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…]
wildfire
Clackamas Community College wrestling team evacuates to Banks
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[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//Banks Post 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, the[Read More…]
Brush fire in Roy ‘under control’
Roy-area farms, taken in 2015. Photo: Chas Hundley A brush fire is burning in Roy on Chalmers Lane near Roy Road, according to Forest Grove Fire and Rescue. According to Forest Grove Fire and Rescue, the fire has been brought under control with crews putting out hot spots. The flames[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…]
Region to officially enter fire season July 1
Banks Fire District Brush Rig 13 and a crew of three prepare to head to California in 2019. Photo: Banks Fire District NW OREGON – The Oregon Department of Forestry announced that the Northwest Oregon Forest Protective Association region, which includes much of the regions of Gales Creek, Buxton, Timber,[Read More…]
Six acres burned in the Tillamook Forest as region enters fire weather watch
Monday’s wildfire. Photo: ODF TILLAMOOK FOREST – The wildfire season is here a bit early, with six acres burning on private forestland in the Tillamook Forest on Monday. According to Forest Grove District forester Mike Cafferata with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire burned mostly in fresh timber harvest,[Read More…]
As warm weather moves in, ODF cautions against burning
A September 13, 2017 wildfire burns near Balm Grove in Gales Creek. Photo: Chas Hundley OREGON – Spring officially began on Thursday, March 19, and Oregon Department of Forestry officials are already warning of increased wildfire risk as warm, drier weather moves in. “The first week of spring has emergency[Read More…]
Brush fire burning near Highway 6 west of Timber Road
Cornelius Fire Department brush 816 drives through downtown Gales Creek, sirens blaring, as it heads toward the brush fire west of Glenwood. Photo: Chas Hundley UPDATE: Forest Grove Fire & Rescue says that Highway 6 could be closed for 3 to 4 hours, though crews hope to have it open[Read More…]