SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016 7 A Dunes City Expo offers emergency prep advice for residents PHOTOS BY JACK DAVISSIUSLAW NEWS D ozens of Dunes City residents took part in the second annual Dunes City Expo held at Dunes City Hall on Aug. 20. Dignitaries included State Sen. Arnie Roblan and Dunes City Mayor Rebecca Ruede (far left). Seventeen vendors and exhibitors held informational discussions and demonstrations about emergency preparedness, septic care, drinking water quality and other topics. Fires from 1A Siuslaw Valley sent three engines, one truck and three support vehicles in response, a total of 12 firefighters. Barrett said, “It became very obvious that the fires were intentionally set. We found eight starts of fire, with only one causing the sprinkler acti- vation.” The fires mainly affected 12 offices in the west wing of the building. The estimated loss is about $25,000 for structure damages. Barrett said the multiple fires did not cause more dam- age because they ran out of fuel. He also said the fires could have been set at any point in the night or morning, since the building’s sprinkler system did not have a working bell alarm. “There was definiely crimi- nal intent involved,” Barrett said. Later that day, around 1:50 p.m., emergency responders were sent back to 12th Street after receiving a call about a “smoking box” that was found outside the Florence Elks Erosion from 1A “Nationwide slopes permitting is not available through FEMA, so individual formal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Lodge near a backdoor. Police asked about 15 peo- ple inside the lodge to evacuate the building while the Eugene Bomb Squad was called to respond. Barrett said, “We had to evacuate the building in case the box decided to do some- thing unexpected.” The box, about the size of a metal cashbox, had a rock placed on top of it. Smoke appeared to be issuing from inside the container for at least two hours during the incident. Barrett said certain kinds of metals and chemicals could create smoke from inside a closed container. As of press time at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Bomb Squad was still on its way. Florence Police Commander John Pitcher said, “We don’t know for sure when the box was placed. It wasn’t here this morning when we were work- ing the fire (at the Business Center).” Police said it was unclear if the two incidents were related, and that the investigations are ongoing. Florence Police Detective Brandon Ott is leading the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) consultations are required, which could take up to 135 days after the scope of work is approved by FEMA,” Leskin said. If the original in-water repair proposed by project engineer PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS Police and firefighters are investigating a series of fires set in the interior of the Florence Business Center on 12th Street (above), which were discovered the morning of Aug. 23. Later that day, on the same street, emergency responders evacuated the Florence Elks Lodge due to a suspicious box found outside the building (at right). investigations. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact Detective Ott at 541-997-3515. “It’s been a busy day,” Barrett said. Jack Aiken is used, the Corps, NIMS and FEMA will all have to sign off on the work. Leskin suggested having Aiken work up a second pro- posed solution to determine whether to do an in-water proj- ect and go through the lengthi- ly permitting, or move the proj- ect up eight feet and simplify the permitting by removing NIMS from the process. He proposed to bring Aiken to the port to present both plans and then have commissioners decide which plan to use. Eugene Foot and Ankle Health Center Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons We are looking for : • Barbers • Beauticians • Estheticians We provide you with towels, client scheduling and more! No limit to service! We offer very competitive No Appointment Necessary! space rental fees! Come in to Glo and talk to Kristen! We offer comprehensive, conservative, and surgical management of all of your foot and ankle needs. www.eugenefootandankle.com 138 Maple Street • Florence 541-997-1844 A LICE B RAUER C HRISTIAN P RESCHOOL Face Painting Florence 4480 Highway 101 Building G Mon/Tues (541) 997-2319 ur Get yo ogs D Hot ater! and W Frank’s 101 Barbershop THE FISH ARE COMING! All is better with my health and spiritual well being! h ank you friends and current clientele for all your patience! Stocks. Bonds. CDs. IRAs. Mutual funds. 541-999-9800 396 Hwy 101 - Florence Coat/ Hoodie GIVE-AWAY! 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GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER Saturday, August 27, from 8 am - 2 pm “Aiken may say definitively it makes sense to go above or below (the water). I will bring that back to the commission for approval,” Leskin said. The funding for the project is still not in place. Commissioner Mike Buckwald asked, “Are we getting money from FEMA or not?” “Yes,” Leskin said. “We don’t have a dollar amount because we haven’t been approved, but we have quali- fied for the 75 percent FEMA grant.” Port Administrative Assistant Dina McClure assured commissioners that the 25 percent the port would need Donations of new or gently used jackets/hoodies are needed especially toddler/teen sizes. Member SIPC Questions? Call 541-997-6337