YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1937
Illinois Valley News
Wednesday, August 2, 2017, 1 Section, Volume LXXX No. 19
Published weekly for the residents of the Illinois Valley
Lakeshore closure begins
(Photo by Laura Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
According to a press release
from Josephine County Public Works,
Lakeshore Drive will be closed to all
traffic, including emergency vehicles,
at Lake Selmac Spillway between
Reeves Creek Road and the Resort
beginning July 31, 2017. The closure
is expected to last up to four months.
During this time MJ Hughes
Construction will be working in the
right of way replacing a bridge at Lake
Selmac spillway, located between the
intersection of Lakeshore Drive and
Reeves Creek Road and the Resort
Signage for a detour around the
work zone will be posted. A detour
map will be posted on Josephine
County Public Works’ webpage and
Facebook, as well as on Josephine
County’s webpage under Geographic
Information System (GIS), scroll
down to Public Works, County Road
Conditions and Information map.
The public is asked to call Public
Works at 541-474-5460 with any
questions or concerns.
August Moon barn lost in fire
“ ... I’m so proud of the response by our marvelous
community, we are indeed the ‘Valley of Riches’ ...”
Renee` Herndon, Healing Hearts and Hooves
Annette McGee Rasch
IVN Senior Contributing Writer
Wednesday, July 29 as dusk fell, explosions rocked the
quiet neighborhood around 4411 Holland Loop Road when
the main barn at August Moon Farm erupted in flames.
“We heard this huge explosion and we saw this huge
orange ball,” said Shelley Herndon, who has lived on the
property with her husband David and daughter Renee’ for
the past 21 years. “Then we heard another explosion and
we ran out of the house. We called 911. I tried to get to
the sprinklers and Renee’ ran to the barn. She was actually
going to try and go in, but the door was on fire. She knew
she couldn’t touch that door. We both knew we couldn’t do
anything.”
It was “horrific” for the family, who knew their three
pet cats were trapped inside. “If it had been two hours later,
our older horses would have been in the barn as well,”
Herndon added. It was also a close call for the women, as
they had recently been in the barn as well.
The barn was utterly destroyed and no one has a clue
why. “A fire investigation will be happening and we’re
hoping they find the cause so that it can be prevented from
ever happening again,” Renee’ Herndon said. “It was so
scary to see how hot and how intense that fire was and it’s
just a miracle that nothing else caught on fire. We found
embers near the house - about 400 feet away. Thankfully,
the Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) arrived quickly and
worked really hard to get the fire out.”
IVFD Public Information Officer Jason Bayless said,
“When we arrived on the scene the barn was fully engulfed
in flames. Luckily there was no wind - so we stopped it from
spreading to the adjacent buildings and onto the lands.” He
$1.00
also said the Oregon Department of Forestry was called in,
ready to jump in if needed.
Bayless doesn’t know what caused the explosions, but
said, “It could’ve been smaller propane tanks or any number
of things.” He added how the fire was rough for the IVFD
crew: “It’s kind of different when it’s one of your own.”
Renee’ Herndon is a 911 dispatcher and thus part of the
local emergency response family.
The fire likewise distressed many throughout the
Illinois Valley and beyond, as the Herndon family is held in
high regard, in part, for opening their lives and property to
host Healing Hearts and Hooves (HHH), a therapeutic horse
riding program which has operated from August Moon Farm
since its founding in 2009. The Herndon’s house six HHH
horses and also bring their years of equestrian experience to
that program. Additionally, many other horses depend on the
Herndon’s for their care.
“August Moon Farm tends to operate in a state of quiet
anonymity and their continuing generosity in providing
the facility, outbuildings, time and care of the horses for
Healing Hearts and Hooves often goes unrecognized,”
said one of the HHH staff members Connie Hicks. “But
now, the prompt donations and offers of help from friends
and supporters throughout the region are pouring in -
and also I’m so proud of the response by our marvelous
community, we are indeed the ‘Valley of Riches.’ Donations
of feed began arriving the day after the fire. And once the
investigation is over, August Moon Farm will begin the
grim task of cleaning up the mess. I know they would really
appreciate some extra help then. It’s going to be quite a
job.”
Rogue River-Siskiyou
National Forest Fire
Update: Urging public
to be cautious as
temperatures soar this
week
In a press release from Rogue River-Siskiyou
National Forest, Supervisor’s Office, fire season
progresses in SW Oregon, fires in the area continue to
be actively suppressed. The Forest continues to work
with partners to ensure that safety of firefighters and
public are the primary objective in responding to fires
in the area.
Blanket Creek Fire: At last report, the fire is
at 931 acres and is 3 percent contained. The Type 2
Team assumed command of the fire early Saturday
morning, and continue to establish their phone lines
at the Incident Command Post, located at Joseph
Stewart State Park. Updates and contact information
can be found at the Incident’s Inciweb page, at https://
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5431/. When landlines are
established for public information, they will be posted
on the Inciweb page and the RRSNF’s Facebook
page.
• There is an area closure in place, with details
located on the Inciweb page.
Chetco Bar Fire: The NIMO Team continues to
work on strategies for the 2,877-acre fire, believed
to be started by lightning earlier in the month in
the Kalmiopsis Wildnerness. Updates and contact
information can be found at the Incident’s Inciweb
page, at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5385/.
• There are closures in place, with details
located on the Inciweb page.
The Spruce Lake Fire, detected on July
29 and burning in Crater Lake National Park, is
approximately 95 acres, of which 10 acres have
spread onto the RRSNF. Further information on this
fire and management of it are forthcoming.
One new fire was reported this past Sunday,
which was contained with no issue at ¼ acre in size.
Information is also being shared on the
RRSNF’s social media sites; the public are
encouraged to follow the sites for up-to-date
information as it becomes available.
Fire agencies in southwest Oregon are urging
caution for all those participating in outdoor
activities, particularly as temperatures soar into the
triple digits and conditions dry further. The right
conditions can mean that just one small spark from an
unattended fire, muzzle of a gun, or the hot exhaust
pipe on a vehicle can ignite fine fuels.
There are no days off for
Division Chief Ismaili
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
On July 13, 2017, while taking a vacation
to attend his son’s wedding down in Southern
California, Illinois Valley Fire Department Division
Chief Kamron Ismaili helped save a man’s life from
a vehicle wreck about an hour and a half outside of
Redding. The incident involved three victims, two
males and one female. The driver was still trapped
inside and Ismaili estimated that he could not survive
long enough for the local fire department to save him
so he took immediate action.
Despite not having his gear and being far
outside of his jurisdiction, Ismaili’semergency
instincts kicked in right away and he, along with
several civilians and a couple of fellow off-duty
firefighters, went to work helping the two men.
“We’re never really off duty,” Ismaili said, “It’s
embedded into our brains. I wasn’t acting heroically;
my nature just took over.”
SEE OFF DUTY ON A-5
SEE FIRE ON A-12
(Courtesy photo for the Illinois Valley News)
A funk marching band is coming to Takilma, it’s time for the Turning Moon Fest.
Read about it on A-5
Kamron Ismaili heads back to his vehicle
after saving the life of two travelers in
Northern California, Thursday, July 13.