August 30, 2019
T he C olumbia P ress
4
Hunting restrictions announced
The Oregon Department
of Forestry will impose road
restrictions in the western
part of the Tillamook State
Forest to give deer and elk
a better chance of escaping
during hunting season.
Some roads will be closed
to motorized use during the
general archery and rifle
hunting seasons in Septem-
ber, October and Novem-
ber. Selected roads in the
Trask, Wilson and Nehalem
River areas will be gated
and signed.
Controlled access during
the three-month period is
designed to reduce hunting
pressure in these areas.
Hunters and other recre-
ational users are welcome
to access the gated areas by
foot, mountain bike, horse
or other nonmotorized
means.
ODF is partnering with
the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife and the
Tillamook Chapter of the
Oregon Hunters Associa-
tion in the program. The
partnership has been in
place for 15 years and gate
locations change year to
year.
For more information,
call Gary Baker at 503-842-
2545 or Herman Bieder-
beck at 503-842-2741.
September 7, 2019
www.racetothebar.com
Help provide hospice care for those in need
Who: You (walker or runner)
What: 5K walk/run or 10K run, followed by a
bonfire on the beach
When: 5:00 p.m., Sept. 7, 2019
Where: Peter Iredale Shipwreck at Fort Stevens
State Park, Warrenton
How:
Register at www.RaceToTheBar.com
Cost:
$40 before Aug. 23,
$45 on or after Aug. 23
2111
Exchange Street,
Street, Astoria,
Astoria, Oregon
325-4321
2111
Exchange
Oregon • • (503)
503-325-4321
Hospital
www.columbiamemorial.org
• A • Planetree
Designated
www.columbiamemorial.org
A Planetree
Gold ® Hospital
Wildfires: Fire agencies take new approach
Continued from Page 1
interagency hotshot crews.
The agencies have more
than 600 pieces of specialized
equipment available for use,
including engines, water ten-
ders, bulldozers, and more.
There are 23 single-engine air
tankers, six water scoopers and
41 helicopters.
DOI is nearing completion
of more than 2,500 wildfire
risk-reduction projects on
more than 1.2 million acres of
DOI and tribally administered
lands in some of the most fire-
prone areas of the country.
Due to a cool, wet spring,
wildfire activity has been be-
low normal this year.
Last year was one of the
most catastrophic on record
with more than 58,000 wild-
fires burning over 8.8 million
acres. Nearly 26,000 struc-
tures were destroyed, more
than double the previous an-
nual record.
As wildfire activity increas-
es, DOI, in collaboration with
local, state, and federal part-
ners, is moving wildfire sup-
pression resources to the most
susceptible areas around the
country.
The most recent out-
look forecasts potential for
above-normal fire activity in
western Oregon and Wash-
ington, parts of California and
Nevada, and the interior of
Alaska.
“Most of the western states
experienced a wet spring,
which allowed vegetation to
grow thickly and quickly,”
said Bryan Henry a program
manager in a federal program
predicting wildfire activity.
“The wet, cool spring delayed
fire season, though now, we
are seeing hot and dry weath-
er throughout most of the
western states, which is rap-
idly drying the abundant veg-
etation and creating fuel for
wildfires.”
Also this month, public utili-
ty commissioners from British
Columbia, California, Nevada,
Oregon, and Washington con-
vened at the Oregon Conven-
tion Center for a public dia-
logue focused on wildfire risk
and mitigation.
The meeting featured ex-
perts who shared their per-
spectives and evolving ap-
proaches to address rapidly
changing wildfire risk, driven
by climate change and other
factors.
Public utility commissions
are responsible for ensuring
safe and reliable access to util-
ity services.
The Oregon Board of Forest-
ry meets Wednesday in Salem
for an update on the fire sea-
son, review forest conditions
and identify other issues.
Members of the public are
welcome to comment at the
meeting, which will be in the
Tillamook Room, Building C,
at the Oregon Department of
Forestry headquarters, 2600
State St.
Big band performs
Labor Day concert
North Coast Big Band pres-
ents its annual Labor Day
Concert in the Park at 2 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 2, in Clats-
kanie City Park on Highway
30.
The band includes mem-
bers from throughout Clatsop
County and the North Coast.
Admission is free.