Schlegel Hall in Banks. File Photo: Chas Hundley
UPDATE Sept 10, 8:20 p.m.: In a phone call to the Banks Post, Josh Rhoden, Head Coach of the Clackamas Community College wrestling team said his team had safely made it out of Clackamas County.
He said that around 16 left the region, and are now scattered throughout the greater Portland area, with 7 or 8 currently staying at Schlegel Hall. Other members of the team got some food from the hall before opting to stay in a hotel with their pets or at the homes of family in the area.
“We’re pretty grateful to the town of Banks. They were overwhelmingly awesome,” he said, citing food, sleeping materials, a television, and more that had been donated to the cause.
At this point, he said, the team is pretty much set, and is hoping that weather conditions will improve for the firefighters battling the flames in Clackamas County.
Original story below:
The Clackamas Community College wrestling team is evacuating from wildfires to Banks.
According to Dan Herb, head coach of the Banks High School wrestling team, members of the team are headed to Sunset Park’s Schlegel Hall in Banks.
“Wrestling family, we are packing up to evacuate from the fires,” a Twitter post read from the Clackamas team. “Our athletes as well as our coaches are moving to safety. Please pray for our community, our first responders and anyone who has lost all they have.”
Through a Facebook post, Herb and other community members are coordinating food and supplies to put the team up in the single story hall on the south end of Banks. In a message to the Banks Post, Herb said that they currently have enough supplies, but that a meal train would soon be set up.
“Amazing community support,” Herb said of the people donating supplies.
“Clackamas Community College has always given a lot to the Banks Wrestling Program,” Herb said.
Cash donations to purchase food and supplies for the team while they are in Banks can be made using Venmo at venmo.com/banks-wrestling.
Clackamas Fire District #1 said in a statement that their firefighters were taking what they called a “tactical pause” as wildfires marched closer to heavy populated areas.
“To be clear, your firefighters are still working hard on the wildfires in Clackamas County. They are taking a “Tactical Pause” to allow firefighters to reposition get accountability & evaluate extreme fire conditions. We haven’t abandoned you & working hard to keep you safe,” the agency said on Twitter.
All of Clackamas County is under some level of evacuation order or another; a maps showing current conditions can be found here.
This story has been updated.
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Banks Post and sister news publications the Gales Creek Journal and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.
