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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2020)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 FIRE FOAM Continued from Page 1A T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald October 30, 1970 Hugh Downs, master of ceremonies at the NBC “To- day” show, arrived in Baker yesterday to accompany a network TV camera crew into Hells Canyon and the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area to fi lm segments on America’s wilderness. The Northeastern Oregon scenic footage will be incorporated into a special scheduled for presentation in January. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald October 30, 1995 State fi re experts continue to investigate a hunters’ warming fi re that, with help from someone, spread into a nearby slash pile near Goodrich Creek and damaged two pickup trucks Friday afternoon. The blaze burned about a quarter of an acre, said Joe Hessel, forest practices forester at the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Baker City offi ce. Flames reached a gate that blocks vehicles from entering Baker City’s watershed, but did not pass it, he said. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald October 29, 2010 Charter Communications plans to remove KTVB Chan- nel 7, the NBC affi liate in Boise, from its Baker City channel lineup. KTVB will go away on Dec. 1. The Portland NBC affi liate, KGW Channel 8, will still be broadcast. This isn’t the fi rst time Charter has announced its plan to drop KTVB. In 2005 the company proposed eliminating the channel from its Baker City and La Grande programming due to poor signal quality. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald October 30, 2019 Suzan Ellis Jones is happy for her friend, Greg Walden, who announced Monday he won’t seek a 12th term in Congress representing Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District. But Jones is worried about the 2nd District, which covers all of Oregon east of the Cascades and parts of Jackson and Josephine counties in the state’s southwest corner. Jones, who is chair of the Baker County Republican Party and has worked on Walden’s campaigns since he was elected to Congress in 1998, believes Walden’s retire- ment could open the way for a Democratic candidate to win the House seat for the fi rst time in almost 40 years. The last Democrat to represent the 2nd District was Al Ullman of Baker City, who served 12 terms before losing his bid for a 13th term in 1980. “If we get the wrong nominee out of the May primary we could lose the seat to the Dems,” Jones said on Tues- day. “I’m very concerned.” Walden is the only Republican among Oregon’s con- gressional delegation. Both the state’s U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and the representative for each of the four dis- tricts west of the Cascades, are Democrats. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, Oct. 26 6 — 15 — 27 — 39 —44 — 45 Next jackpot: $3.7 million POWERBALL, Oct. 26 18 — 20 — 27 — 45 — 65 PB 6 Next jackpot: $116 million MEGA MILLIONS, Oct. 27 6 — 13 — 34 — 46 — 62 Mega 1 Next jackpot: $118 million WIN FOR LIFE, Oct. 26 16 — 19 — 64 — 68 PICK 4, Oct. 27 • 1 p.m.: 0 — 4 — 2 — 2 • 4 p.m.: 7 — 6 — 2 — 1 • 7 p.m.: 1 — 4 — 2 — 7 • 10 p.m.: 7 — 3 — 8 — 2 LUCKY LINES, Oct. 27 3-8-10-16-17-22-28-31 Next jackpot: $13,000 S ENIOR M ENUS ■ FRIDAY: “Ghoulash,” peas, cornbread, coleslaw, cookies ■ MONDAY (Nov. 2): Chicken broccoli Alfredo over fettuccine, mixed vegetables, biscuit, green salad, cheesecake ■ TUESDAY (Nov. 3): Meat lasagna, caulifl ower, breadsticks, carrot-raisin salad, roll, peach crisp ■ WEDNESDAY (Nov. 4): Orange-glazed chicken tender, fried rice, Asian vegetables, bread, Asian salad, cookies ■ THURSDAY (Nov. 5): Sausage gravy over a biscuit, ham, cheese and egg frittata, hash browns, orange slices, cinnamon roll Lunches at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75, under 60. Meals must be picked up; there is no dining on site. Casey Kump, deputy state fi re marshal, said that in his past experience with fi re departments there had been no requirement for backfl ow devices on municipal water fi re hydrants. Jim Critchley, Pendleton fi re chief and fi re marshal, said he is “not aware of any requirement for backfl ow devices on fi re hydrants.” Owen said that although she is focusing on ensuring the water is safe, she will be talking with Lee and City Manager Fred Warner Jr. about the incident. Owen described it as an “operational issue” that resulted in the foam entering the water distribution system through the hydrant. The warehouse at 2330 10th St., between Madison and Baker streets, is owned by Nicholas Lien, who was using it for his construction company, Lee said. The struc- ture was a total loss. Kump and Zach Downing, Oregon State Police arson investiga- tor, determined that the cause of the fi re was accidental. “By the time we had the wall down and the fi re out there was not a lot left to do an investigation,” Lee said. Although the exact cause could not be determined, Lee said the fi re most likely was linked to metal grinding re- lated to roof repair work that had been done the day before. Lee said sawdust insula- tion in the building might have smoldered through the night before igniting. Both Owen and Bill Goss, a drinking water specialist for the Oregon Health Authority, said it’s likely, but not certain, that the foam was confi ned to the neighborhood relatively close to the fi re. Owen said city crews closed valves on water supply lines and took other steps to limit the water fl ow out of that area. But because the water distribution system is consid- ered a “single system,” Owen said, OHA recommended that the city suggest residents throughout the city turn on their taps to fl ush their pipes as a precaution. The city will credit each water customer with an extra 750-gallon unit of water on their next bill, Owen said. That should more than make up for the water residents used to fl ush their pipes. To determine whether any traces of the foam remain, the city collected four water samples at 4 a.m. on Wednes- day and a city employee drove the samples across the state to Myrtle Creek, south of Roseburg, where a lab at Umpqua Research Company will analyze the water for the presence of the main ingredi- ent in the foam concentrate, Owen said. The water samples were taken at 10th and H streets, College and E streets, Broad- way and Third streets, and 8th and A streets, she said. COVID-19 Continued from Page 1A Witty said he is aware of the two students testing positive, as well as two other students who are “presump- tive” cases. Those are people who have symptoms consistent with C ONTACT THE H ERALD 1668 Resort St. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone: 541-523-3673 Fax: 541-833-6414 Publisher Karrine Brogoitti kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver. com Jayson Jacoby, editor jjacoby@bakercityherald.com Advertising email ads@bakercityherald.com Classifi ed email classified@bakercityherald.com Circulation email circ@bakercityherald.com ISSN-8756-6419 Serving Baker County since 1870 Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays except Christmas Day by the Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807), Baker City, OR 97814. Subscription rates per month are: Baker City (97814), $10.80; all others, $12.50. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker City, OR 97814. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801 Copyright © 2020 Jayson Jacoby / Baker City Herald Baker City Fire Department crews pour water on a ware- house fi re on Tuesday morning. Building Formerly Part Of Ice Cream, Ice Distribution Business The warehouse that burned on Tuesday morning was part of Schreeck’s Ice Cream, a business that also deliv- ered ice in Baker City in the era before widespread use of electric freezers. A patrolling Baker City Police offi cer was the fi rst to notice smoke billowing from the warehouse. The fi re department was dispatched at 3:12 a.m. Fire Chief Sean Lee said heavy smoke was coming out of the eaves when fi refi ghters arrived. As the fi re burned hotter and the mortar between the bricks began to break down, an excavator was brought in to tear down one of the walls to prevent the building from collapsing, Lee said. About 15 fi refi ghters from Baker City, Baker Rural and the Haines fi re departments responded. Baker City brought an engine and a ladder truck to the scene. Haines and Baker Rural each brought two engines, Lee said. The city’s ladder truck was placed between the fi re and Burger Bob’s Drive-In at 2380 10th St. It was used both to fi ght the fi re and to protect the drive-in, which was not damaged in the fi re. Firefi ghters worked through the early morning with temperatures in the mid-20s. There were no injuries. “The guys were all soaking wet and their turnouts were freezing,” Lee said. “They were starting to make a big ice slick and they were having a hard time standing up.” — Chris Collins On Wednesday afternoon the city issued a press release noting that the OHA had advised that residents can safely use city water as usual, with these recommendations: • Flush the water from the cold tap for at least 5 min- utes, or until the temperature of the water drops, which indicates that water from the main supply line has passed through your plumbing. • Don’t drink water if there are suds or foaming, or unusual odors. Goss said that based on the city’s closing of valves and fl ushing of supply lines, it’s likely that the foam was “lo- calized” to an area relatively close to the fi re. But it’s diffi cult to de- termine with certainty the precise extent of the foam’s spread, Goss said. “I would say this is going to be a short-term event,” Goss said on Wednesday morning. “Flushing should resolve it.” The foam concentrate is manufactured by Perimeter Solutions, a company owned by SK Capital of New York City. The product is called PHOS-CHEK WD881. According to the safety data sheet for the product, which companies are le- gally required to provide, the concentrate is considered a “moderate” health hazard. COVID-19 and have had close contact with someone who tested positive, but haven’t themselves tested positive. The Pine Eagle Charter School at Halfway announced Tuesday that two students from grades 7-12 had also tested positive. N EWS OF R ECORD DEATHS Loy Smith: 85, of Baker City, died Oct. 27, 2020, at her home in Ashley Manor. Arrangements are under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Online con- dolences can be made at www. tamispinevalleyfuneralhome. com POLICE LOG Baker City Police Arrests, citations FAILURE TO APPEAR (Two Baker County warrants): Chuck Wayne Briney, 27, of Baker City, 10:35 p.m. Monday, in the 1900 block of Broadway Street; jailed. THIRD-DEGREE THEFT and CONTEMPT OF COURT (Baker County Justice Court warrants): Michael Steven Myers-Gabiola, 29, of 2440 Fifth St., 11:27 p.m. Tuesday at Spring Garden Av- enue and Elm Street; cited and released. Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce Arrests, citations FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker County Circuit Court warrant): Leigh Ann Hunter, 40, of 1757 Broadway St., 1:18 p.m. Monday, at the Courthouse; cited and released. That’s based on the concen- trate itself, not when it’s been diluted in water. The product can cause ir- ritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract if inhaled, and if ingested it can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting and diar- rhea. Owen said the situation is particularly challenging because the foam residue, un- like other water contaminants such as bacteria, can’t be eliminated by boiling water. Businesses, residents deal with water issue The Animal Clinic of Baker, at 2490 10th St., about a block and a half north of the fi re, was among about 40 busi- nesses or homes for which the city turned off the water Tuesday while fl ushing sup- ply lines. Jessica Hellberg, the Clinic’s offi ce manager, said the water, which had notice- able foam Tuesday morning, was turned back on between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Hellberg said the ani- mals’ water dishes had all been fi lled before the fi re, so that water didn’t need to be replaced immediately. Employees, who frequently wash their hands, used hand sanitizer while the water was turned off, Hellberg said. The Clinic had distilled water available, and an em- ployee bought bottled water around midday. Hellberg said employees ran the taps Tuesday after- noon to fl ush the pipes, and they planned to do so again Wednesday morning as there was some lingering foam. She said city offi cials stopped at the Clinic Tuesday morning to let employees know the water would be turned off, and why, and returned later in the day with information about fl ush- ing the business’ pipes. The Clinic also received automat- ed phone calls through the county’s reverse 911 system, Hellberg said. “They did a good job,” she said of the city’s response. Elisabeth Munsell wasn’t complimentary. Munsell, who lives at Ninth and A streets, said she felt ill Tuesday morn- ing at work after drinking a half cup of coffee made with tapwater from her home. She said the water didn’t smell or look unusual. Munsell said there were bubbles in the water in her toilet bowl Tuesday morning. Munsell said she didn’t learn about the foam in the water lines until about 2 p.m. Tuesday, when her boyfriend called her at work and said city workers were posting notices at homes and busi- nesses in her neighborhood. “I feel like it could have been handled a lot better,” Munsell said. In particular she wished the city had noti- fi ed residents earlier. She said she fl ushed her water lines Tuesday and planned to do so again Wednesday. She said she was feeling somewhat better although her stomach was still upset. According to a timeline in a press release the city issued Wednesday morning, the city shut off water to about 40 customers near the fi re at 9:30 a.m. and at that time started fl ushing main supply lines in the area. City workers also closed valves in supply lines at 10 a.m. to isolate water in that area. According to the city’s timeline, employees between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. hand- delivered notices about the contamination to homes and businesses in a 12-block area between Broadway and C streets and between 8th and 11th streets. At Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City, which is several blocks northwest of that area where the foam was found, workers took several steps Tuesday, said Mark Snider, a spokesman for the Saint Alphonsus system. “Patient safety is our top concern, and our protocols go above and beyond the city’s recommendations on how to address water problems,” Snider wrote in an email to the Herald Tuesday afternoon. “We have fl ushed the boiler, and fl ushed all water lines (sinks and showers) in both the hospital and clinic. Also, we are replacing every water fi lter in the buildings; that process should be complete by (Wednesday) morning. 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