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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 2015)
12A • August 28, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com Local firefighters return from Baker City blaze Fire danger By Dani Palmer Cannon Beach Gazette The Oregon State Fire Marshal again called on &ODWVRS &RXQW\ ¿UH¿JKW- HUV WR DVVLVW RQ D ZLOG¿UH Friday, Aug. 21. This time they traveled to northeast Oregon, near Troy, to pro- tect homes and business- es from the Grizzly Bear Fire. This was the second JURXS RI ORFDO ¿UH¿JKW- ers to battle the blazes. Thirteen Clatsop County ¿UH¿JKWHUV DUULYHG KRPH as part of a task force re- sponding to the Cornet Fire south of Baker City early Aug. 13. They re- turned Aug. 16 after hous- es and buildings in that eastern Oregon area were considered out of danger. It’s “not that often” local crews respond to a ¿UHHOVHZKHUHLQWKHVWDWH Cannon Beach Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Balzer said. It’s been two years since Clatsop County was called upon — the last the Government Flats Fire in The Dalles in 2013. With heat and drought FRQGLWLRQV OHDGLQJ WR ¿UH conditions throughout the state, “They’ve got a lot going on,” Balzer said. “It was only a matter of time before they got out to re- quest assistance from the coast.” )LUH¿JKWHUVIURPRXWRI state, as far as Massachu- setts, and out of country, Australia and New Zea- land, are also assisting in ZHVWFRDVW¿UHV Locally, the Knap- pa Fire District sent four ¿UH¿JKWHUV WR KHOS LQ WKH Cornet Fire. Warrenton sent three, Seaside and the Lewis and Clark Volun- teer Department two and Cannon Beach and Gear- hart each sent one. Lewis and Clark Fire Chief Jeff Golightly served as the task force’s leader and all but the Gearhart Volunteer to eastern Oregon must complete special training that consists of about 130 hours worth of classroom DQG¿HOGZRUNWRJHWZLOG- ODQG FHUWL¿FDWLRQ 2OKHLV- er said. .QDSSD¶V ¿UH¿JKW- ers receive continued training annually at Camp 5LOHD 7KH ZLOG¿UH SUR- gram provides hands-on experience and the oppor- tunity to work as a crew, he added. About a dozen of Can- non Beach’s 24 volunteers DUH FHUWL¿HG WR EDWWOH WKH VWDWH¶VZLOG¿UHVDVZHOO “It’s a big commit- ment from the guys if they want to do it,” Balzer said. But, he added, those who do are “excited about the chance to go out and help.” The entire county bat- WOHG ORFDO ZLOG¿UHV QHDU Arch Cape last year. $QG ZKLOH D ¿UH LV QHYHU desired, the Warrenton Fire Department got the COURTESY OF CANNON BEACH FIRE AND RESCUE chance to “sharpen things The Cornet wildfire, near Baker City, can be seen behind Cannon Beach’s responding up” when it assisted the Oregon Department of fire engine. Forestry in the Fort Ste- )LUH'HSDUWPHQWVHQWD¿UH County Fire Task Force And hot, dry conditions vens blaze last month, engine or water tender, as to assist in structure pro- make a blaze even harder Demers said. 7KDW ¿UH VFRUFKHG WHFWLRQRQERWK¿UHV7KH to contain. well. Improved weather con- acres and took about three The Clatsop County (PHUJHQF\ &RQÀDJUDWLRQ Fire Task Force sent more Act, authorized by Gov- ditions helped crews make days to control. According to the Ore- from Seaside, Gearhart, ernor Kate Brown, gives progress on Oregon’s larg- Lewis and Clark, Knappa the marshal authorization HVW ZLOG¿UH %DO]HU VDLG gon Department of For- and Warrenton on Friday, WR PRELOL]H ¿UH¿JKWHUV Expected to merge with HVWU\ PRUH WKDQ ¿UHV Aug. 21, to join nearly 400 and equipment to help lo- WKH :LQG\ 5LGJH ¿UH have burned on lands pro- ¿UH¿JKWHUV IURP DURXQG cal resources battle blaz- the Cornet-Windy Ridge tected by the department the state in the Grizzly es that threaten lives or blaze, sparked by a light- and forest protective as- ning strike, has burned sociations in Oregon this Bear Fire. Seaside Fire structures. When that threat was more than 150 square year. The majority, more Captain David Rankin served as the task leader in reduced in the Cornet miles and destroyed six than 420, were caused by Fire, Clatsop County’s homes, according to re- humans, including the re- that blaze. FHQW&RXQW\/LQH¿UHRQ “We like to help out,” crew was sent home, ports. On Monday, Aug. 17, the Warm Springs Indian Warrenton Fire Chief Tim Knappa Fire District Demers said. “We don’t Chief Paul Olheiser said. ¿UH¿JKWHUV FRQWLQXHG WR Reservation. As the dry weather con- +LV GHSDUWPHQW ¿JKWV build containment lines like to see our brothers tinues, the Department of DQG VLVWHUV ¿JKW ¿UHV DQG DV PDQ\ ZLOG¿UHV DV around its perimeter. The Grizzly Bear Fire, )RUHVWU\DQGWKHVWDWH¿UH us not do anything. We VWUXFWXUH ¿UHV SHU \HDU like being there, being in- but they “burn real differ- also caused by lightning, marshal are asking for the had expanded to 65,000 public’s help in prevent- ent.” volved.” LQJ¿UHVE\UHGXFLQJ¿UH :LOG¿UHV DUH ³UHDO acres by Tuesday. Structure protection prone activities. weather and fuel depen- “There is a good 2UHJRQ¶V 2I¿FH RI dent,” Olheiser said. The Special training the State Fire Marshal stronger the winds, the Task force members chance we will get called requested the Clatsop IDVWHU WKH ¿UH VSUHDGV like those dispatched out again,” Balzer said. spurs burn bans in city, county Fire from Page 1A 7KLUWHHQ &ODWVRS &RXQW\ ¿UH- ¿JKWHUV UHWXUQHG KRPH RQ $XJ 16 after providing protection for homes and businesses near the &RUQHW¿UHVRXWKRI%DNHU&LW\ over a weekend. Cannon Beach Fire Chief Mike Balzer said it was only a “matter of time” be- fore they got called out with state ¿UH FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKDW WKHUH was “a good chance” they’d as- sist again. Another team from the county was mobilized on Friday, Aug. 21. %DO]HU VDLG ¿UH GDQJHU ZLOO continue to rise for the area while the weather remains hot and dry. The department faced a close call when dispatched to a dune grass ¿UH FDXVHG E\ D WLNL WRUFK QHDU :KDOH3DUN-XO\7KH¿UHZDV H[WLQJXLVKHG EHIRUH ¿UH¿JKWHUV arrived. On Monday, National Weather Service forecasts for Eastern Or- egon and near Crater Lake were bleak, with gusty winds and con- tinued dry weather expected to IDQÀDPHVWKDWKDYHDOUHDG\FRQ- sumed thousands of acres. Much of Oregon has been in a drought for three years, with VHYHUH ¿UH VHDVRQV RYHU WKH ODVW two. The Department of Forest- ry had its most expensive season historically in 2013, Public Infor- PDWLRQ2I¿FHU5RG1LFKROVVDLG He added that it is normal to VHHLQGXVWULDO¿UHSUHFDXWLRQOHY- els rise this time of year but “it’s not very often we get up to a Lev- el 4 in this state.” Level 4 is con- sidered the highest level in the state. While Northwest 1 Zone, containing Cannon Beach and Seaside, is still under a Level 2, 24 other zones have moved into a Level 4, a general shutdown pro- hibiting all operations. 7KH ¿UH EDQ H[FOXGLQJ RQO\ portable cooking stoves using OLTXH¿HGRUERWWOHGIXHOVLVLQHI- fect until further notice. FODWVRSFRPPXQLW\FROOHJHSUHVHQWVLWV QG DQQXDO &RQIHUHQFHRQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ OLYLQJ /XQFKSURYLGHG /LYH/LIHWRWKH)XOOHVW 6DWXUGD\6HSW8:30am-4pm Clatsop Community College, Columbia Hall, Rm 219 .H\QRWHDGGUHVVE\0DF%XUQVRIWKH2UHJRQ)LOP0XVHXP “Hey Doc–What’s Up?” Q&A with Drs. Cosmina Popa and Robert Wayne 13 Informative Breakout Sessions: Travel – tips & information Genealogy Hiking and an introduction to National Parks Art, music and theater Transitioning to retirement Healthy mind/healthy body Know your foods/food for nutrition What is timebanking? Opportunities for education & community service Emergency/disaster preparedness Alternative medicine Starting your own business or a second career Facebook – to friend or not to friend 6XJJHVWHGGRQDWLRQDWWKHGRRU Th is ad sponsored by Providence Seaside H ospital. 5HJLVWHUE\6HSW Call 503-894-0187 or email Robert McClelland at rmcclelland@clatsopcc.edu