Hood River City Councilors ratified last week’s emergency declaration to establish a fireworks ban earlier than the statutory July 15 date due to hot, dry, and windy conditions, and briefly discussed considering a longer window of time to prohibit their use. City ordinances currently ban fireworks from July 15 to November 15. Councilor Megan Saunders said it’s worth a conversation about revising that time frame. Other councilors concurred, saying a discussion before next summer on the subject would be beneficial.
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TD Council Approves Making Beautification Committee Permanent
The Dalles City Council approved converting the municipal beautification committee into a standing Tree and Beautification Committee. It’s operated on an ad hoc basis since 2019. City Manager Matthew Klebes says municipal staff and the current panel have been working on plans for the future, including development of a strategic plan. Klebes says no staffing changes are needed to make the beautification committee permanent.
Restrictions Issued For Pinchot Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire managers have issued restrictions on campfires, smoking, and other activities within the forest. These restrictions became effective on Monday. Restrictions include building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including a charcoal fire and pellet fire on all Gifford Pinchot general forest areas…smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material…and operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order. Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device is prohibited year-round on national forest lands. Exemptions include portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off…and building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or charcoal fire is authorized in designated developed campgrounds.
Incoming Maryhill Director Looks To Strengthen Education & Relationships
Maryhill Museum of Art’s incoming executive director will be seeking to strengthen educational programs and existing relationships with the community. Amy Behrens starts in her new position in August, taking over for the retiring Colleen Schafroth. Behrens says the educational programs are key to growing the museum, creating new generations of visitors. She adds another priority will be to strengthen the building’s infrastructure. Behrens will come to Maryhill from Southern California, where she is currently executive director at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens.
Tunnel 5 Fire Nears Full Containment
Containment of the Tunnel 5 Fire near Underwood is now at 80 percent. Fire crews will continue to monitor containment lines around the fire perimeter, along Cook-Underwood Road and Highway 14. Northwest Team 12 and many of the firefighting resources assigned to the fire will be demobilized at the end of shift Monday. A Type 4 Incident Management Team will assume command of the fire on Tuesday. Team 12 operations trainee Cody Acord says by the time the transfer takes place, full containment should be achieved. Remaining fire crews and equipment will be utilized to patrol the fire area for the next several days as warmer temperatures and higher wind speeds return to the area throughout this week and pockets of interior fuels continue to be consumed. Smoke from this interior burning will be visible for some time to come. Washington Highway 14 remains closed between mile markers 56-65 due to safety hazards from fire weakened trees and terrain that has been compromised by fire activity. All Skamania County evacuation levels have been lifted. Cause of the 529-acre fire remains under investigation.
Type 2 Team Assumes Leadership On Boulder Fire
A Type 2 incident management team has assumed leadership of effors to suppress the Boulder Fire, which started Saturday southeast of Mt. Hood on the Barlow Ranger District near Boulder Lake Trailhead. The fire is estimated to be at about 160 acres in size, burning in dead and down debris located in steep, rugged terrain. Resources from the Mt. Hood National Forest have aggressively been fighting the fire over the last 48 hours with the support of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Northwest Incident Management Team 10 assumed command of the Boulder Fire Monday morning. Approximately 200 personnel are assigned to the fire in addition to two water scoopers and four helicopters. Fire crews were assessing the fire activity on Monday, scouting the area looking for potential safety hazards and safe access to and from the fire. Boulder Lake campground, Little Boulder Lake, Bonney Meadow campground, Badger Lake campground, Camp Windy, and Post Camp campground remain under a Level 3 – Go Now evacuation. Forest Roads 4880, 4881, and 4890 are also closed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Gilliam County Grass Fire Burns 3,500 Acres
A wildfire in Gilliam County had burned about 3,500 acres as of 5 p.m. Monday, damaging two fire trucks. The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office says the Devil’s Butte Fire started at around 10:30 Monday morning in the area of Ajax Lane and Highway 206 west of Condon. There was no containment level on the fire as of late Monday afternoon. The fire has not threatened any structures and has burnt rangeland and wheatfields. The Sheriff’s Office says two fire trucks from South Gilliam Fire Department and North Gilliam Fire Department were destroyed when they were overrun by wind driven fire. No firefighters were injured. Highway 206 is closed to through traffic from Wasco to Condon. The cause of the fire has been determined to be lightning. Resources from North Gilliam Fire Department, South Gilliam Fire Department, Sherman County Rural Fire Protection District, Morrow County Fire Department, Umatilla County Fire Department, Wheeler County Fire Department, Gilliam County Road Department, United States Forest Service, Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Office, Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office, BLM, Prineville Hotshots, and air assets are involved in the suppression efforts.
Alder Creek Fire To Transition To Local Resources
Management of the Alder Creek Fire in Wheeler County will transition to local resources Tuesday morning. Central Oregon Fire Information says rain showers and cooler temperatures this morning passed through the fire area. The fire remains at 1,550 acres and is now 50% contained. Local resources will remain on the incident, mopping up hot spots closest to the fires edge. Occasional torching trees and pockets of fuels within the fire perimeter will continue to burn and create smoke. Oregon Route 19 that parallels the northern edge of the fire area is now open. There is still potential for the road to be closed at any time if fire activity deems necessary. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Mt. Hood Forest & Scenic Area Prohibit Campfires
Due to dry and hot conditions, campfires are prohibited across both the Mt. Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, beginning Monday. All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited under a Forest Order, including in developed campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off. Additionally, target shooting is temporarily prohibited because of the risk of wildfire. Over the last week Fire Danger Indices have quickly risen, following rain and cooler temperatures in mid-June. Fire personnel anticipate drought and the potential for fires will continue to remain high or increase through September. With the current dry and warm long-range forecast, any wildfire start poses a greater threat to firefighter safety, public safety, and personal property. Officials also note fireworks and other explosive devices are always prohibited on national forest lands.
Port of TD Nears Completion Of Strategic Plan
The Port of The Dalles is closing in on wrapping up work on its new strategic plan. Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says they gathered input on what the Port can do to help business in The Dalles and Wasco County. She adds the plan will be acknowledging a different phase of the Port’s evolution because it does not have as much land as it has in the past. One option is purchasing land that needs to be redeveloped. Another option is for the Port to construct buildings on the land it has so it has total control of what happens on the property, and have them available for businesses looking to expand. Klaas says the Port Commission will be reviewing the final draft at its August meeting.