Rogue Valley News, Friday 7/28 – Josephine County Sheriff’s Bust Another Illegal Grow Site, SWAT Team Makes Arrest Without Incident as Burglary Suspect Eludes and Barricades In Residence

Here’s the latest on the Golden Fire, burning near Bonanza on Bly mountain. Containment grows to 18%, and crews remain vigilant amid hotter, windier weather. Firefighters caught and quelled fire activity within the fire’s perimeter along the southeast fireline.

Due to warmer and drier weather, smoldering materials in the thick duff layers around trees store heat into the evenings and sometimes reignite. To mitigate this, firefighters use handheld and aerial heat-sensing infrared cameras to detect hot spots. Crews will continue to improve lines, mop-up into the interior, reassess structures and clear obstacles for utility workers. Crews also patrol the fireline regularly and monitor the interior and exterior of the fire to ensure it remains contained during mop-up operations.

Information boards: Information boards can be found at the following locations:
• Bonanza General Store – 31919 OR-70 Bonanza, OR 97623
• Bonanza Post Office – 2899 Market Street Bonanza, OR 97623
• Cactus J Restaurant – 31771 Oregon 70’Bonanza, OR 97623
• Dairy Diner – 22121 Hwy 140 Dairy, OR 97625
• Fire Camp – 25844 Petersteiner Rd. Bonanza, OR 97623
• Longhorn Saloon & Restaurant – 2857 Hwy 70, Market St. Bonanza, OR 97623
• Red Cross Evacuation Shelter 31610 Mission St., Bonanza, OR 97623
Information boards contain daily updates and current maps. Additional updates can be
found at: https://www.facebook.com/goldenfire2023/.

The wildfire that started last weekend in southern Oregon has burned dozens of homes and caused area residents to lose 911 service and internet, state officials said Tuesday.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said preliminary damage assessments from the Golden Fire east of Klamath Falls showed that 43 residences near the town of Bonanza were destroyed. More than 40 outbuildings were also consumed by fire.

The fire marshal said most of the structures are believed to have burned Saturday, when the fire started and spread rapidly in hot weather and gusty winds. Crews were unable to access the structures before Tuesday because of unsafe conditions, the fire marshal said.

The fire also significantly damaged a fiber optic line affecting most of the 8,200 residents in neighboring Lake County, causing a loss of 911 service, internet and phone service. The Lake County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency Monday because of the outage and said an estimate for restoring the line wasn’t yet known.

911 calls were being rerouted to Klamath County, and county emergency officials have been working with multiple state agencies to restore emergency connections, the commissioners said in statement. Temporary internet towers have also been put up and are providing services, commissioners said.

Fire crews also have been coordinating with utility companies that are working to repair damaged infrastructure, fire officials said Tuesday.

“Our hearts go out to the Bonanza community and those affected by the Golden Fire,” said Matt Howard, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 2 incident commander. “Our job now is to fully suppress this fire so the recovery process can begin.”

As of Tuesday morning, the blaze had burned about 3.2 square miles and was 9% contained.

Multiple fire crews and aircraft are working the fire. The estimated cost has grown to $2,937,000, according to an update from crews.

Flat Fire Holding at 23,687 Acres With 4% Containment

The acreage of Oregon’s largest wildfire bumped up a little to 23,687 acres by Thursday morning, but it marked yet another day when the fire had seen very little growth. It increased containment slightly to 4%.

Fire crews continue to work on mop-up and burn-out operations on the southwestern perimeter of the fire, helping to prevent growth to the south. Buildings are also being assessed along the Illinois and Rouge rivers by structure protection groups.

“Firefighters on the northeastern section of the fire are preparing firelines for firing operations, potentially on Friday,” a Thursday morning update said.

More than 1,500 fire personnel are now working the blaze. As of Wednesday, drones and helicopters were also playing an important part with firing operations.

The fire is burning near the town of Agness near the confluence of the Illinois and Rogue rivers. In Sunday’s report, the fire was listed as “human caused” for the first time. The fire ignited at Oak Flat Campground. No other details were released

ODF West Oregon District Responds to Sams Creek Fire Near Toledo

Toledo, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) West Oregon District is responding this evening to the Sams Creek Fire off Sams Creek Road and Hwy 20, about 5 miles northeast of Toledo. The fire was detected this afternoon and is approximately 5-7 acres in steep terrain. The cause and origin of the fire is currently under investigation.

Sams Creek Fire Update – All Evacuations Levels Lifted

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has been notified by Oregon Department of Forestry, Incident Command, that the Sams Creek Fire Evacuation Level 1 notice has been lifted; there are no remaining evacuation notices in place for Lincoln County.

Fire Crews will remain on scene for the next 24-48 hours completing mop-up operations; any future updates regarding the Sams Creek Fire will come Oregon Department of Forestry  https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Pages/index.aspx .

Crews are working hard to get the fire completely lined and plumbed with hose overnight. The district and its partners are responding aggressively to keep the footprint as small as possible.

Resources on-scene include multiple hand crews and engines from the ODF West Oregon District, a type 2 helicopter, and multiple engines and tenders from local fire departments and neighboring industrial forest landowners. Once lined and plumbed, the district will remain in the area for the next several days doing mop-up operations and making sure the fire doesn’t re-emerge due to weather conditions.

Warm and dry conditions make the landscape more at risk for wildfire, which is why public participation in wildfire prevention is so important. Oregonians should check their local fire restrictions before lighting any fireworks, operating an engine-operated machine, or starting a campfire.

The public is encouraged to avoid the area due to public and firefighter safety. There will be increased fire traffic in the area into the morning.

Check public and industry fire restrictions at www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx. For wildfire prevention tips, visit www.keeporegongreen.org.  — To sign up for local emergency notifications, visit oralert.gov.

Forest Service Warns of Increased Fire Danger

The U.S. Forest Service sent out a warning Wednesday morning that fire danger was high across the Northwest and likely to climb. The agency’s news release said this, in part:

“Summer 2023 is only halfway over and low spring rainfall has resulted in abnormally dry conditions as hot temperatures persist across the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region. This situation poses a significant risk of wildfires, and residents of Oregon and Washington are urged to take precautions to prevent human-caused wildfire starts,” a news release said.

This dryness, combined with record and near-record heat, has resulted in excessively dry vegetation in many areas. As a result, a new fire start could grow quickly, and existing fires may remain on the landscape until weather conditions change. This raises the threat of prolonged smoke impacts, which can have serious health consequences for those with respiratory issues.

To mitigate these risks, the Forest Service is encouraging the public to take the following steps:

• Prevent human-caused wildfire starts. To report a wildfire, call 911.
• Keep an eye on smoke forecasts and plan outdoor recreation accordingly.
• Stay informed of fire restrictions and fire closures before heading out.

Human remains recovered by Lincoln County Search and Rescue

On 07/25/2023, two hikers from out of the Lincoln County area located human remains in a dispersed campsite outside Yachats, OR. The hikers collected a dog from the campsite, returned to their vehicle, and reported the incident to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the area and were directed to the campsite, which was located approximately a half-mile into thick foliage, through rough terrain. The remains appeared to have been exposed to the environment for a prolonged period. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Detectives conducted a death investigation before the Lincoln County Search and Rescue Team removed the remains. The remains have been tentatively identified, but will undergo advanced testing to make a final determination.

No identifying information is being released at this time. No suspicious circumstances have been determined and there is no concern for community safety. The dog from the campsite was retrieved by an Animal Services Deputy and remains at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.

Two Arrested for Murder- Douglas County Major Crimes Team- Douglas County

Two arrests made related to month old murder case in Douglas County — On June 25, 2023, a deceased male, with an apparent gunshot wound, was located near the I-5 milepost 101 interchange, near Canyonville, in Douglas County.

The Douglas County Major Crime Team was activated and the Oregon State Police was designated as lead investigating agency due to the crime scene being located within an ODOT right-of-way. The deceased male was identified as Joshua Alexander (34) of Roseburg. After an extensive investigation, two suspects were identified in the case.

On July 20, 2023, Allen Lloyd Swindler (36) of Sutherlin was arrested and on July 26, 2023, Sierra Sioux Jennings (34) also of Sutherlin was arrested. Both Swindler and Jennings were charged with Murder and lodged at the Douglas County Jail.

The investigation is active and ongoing- no further information is available for release at this time.

Participating agencies of the Douglas County Major Crime Team include; the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab.

Press Release: New Report Details Paid Family, Medical, and Safe Leave Impacts in Oregon

Paid Leave Oregon will provide paid leave time for parents bonding with new children, serious health conditions experienced by workers or their families, or those needing safe leave. While the paid benefits are new as of September 3, 2023, the situations they cover have long existed in the workforce.

• About 45,600 Oregon women ages 15 to 50 gave birth to children in the past 12 months. Seven out of 10 had also worked in the past 12 months; six out of 10 were still employed.
• Some adults in the Western region of the U.S. who worked in the past week also had serious health conditions in life, such cancer (7%). Conditions that require inpatient treatment, pose an imminent threat to life, or require ongoing treatments or care may qualify for paid leave.
• In 2016 and 2017, 1.6 million women and 848,000 men in the U.S. had missed at least one day of work due to intimate partner violence or stalking.

Existing programs have not been equally accessible to all workers. Workers who were either younger, those with less educational attainment (regardless of age), and workers of Hispanic or Latino origin were less likely to have access to leave. Even with the existing patchwork of available leave options to workers, there is still some unmet need for leave time. In the average week in 2017 and 2018, 9.2% of all workers with existing, employer-provided paid leave time in the U.S. needed to take leave from work, but did not.

• Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program began paying benefits in January 2020, and has some similar provisions to Paid Leave Oregon. Those include time to bond with a newly born or placed child in a family, and for workers’ own or their family members’ serious health conditions.
• Washington’s first month of claims was the highest volume in the program’s first three years of operation at 24,600, or 0.93% of program-eligible workers.
• Monthly claims averaged 17,700 per month in a more established program period.
• Women, and workers in their thirties, made up notably larger shares of those approved for paid family and medical leave than their shares of all eligible workers in Washington.
• On average, workers who took paid family and medical leave in 2022 did not use the full amount of eligible time away from work.

If Oregon’s experience is similar to Washington’s, the Paid Leave Oregon program could possibly expect between 14,000 and 21,000 claims for benefits in September 2023. Existing eligibility for parents’ bonding time with new children could potentially put September 2023 claim volume as high as 37,000. Monthly claims will likely stabilize at a lower level in an established Paid Leave Oregon program, potentially resulting in between 10,000 and 14,000 monthly claims. More details are available in the full report at QualityInfo.org.

Suspect Dead And Deputy In Critical Condition After Eviction-Related Shooting In Tualatin

A sheriff’s deputy was shot multiple times while trying to detain a person at an apartment complex in a southwestern suburb of Portland, officials said Wednesday.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were serving a civil eviction at the apartments in Tualatin at about 9:30 a.m., said Washington County Sheriff spokesperson Anel Ceric. Deputies told dispatchers they were attempting to detain a person and that the person opened fire on them at around 10:20 a.m., Ceric said.

The deputy, whose name hasn’t been released, was flown to a hospital and was in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon, Ceric said.

At least one deputy fired back at the person who opened fire, but Ceric said he didn’t know if the person was hit.

The person was found dead in the apartment around 12:30 p.m. by a SWAT team that did not shoot the person, he said. The person’s name and how they died hasn’t been released.

Grasshopper Plague in Klamath County

For several weeks now, as the morning cool turns to the heat of the day, vast swarms of voracious grasshoppers have been pouring out of the dry, largely barren Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge into the surrounding irrigated farm fields around Merrill and Tulelake.

Concerns are growing that crop damage could extend into the millions of dollars. Local farmers say they’ve never seen anything like it. With outbreaks that coincide with warm, dry conditions, grasshoppers have been a growing problem during the extended drought across the West.

In 2021, Oregon suffered its worst grasshopper outbreak in half a century, with an estimated 10 million acres impacted across 18 counties. Last year, similar outbreaks were reported throughout northern California, including portions of Modoc County. Yet the cold, wet winter that the Klamath Basin just experienced should have knocked back numbers to some degree, as grasshoppers are susceptible to naturally occurring fungi that act as a check on populations.

Silver Falls opens new trail overlooking North Falls, new parking and day-use area

SALEM, Ore— Visitors to Silver Falls State Park can now hike the new North Rim Trail, a ½-mile trail connection to an overlook of North Falls.

The new trail is six-feet wide with a compacted surface that is less than a 5% trail grade and less than 2% cross slope, making it more accessible than some of the park’s other trails.

Visitors can access the trail from the new North Canyon Day-Use Area. The new day-use area includes about a dozen picnic tables, 59 new parking spots, including 3 that are ADA accessible, and an ADA-accessible bathroom. It also links to the park’s nature play area (Visitors can also access the trail and viewpoint from the North Falls Trailhead, but from that direction, the trail is not as accessible for those with mobility concerns.)

“The new North Canyon Day-Use area is a tremendous addition to the park because it offers another destination for our visitors to start their recreation at Silver Falls State Park. The new trail also provides access to the Canyon Trail and the Trail of Ten Falls, while also adding a new and unparalleled view of North Falls,” said Park Manager Chris Gilliand.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) extends special thanks to all those involved in making this trail and the new day-use area possible. Volunteer organizations that worked on the trail include Friends of Silver Falls, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Salem Area Trail Alliance and Northwest Youth Corps. Oregon Lottery staff volunteered their time in a service day project.  Friends of Silver Falls funded the design of the viewpoint and construction plans. Donations to OPRD’s Park Explorer Series helped pay for the trail and viewpoint construction.

The new day-use area and parking lot were made possible with GO Bond funding approved by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021, as well as Oregon Lottery funds. The Go Bond work at Silver Falls State Park will eventually include the new North Gateway campground with restroom/shower facilities and the North Gateway Visitor Center as well as infrastructure improvements such as water, electrical, and sewer systems.

Silver Falls is one of 11 parks with Go Bond projects funded by the generosity of the Oregon State Legislature, which approved $50 million in general obligation bond proceeds for Oregon State Parks in 2021. Learn more about the Go Bond projects on our website.

To find photos of the new trail and day-use area for publication, please visit the Silver Falls Go Bond photo gallery.

Red Cross needs help to avert a blood shortage

Chance at shark dive trip, $10 e-gift card for donors in August

PORTLAND, Ore, July 25, 2023 — After a summer of declining donations, the American Red Cross needs the public’s help to prevent a blood shortage. When a donor makes and keeps an appointment to give blood or platelets in the weeks ahead, they can help ensure trauma patients, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people with lifelong blood disorders can get the blood they count on.

Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive and type B negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. Donors of all blood types can schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross is teaming up with Warner Bros. for the theatrical release of Meg 2: The Trench to celebrate a summer of sharks and help stave off a summer blood and platelet shortage. All who come to give through Aug. 12 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night New York getaway for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium. Those who come to give throughout the month of August will also get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 1-15:

August 1, 2023

LDS – Lake Oswego Stake, 14903 Westlake Drive, Lake Oswego, OR, 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Savier Street Flats, 2270 NW Savier Street, Portland, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

August 2, 2023

Russellville Park Gives Back, 20 SE 103rd Ave., Portland, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Blood Donation Center, 1174 Progress Drive Suite 102, Medford, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110, Bend, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

August 4, 2023

Oregon City Public Library, 606 John Adams St., Oregon City, OR, 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Embassy Suites Portland-Downtown,319 SW Pine St., Portland, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Blood Donation Center, 5109 NE 82^nd Ave., Vancouver, WA, 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

August 5, 2023

Pursue Fitness, 555 West Centennial Blvd, Springfield, OR, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

August 7, 2023

Riverside Seventh Day Adventist Church, 463 N. Shepherd Rd, Washougal, WA, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

American Pacific Mortgage, 1200 Executive Parkway, Suite 100, Eugene, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

City of Bend Police Dept., 555 NE 15th St, Bend, OR, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Ascension Lutheran Church, 675 Black Oak Drive, Medford, OR, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

August 8, 2023

Fowler Student Center, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, Portland, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Portland Blood Donation Center,3131 N Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR, 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

August 9, 2023

Islamic Community Center of Hillsboro,7270 NW Helvetia Rd, Portland, OR, 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

August 10, 2023

Village Church,330 SW Murray Blvd., Beaverton, OR, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

To find a donation site near you, visit www.redcrossblood.org and put in your zip code.

How to donate blood  — To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Amplify your impact − volunteer!   — A stable blood and platelet supply is critical to national preparedness. Additionally, as we approach the beginning of what is expected to be another active hurricane season, the Red Cross urges everyone to get ready now and consider becoming a volunteer to help people affected by the growing number of climate-driven disasters.

Support impacted communities by assisting at Red Cross shelters, using your professional skills as a licensed health care provider or becoming a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team. To learn more, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. — American Red Cross – Cascades Region