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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (July 29, 2022)
The Columbia Press July 29, 2022 3 Get ready for wildfire season ... and blackouts The state is warning resi- dents to prepare for possi- ble brownouts during times when Oregon is most at risk for wildfires. Electric utilities across Ore- gon have filed Wildfire Miti- gation Plans with the Oregon Public Utility Commission during the past year. The plans are designed to prevent and lessen wildfire conflagrations. Senate Bill 762, which was passed during the 2021 leg- islative session, required the utilities to develop plans showing how they’d meet service needs during major wildfires. Plans must identify areas at high-risk for wildfires within the utility’s service territory and actions to minimize the risks, as well as protocols for implementing public safety power shutoffs. “The wildfire mitigation plans demonstrate a great deal of work to meet the needs of communities and keep pace with the changing wildfire risks,” said Letha Tawney, PUC commissioner. Public safety power shut- offs, or PSPS, are considered a measure of last resort as a way to prevent energized electrical lines from contrib- uting to fast-moving wild- fires. This week’s high tem- peratures highlight the need to be prepared, Tawney said. “No utility utilizes a PSPS lightly,” she said. “But their implementation plans are designed to help keep Ore- gonians informed and safe in extreme fire weather.” How to get ready • Sign up for Clatsop Alerts and outage information from Pacific Power. • Develop an emergency plan and make sure every- one in your household knows what to do. • Create a fuel-free defensi- ble space around your home that can reduce fire danger. • Be two weeks ready. Gath- er food, medical supplies, batteries, pet supplies, and other things needed by family members during an outage or evacuation. • Check on elderly neigh- bors or individuals with spe- cial needs who might need additional assistance. • Consider a backup genera- tor and keep cell phones fully charged. Hammond: Group forms to raise town’s awareness Continued from Page 1 “I have a uniquely posi- tioned view of Hammond,” he said. “On a daily basis, at street level, I interact with the community of Hammond. I feel that this perspective has value and should be heard. I also get to interact daily with my fellow Hammond residents. Their thoughts and opinions also should be heard.” Allen Berry, a Hammond resident who ran for Tom Dyer’s Warrenton City Com- mission seat in 2020, said the poor quality of Hammond’s streets are a testament to how little effort city leaders pay to Hammond. “For example, they came out and patched the road, but they didn’t fix it,” Berry said. “They always do Warren- ton, but they never fix Ham- mond.” Hammond can be a vital part of the city without losing its identity, he said. “We should be a more recognizable part of Warren- ton,” Berry said. “We are together anyway, … but they’re acting more like we’re the ugly stepchild of War- renton.” Commissioner Rick Newton thinks the Berry Newton Fadden new group is a great idea and has been assisting in Stevens Post 10580 to an organizational meeting set the organization process. “I just want to gather ideas for Friday to talk about their about what can be done for plans for Hammond’s old Hammond, what business town hall. Residents may want to vol- could do, and gather ideas for Spruce Up Warrenton,” New- unteer for Spruce Up War- ton said. “I personally can- renton or form their own not decide what people need group, he said. “It doesn’t matter, just without having input from them and we have not gotten bring ideas,” Newton said. “They don’t even have to be a lot from them.” Newton hopes to come good ideas (because) some- away from the meeting with times part of a bad idea is re- a list of prioritized projects ally good.” What does Fadden hope Hammond residents want, whether that’s trimming the evolves from Friday’s meet- flowering cherry trees on Pa- ing? “Awareness. We have a cific Drive or building a bus stop for children in the mo- voice. VFW partnership. Sol- bile home area near Fort Ste- idarity. Community pride. Negotiate,” Fadden said. vens. He invited the VFW Fort “Let’s make some noise.” Seaside Fire & Rescue Two homes in the 900 block of Fourth Avenue were destroyed. Fire destroys Seaside homes Two homes were destroyed and a third damaged Monday during an early morning fire in a Seaside neighborhood. The fire’s cause hadn’t been determined Wednesday. The call came in at 4:19 a.m. that a home at 961 Fourth Ave. was ablaze, according to Seaside Fire & Rescue. Soon, a neighboring house at 951 Fourth caught fire. There were at least five pro- pane explosions, which dam- aged a home across the street at 960 Fourth Ave. Highway 101 was closed and traffic detoured. A man and a woman were arrested on outstanding warrants by Seaside Police while firefight- ers worked to gain control of the blaze. It was not disclosed whether they were connected with the fire. Other fire agencies assist- ing Seaside were Gearhart, Cannon Beach, Hamlet, War- renton, Astoria, and Lewis & Clark.
