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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2015)
REGION )ULGD\$XJXVW Canyon Creek slips in QDWLRQ¶VWRS¿UHSULRULWLHV By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian When it comes to priori- tizing the multitude of giant ZLOG¿UHV UDJLQJ DFURVV WKH West, the Canyon Creek Complex is no longer on top of the nation’s list. That distinction now belongs to the Okanogan &RPSOH[DIRXU¿UHLQIHUQR burning nearly 90,000 acres in north-central Washington state. The Canyon Creek Complex now ranks third overall, behind Okanogan and the North Star Fire located north of Coulee Dam, Washington. That’s not to suggest help isn’t coming in daily to Canyon Creek. Staff on the ¿UH JUHZ WR SHRSOH E\ Thursday morning, which ZRXOG PDNH ¿UH FDPS WKH second-largest city in rural Grant County. +RZHYHU ¿UH PDQDJHUV recognize the enormous need to protect lives, homes and infrastructure in Wash- ington, where the Okanogan Complex and North Star Fire KDYHEXUQHGDFRPELQHG square miles. 'HWHUPLQLQJ ZKLFK ¿UHV get preference for resources is a process overseen by a number of the state and UHJLRQ¶V WRS ¿UH¿JKWLQJ RI¿FLDOV EDVHG RQ GDLO\ UHSRUWV ¿OHG E\ LQFLGHQW commanders on the ground level of each individual blaze. It starts at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, where a team of lead- ership known as the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group sets priority by geographic region. Federal agencies represented in the group include the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks, U.S. Fire Administration and National Association of State Foresters. 7KH 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW continues to be the high- est-priority region in the reviewed daily. “It’s kind of a constant moving around of resources,” she said. Within the Northwest region, there is another inter- agency coordination center based in Portland that evalu- DWHVVSHFL¿F¿UHVWKDWDUHLQ particular need of help. As conditions change on a dime DQG VFDWWHU ¿UHV RII LQ QHZ directions, the main criteria boil down to public safety, followed by protecting homes and protecting other Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian via AP infrastructure, such as Firefighters work to contain the Canyon Creek bridges and power lines. Complex fire, Tuesday near John Day. Fire managers Koshare Eagle, spokes- overwhelmed by massive wildfires blazing across the woman with the Northwest West are looking for help wherever they can find it and Interagency Coordination have called in 200 active-duty military troops to fight Center, said incident the flames. commanders send in a work- sheet every day that details ULVNV WR ¿UH¿JKWHU VDIHW\ Crews brace for tough weather public safety and homes, Conditions appeared ripe Thursday for more explosive among other resources. A JURZWKRQWKH&DQ\RQ&UHHN&RPSOH[ZLOG¿UHVRXWKRI second multi-agency team -RKQ'D\DV¿UH¿JKWHUVGXJLQWKHLUKHHOVWRSURWHFWWKH — this one made up of repre- WLQ\ PRXQWDLQ WRZQ RI 6HQHFD ² MXVW ¿YH PLOHV DZD\ sentatives from each agency IURPWKH¿UHOLQHV WKDW SDUWLFLSDWHV LQ ¿JKWLQJ $ UHG ÀDJ ZDUQLQJ ZHQW LQWR HIIHFW IRU 7KXUVGD\ ZLOG¿UHV DFURVV 2UHJRQ DQG afternoon through Friday evening for the area, with wind Washington — reviews the JXVWVDVKLJKDVPSKEORZLQJRXWRIWKHQRUWKZHVW information and issues an %RWK GD\V DUH H[SHFWHG WR UHJLVWHU D OHYHO RQ WKH bulletin of priorities. Haines Index, a meteorology tool used to gauge dry, The Canyon Creek unstable air in the atmosphere that could lead to erratic Complex, which continues ¿UH EHKDYLRU /HYHO LQGLFDWHV D PHGLXP SRWHQWLDO IRU to threaten more than 700 trouble. structures, is now third on the Amanda Graning, incident meteorologist with the list. But that doesn’t mean Canyon Creek Complex, said the forecast basically trans- it couldn’t change quickly, ODWHVWRH[WUHPH¿UHZHDWKHU Eagle said. “Anytime you have strong, gusty winds, you’ll be “It really is going to depend LQFUHDVLQJ WKH GDQJHU DQG SRWHQWLDO IRU ¿UH JURZWK´ RQ ¿UH DFWLYLW\ RQ WKDW ¿UH Graning said. UHODWLYH WR ¿UH DFWLYLW\ DQG The Canyon Creek Complex grew Wednesday night communities threatened on WRDFUHVDQGSHUFHQWFRQWDLQHGZLWK¿UHOLQHV RWKHU ¿UHV LQ WKH DUHD´ VKH KROGLQJRQWKHQRUWKZHVWÀDQN&UHZVZLOOVHQGDGGLWLRQDO said. UHVRXUFHV WR WKH ¿UH¶V VRXWKHUQ HGJH ZKHUH WKH\ H[SHFW Nor does it mean, just to see the most action, unless the winds suddenly change because the Okanogan direction. Complex tops the list, it ³<RXGH¿QLWHO\VWLOOKDYHDWKUHDWDOODURXQG´*UDQLQJ LV ¿UVW LQ OLQH WR UHFHLYH said. “Terrains could be variable. Especially in the valleys, everything. Cozakos said the you could have local effects.” FHQWHUGRHVLWVEHVWWR¿OODOO orders for resources, though country, and remains under the National Interagency they are about as stretched as D 3UHSDUHGQHVV /HYHO Fire Center. “It’s not random. they can get. IRU ZLOG¿UHV ZKLFK LV WKH There is some strategy in Incident priorities for highest level issued. SODFLQJ WKRVH ¿UHV LQ WKH the Northwest posted daily “We help prioritize and order they are in.” online at www.gacc.nifc. mobilize resources to (inci- Fire activity in the North- gov/nwcc/ dents) based on the need,” west continues to escalate, ——— said Christine Cozakos, Cozakos said, which has Contact George Plaven spokeswoman with the led to the current situation. at gplaven@eastoregonian. Forest Service stationed at %XWWKHVLWXDWLRQLVÀXLGDQG com or 541-966-0825. FIRE: Prairie City population little more than 900 Continued from 1A threatening homes. Residents on Ricco Ranch, Standard Creek and Dixie Creek were told to evacuate immediately, and Dixie Butte was put on a Level 2 evacuation notice, meaning they should prepare WRÀHHDWDPRPHQW¶VQRWLFH A spokeswoman with the Oregon Department of Forestry said she did not know exactly how many crews were diverted from Canyon Creek to Jerry’s Draw, but did say the depart- ment sent some engines to help with initial attack. 2I¿FLDOVDUHLQYHVWLJDWLQJ WKH FDXVH RI WKH ¿UH ZKLFK they said wasn’t started by lightning. Prairie City is a town with a population a little more than 900 people. On Thursday, residents could be found loading their cars and waiting on their front porches for the latest evacuation updates. Heidi Cearns said she heard from a neighbor her street was among those under a Level 2 evacuation. She rounded up her most important documents and WROG KHU ¿YH NLGV DJHV WR WREHUHDG\LIWKH\JRWWKH call to leave. “For the most part, there’s not much you can do,” Cearns said. “It’s just a waiting game.” Amanda Graning, incident meteorologist on the Canyon Creek Complex, said how ZLQGVZLOODIIHFWERWK¿UHVLV the “big money question.” Graning said at a commu- nity meeting Thursday after- noon at Grant Union High School that strong winds would blow west by north- ZHVW)ULGD\ZLWKJXVWVWR PSK %\ )ULGD\ HYHQLQJ however, they are expected to shift to the east. On Saturday, gusts are expected to ease to PSK Although the Canyon &UHHN &RPSOH[ ¿UH KDV JURZQ GDLO\ E\ WR DFUHV :LOG¿UH ,QFL- dent Commander Beth Lund “For the most part, there’s not much you can do. It’s just a waiting game.” — Heidi Cearns, evacuated Prairie resident VDLG WKH ¿UH LV SHUFHQW contained along the north- ZHVWOLQHRIWKH¿UHFORVHWR Canyon City and John Day. Lund said it was possible that, by Friday morning, more would be contained. ³7KHUH LV D ORW RI ¿UH but it is not building toward communities or homes,” Lund said. “Fall Mountain was a concern. Vance Creek gave us troubles, but it all looks pretty good now.” 7KH ¿UH¶V VRXWK HQG LV “starting to look better,” although it ran up to the ridge lines behind Seneca Wednesday. Seneca is still XQGHUDQHYDFXDWLRQ/HYHO alert, meaning that residents are put on notice that they may eventually have to evacuate. On Thursday, crews were able to hang onto the south- west corner, “and that’s a big deal,” Lund said. However, she expressed concern about WKH ¿UH¶V UDSLG HQWU\ LQWR D previously burned area called Parrish Cabin and along Dog Creek and Pine Creek ridges. Also being watched carefully is a youth camp south of the Canyon Creek complex line near Logan Valley. Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker, who LV WKH VWUXFWXUDO ¿UH¿JKWLQJ incident commander, said engines were sent to that area to protect the camp, where WKHUHDUHVWUXFWXUHV Power poles should be going up soon, said Lara Petitclerc-Stokes, spokes- woman for the Oregon Trail Electric Co-op. Power restoration is EHJLQQLQJ DW PLOHSRVW LQ Canyon City and at the J Bar L Ranch. Additional poles will be arriving Friday and Saturday, she said. Although there was a temporary loss of power on Fall Mountain Wednesday when OTEC had to de-en- ergize the line, the power has been restored, Petit- clerc-Stokes said. Power is also back on Miller Moun- tain, she added. Rumors of potential rolling blackouts are not true, Stokes said. 86 +LJKZD\ LV expected to be open begin- ning Saturday morning, said Paul Woodward, district manager for the Oregon Department of Transpor- tation. A pilot car will lead vehicles on the highway every hour. The opening will occur during daylight hours only for a while until signs are replaced, guardrails are repaired and hazards are removed, he said. (DVW2UHJRQLDQ Page 3A State can provide little in the way of DLGWR¿UHYLFWLPV By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau SALEM — Although Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said that the state will do everything it can to make sure victims of the Canyon &UHHN&RPSOH[¿UHKDYHWKH tools, resources and knowl- edge they need to rebuild, the state can provide little in the way of direct aid. Its only aid program IRU ¿UH YLFWLPV ² WKH ZLOG¿UH GDPDJH KRXVLQJ relief program — has strict income restrictions that will exclude all but the poorest of applicants. Earlier this year, state lawmakers passed a bill WKDW GHGLFDWHG LQ ¿QDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH WR very low-income residents who lose their primary UHVLGHQFHVWRZLOG¿UHZLWK FODLPVOLPLWHGWRSHU household. To qualify for the program, a household’s LQFRPHPXVWEHSHUFHQW below the federal poverty level. For example, a household of four would KDYHWRHDUQRUOHVV per year to be eligible. Organizations that serve QHHG\2UHJRQLDQVLQWKH¿UH area expect that the criteria will likely prevent some homeowners from getting help from the program. ³7KHUH GH¿QLWHO\ DUH people within that income bracket, but there are more people that need help also,” said Margaret Davidson, executive director of Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, an agency that serves Grant County. When the organization learned of the program, “We thought, ‘This is going to exclude a lot of people,’” she said. 7KH DOORFDWHG to the program may not be VXI¿FLHQW LI PDQ\ KRPHV DUH ORVW WR ZLOG¿UHV LQ RQH year, Davidson said. It is possible for Oregon Housing and Community Services, which adminis- ters the program, to shift money from other parts of LWV EXGJHW LQWR WKH ZLOG¿UH relief fund if necessary, said Rem Nivens, assistant director of public affairs for the agency. As of Aug. 20, nobody affected by the Canyon &UHHN &RPSOH[ ¿UH KDV applied for assistance, he said. The program is aimed DWFORVLQJWKH¿QDQFLDOJDS that low-income residents face when they suddenly need to relocate after a ¿UH VDLG 6FRWW &RRSHU executive direct of Neigh- ERU,PSDFWDQRQSUR¿WWKDW serves Central Oregon. ³,W¶V PD[ VR it’s not going to rebuild your house. But at least it FDQKHOS\RX¿JXUHRXWWKH next steps of your life after you’ve lost everything,” he said. The program will help those who would have “fallen through the cracks otherwise,” Cooper said. “You’re talking about people who could not afford to pay an insurance premium.” Rep. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, originally wanted to devote $200,000 WR WKH ZLOG¿UH GDPDJH housing relief program but scaled back the amount after discussions with legis- lative leaders, said Kara Walker, his spokesperson. The legislature’s Emer- gency Board — which makes emergency funding decisions — may decide to increase the overall amount and ease the income requirements, she said. McLane is a member of the board, which meets next month. It’s also possible that assistance funding could be obtained through the Federal Emergency Management Agency if WKH ZLOG¿UH LV GHFODUHG a federal disaster, said Cooper of NeighborImpact. However, that’s unlikely to happen unless an event displaces large numbers of people, Cooper said. ³:LOG¿UHV GRQ¶W XVXDOO\ rise to that level.” Melissa Navas, spokes- person for Brown, said state agencies will partner with institutions such as the American Red Cross to help residents who’ve lost homes. “The governor is utilizing existing staff and VWUXFWXUHVZLWKLQKHURI¿FH such as Regional Solutions and Constituent Services, to foster collaboration between state agencies and local governments,” Navas said in an email. “This will connect those affected by ¿UHV ZLWK UHVRXUFHV DQG develop strategies to assist them.” Public Meeting in Milton-Freewater - Aug. 24 The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will host a Public Open House Meeting August 24 to provide information and hear comments regarding the Birch Creek Road Bridge Replacement Project . The purpose of the meeting is to share project plans with the community, provide a project status update and make key project staff available for questions from interested parties. The meeting will be held 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Milton-Freewater Public Library . All interested parties are encouraged to attend. The goal of the project is to replace the Umatilla County, single lane Walla Walla River bridge located along Birch Creek Road north of Milton- Freewater. This bridge, built in 1956, is functionally and structurally obsolete. The roadway has 90 degree curves leading into one end of the bridge which has caused some impacts to the structure. The abutments are also experiencing some scour. This has resulted in the load rating being lowered to 3 tons. The new bridge will be built adjacent to the existing structure on a better alignment to improve safety. The new 34-foot-wide, 200-foot-long bridge will accommodate two-lane traffic. The existing bridge will remain in place during construction to minimize impacts to local road users. The project is scheduled to bid April 2016 with construction starting June 2016. The open house will include representatives of Umatilla County and the ODOT Bridge design, Environmental and Right of Way staff, who will be available to present information on the project and answer questions. Historical significance of Birch Creek Road Bridge The existing Walla Walla River, Birch Creek Road Bridge (#59C483) is a 110-foot long Pratt pony truss built in 1956 as part of a collection of welded steel bridges commissioned by Umatilla County in the 1950s and 1960s. The truss is the earliest remaining example of a fully welded steel truss in the state of Oregon. The bridge was evaluated by ODOT and reviewed by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer, and has been determined to be potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to its structure type and construction technique. Because the bridge is a historic resource, removing it through the proposed project, without repurposing it, would result in an adverse effect finding per Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and will trigger Section 4(f) of the Federal Transportation Act, which will require mitigation for the adverse impact. The history of the bridge will be described in greater detail at the open house, and ODOT will be seeking public comment on potential impacts and mitigation opportunities. Questions about the project or the Open House Meeting can be directed to Ken Patterson, ODOT Project Leader at (541) 963-1365 or email Kenneth.e.patterson@odot.state.or.us
