The Wilson River near the Tillamook Forest Center. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) initiated its administrative rulemaking process to create a permanent rule for implementing state forest closures, and to update an existing rule to include language clarifying that parking fees are not the same as[Read More…]
wildfire
Wildland firefighters now eligible for vaccine
Banks Fire District Engine 16 heads toward the Powerline Fire. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon’s wildland firefighters became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, March 29 in Washington County, and that includes many private crews that work in the logging industry in the region’s forests, and landowners in forested areas that[Read More…]
Banks Fire District heads to California to battle wildfires
Banks Fire District Brush Rig 13 and a crew of three prepare to head to California for a similar deployment in 2019. Photo: Banks Fire District Brush Rig 13, two volunteers and one paid firefighter from Banks Fire District 13 have joined a number of Washington County crews along with[Read More…]
Tillamook, Clatsop forests to reopen to public use Friday
A sign noting forest closures on Lousignont Road in Timber on Wednesday, September 16. Photo: Chas Hundley The Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are expected to reopen to public use on Friday, September 18 at 1 a.m., according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. However, the fire danger is expected[Read More…]
Oregon Department of Forestry extends public forest shutdown through Wednesday
A sign on Highway 6 noting “Extreme” fire danger on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Department of Forestry plans to keep all forests under their purview closed to public entry and use through at least Wednesday, September 16. The earliest they could open is Thursday, September[Read More…]
In September, 124 South Fork Forest Camp inmates deployed to wildfires
South Fork Forest Camp entrance in November 2017. Photo: Chas Hundley At least 124 inmates from the South Fork Forest Camp, a joint Oregon Department of Corrections and Department of Forestry facility, have been deployed to fight fires this month, according to a spokesperson for the DOC. The men at[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…]
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…]