-time map and cell phone application you can use to track air quality, including wildfire smoke impacts, across the state. Check your app store for OregonAir. https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map

Purple Air – Air Quality Map System: Real-time air quality information using crowdsourced data and data from EPA air sensors. https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p604800/cC0…

NOAA High Resolution Rapid Refresh Data Visualization: The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency(NOAA) is an experimental data visualization tool for wildfire smoke. Be sure to turn on the “Vertically Integrated Smoke” layer to see smoke paths. https://hwp-viz.gsd.esrl.noaa.gov/smoke/index.html

Oregon’s Missing Persons

Many times you’ll see postings without case numbers or police contact. There is rarely a nefarious reason why (the nefarious ones are pretty obvious). Usually the loved one tried to call to report their missing person and they are either refused or told to wait a day or two by people who are unaware of SB 351 and the laws that they are bound to when answering the phone. Many people don’t bother calling LE if their loved one is homeless or in transition because they believe LE won’t care. The biggest myth is the 24 hour rule.

In Oregon we don’t have those rules and an officer or person answering the phone is not allowed to decide. The law decides. We have Senate Bill 351 and it states that the police CANNOT refuse a request for any reason and they must begin working on it within 12 hours. The person making the report does not have to be related to missing person either.

Here is SB 351 written by families of the missing here in Oregon in conjunction with Oregon law enforcement officers. This should be common knowledge, please make it this way. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/SB351/Introduced