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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2020)
2B | SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS State Fire Marshal asks Oregonians to keep fireworks safe, legal The Office of State Fire Marshal, the Oregon Fire Service, natural resource agencies, Oregon li- censed fireworks whole- salers, and safety experts are asking Oregonians to “keep it legal and keep it safe” when using all fire- works. The 2020 Oregon fire- works retail sales season opened June 23 and runs through July 6. The OSFM and its partners want everyone to know what fireworks are legal to use in Ore- gon without a permit, where they are allowed to be used, and how to use fireworks safely. “In Oregon, consumer legal fireworks can only be purchased from per- mitted fireworks retailers and stands,” says State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. “State regulations limit where those fireworks may be used. Starting in July, risks for wildfire in many parts of Oregon will be high. Fireworks can also start structural fires that threaten lives and prop- erty, as we have seen in past years.” Residents who plan to visit public lands and parks for the July Fourth holiday are asked to leave all fireworks at home. The use of fireworks is prohibited in nation- al parks and forests, on Bureau of Land Manage- ment lands, on U.S. Fish and Wildlife properties, on state beaches, in state parks, and in state camp- grounds. For residents who pur- chase legal fireworks, the OSFM encourages every- one to practice the four Bs of safe fireworks use: • Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket. • Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fire- works. • Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Wait 15 to 20 minutes then soak it in a bucket of water be- fore disposal. • Be aware: use only legal fireworks and use them only in legal places. Oregon law prohib- its the possession, use, or sale of any firework that flies into the air, ex- plodes, or travels more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground, without a permit issued by the OSFM. Fireworks com- monly called bottle rock- ets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are illegal in Oregon, without a per- mit. For the last reported five years through 2019, there were 1,173 report- ed fireworks-related fires in Oregon, resulting in more than $4.9 million in property loss and con- tents damage. During that same pe- riod, fires resulting from fireworks resulted in one death and 36 injuries. The data from structur- al fire agencies do not include incidents that occurred on federal and other state lands. Officials may seize ille- gal fireworks and charge offenders with a class B misdemeanor, which could result in a fine of up to $2,500 per violation and a civil penalty of up to $500. Those who misuse fire- works or allow fireworks to cause damage are lia- ble and may be required to pay fire suppression costs or other damage. Parents are also liable for fireworks damage caused by their children. “All of us share the re- sponsibility to use only Oregon consumer legal fireworks and use them carefully,” adds Walk- er. “Please also consider your neighbors and their pets before deciding on when and where you choose to light legal fire- works.” The OSFM has pub- lished FAQs for com- monly answered ques- tions about the sale and legal use of consumer fireworks, permits for the retail sale of fireworks, and state rules for their use and enforcement activities. OSFM’s fire- works education materi- als for sharing on social media also can be found on its website. State Park visitors reminded to recreate responsibly to reduce COVID spread COVID-19 is still a real- ity in Oregon and Oregon Parks and Recreation De- partment (OPRD) is ask- ing visitors to do their part to help protect themselves and the health of their fel- low Oregonians. The state park system has been slowly reopening since early May, but nearly every park is experiencing reduced levels of service due to a $22 million bud- get gap. OPRD is relying on visi- tors to help us through this unprecedented time. Some state parks will re- main closed until at least Labor Day. To date, these parks include: • Alfred A. Loeb State Park campground and day-use. • Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor day- use (no campground). • Cape Blanco State Park campground and day-use (closed through 2020). • Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park campground. • Devil’s Lake State Rec- reation Area campground. • Saddle Mountain State Natural Area campground and trails. • Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor campground and day-use. • Umpqua Lighthouse State Park campground. Other parks may be added to this list. Check our state park status map for the latest information. The best thing way to keep yourself and others safe is to “Prepare + Care.” Prepare before you leave the house, then take care of yourself and the people around you while at the park. able. Some may be closed; read the “reduced ser- vices” section below. Make a backup plan for your outing. Summer is a busy time at state parks, and people are extra stir-crazy this year. If you show up and the park or parking areas look crowded, turn around and follow your backup plan. Parking may be limited, and please don’t park on road shoulders or private roads. It’s dangerous and you risk your vehicle be- Prepare ing damaged or towed. If If you’re not feeling well, the parking lot is full, turn stay home. The parks will around. still be here when you re- cover. Care Whether you’re stop- Try to maintain at least ping for the afternoon or 6 feet of physical distance camping overnight, bring from folks that aren’t part the essentials with you: of your household. face coverings, hand sani- Please wear a face cov- tizer, trash bags (pack it in, ering, especially when in pack it out), water, snacks, congested areas like park- and toilet paper. ing lots, trailheads or re- Choose a park close to strooms. home. The shorter your Take it easy while at the trip, the fewer stops you park: stick to trails and have to make on the way activities you’re familiar there, and the less time with. If you get in over you’ll be in close proxim- your head and get injured ity with others. or lost, that will further Check the park’s web- strain our already thin re- page in advance to learn sources. what amenities are avail- Take your trash with you when you leave. Gar- bage service has been sig- nificantly reduced and packing out what you pack in is a huge help to park rangers. With the weather heat- ing up, campfire restric- tions may be in effect in some state parks. Check campground and trailhead notice boards for posted fire restrictions, or call ahead to double check. Fireworks are never al- lowed in state parks or on the ocean shore. Reduced services We have far fewer staff than we normally do for the busy summer season. Park rangers will be fo- cused on essential duties to keep you safe, so other typical services may fall by the wayside. Events and programs will be can- celed, ice or firewood sales may be suspended, and grounds maintenance and trash pickup will be less frequent. Service avail- ability may change quick- ly. Many facilities will be closed or have sharply reduced hours. Shower/ restroom facilities, ranger booths, welcome centers, and other places will be affected. Go to the web- page for the park you plan to visit before you leave to learn what’s open and what’s closed. When you arrive at the park, scope out the open facilities. Don’t forget: normal park rules still apply. Visit the state parks rec- reation FAQ for a refresh- er. Learn more about safe recreation in parks during the pandemic, including more specifics for day-use and camping, on the state parks website: stateparks. oregon.gov. Cel 70 ebrat + Y ing ear s! 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Race from 1B As one of the most vul- nerable groups in commu- nities around the country, seniors are often heavily im- pacted by economic down- turns — particularly with recent coronavirus closures and subsequent budget shortfalls all over the public and private sectors — and LCOG is doing its part to alleviate these hardships. “A lot of people don’t know that our seniors strug- gle to make difficult choices between rent, mortgage, medication, food and other necessities,” said Wilson. “Senior Meals fills that gap so that seniors are tak- en care of,” Wilson said of the program, which pro- vides meal delivery to any- one and their spouse age 60 and older, regardless of income. “And it’s not just the meal. It’s the compan- ionship, the friendship and we’re also doing wellness checks when we drop off food at someone’s house.” Despite difficulties caused by virus concerns, LCOG has not stopped providing food to the com- munity and the upcoming Race for the Rest of Us is indicative of their contin- ued efforts to support the Senior Meals Program. “We wanted to find a fundraiser than anyone and everyone could participate in,” Wilson said. “Whether you’re a child, a senior or you’re experiencing a dis- ability. Our main offices are in Eugene and we’re ‘Track Town USA,’ so I thought, ‘How do I capture the en- ergy that comes with that to find a way for us to raise additional funds for senior meals?’ and I wanted it to be something that was healthy for people.” While most races — for fundraising purposes or otherwise — challenge ath- letes to complete 5, 10 or 20 kilometers, the Race for the Rest of Us comes in at a tidy 0.5K, making it accessible to all. Participants who sign up can complete the race any time between July 22 and 26, and will receive a packet including a T-shirt, finisher’s medal and 0.5K bumper sticker. Wilson also stresses that runners can join the virtual event no matter where in the world they are. “Anyone can do it any- where and by anywhere — I mean anywhere. You can do this in London because we’ll mail your packet to you.” The LCOG is also still looking for local business- es to sponsor the Race for the Rest of Us or any future events put on by the coun- cil. Interested parties may contact Kendra Penning- ton, community program analyst for S&DS, via email at kpennington@lcog.org. Runners interested in signing up for the race can visit https://runsignup. com/Race/Events/OR/Eu- gene/ARacefortheResto- fUsSDS for more info about the event as well as online registration. 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