Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 7/17 – Fire after Fire Around the Valley & Other Local and Statewide News…

The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com

Wednesday,  July 17, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

 

ODF Southwest Oregon District — 𝙅𝙊𝙎𝙀𝙋𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝙔 𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀𝙎:

Firefighters are continuing to make access to a reported eight fires on both sides of the Lower Rogue River, northwest of Galice. Overnight, firefighters were able to reach two fires and begin an aggressive initial attack. The remaining six fires range from difficult to impossible to access by road or on foot, and aircraft will be the most beneficial tool we can use on these fires today and throughout the attack. Overall, none of the fires saw substantial growth overnight, however hot weather today is expected to increase fire activity.

Our district Type 3 helicopter that hosts our helitack crew is en route to the area, and additional helicopters from the Salt Creek Fire in Jackson County and air tankers will be used throughout the day. Four additional 20-person crews from the Salt Creek Fire are also being reassigned to these incidents this morning. The area these fires are burning is in and around numerous fire scars, including the Rum Creek Fire from 2022 and the Big Windy Fire from more than a decade ago. In some areas, this may help firefighters get an upper hand, and in others, it may provide additional challenges. All of the ground is steep with hazardous falling trees and rocks with little to no road access points. A Rapid Extrication Module (REM) unit and additional medical staff is also being relocated from the Salt Creek Fire to this general area, as firefighter safety is a concern on all of these incidents. At this time, there are no road or campground closures, however, please be aware of firefighters working in the area. Fire engines and equipment may have a heavier presence on roads out in these areas. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

Grant Fire 4200 block of Grant Road, Central Point Jackson County, OR. 15 acres multiple evacuations.

Sadly some lost their homes.  Quick response from fire crews helped to make sure this didn’t get worse than what it already was.

TABLE ROCK FIRE – Tuesday Afternoon

   

Grants Pass 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

Salt Creek Fire Finally Contained and Mop Up Ongoing

Salt Creek Fire Turns the Corner to Full Mop-up Operations EAGLE POINT, Ore. – With the entire perimeter lined, work on the Salt Creek Fire is now focused on mop up for the remainder of the incident. Updates to mapping put the fire at 4,081 acres, and an infrared (IR) flight across the whole area is scheduled for this evening to confirm a final acreage. Overnight, firefighters used multiple types of IR devices to search for hot spots, or smoldering patches of vegetation, roots and coals that could later reignite in hot conditions. With these specific locations identified and marked on maps, today’s day shift resources will be better able to find and extinguish these areas holding leftover heat. “We’ve worked incredibly hard in a short amount of time to get to this point where the fire is lined and holding,” Joe Hessel said, IMT 1 Incident Commander. “The work that’s left will require us to be methodical and thorough.”  

Southern Oregon Property Insurance Sees Massive Shifts Following Wildfires

Facing a new era of risk in the light of climate-driven wildfires, insurers and residents are battling to adapt, with rural property owners facing the brunt of the changing world as insurance rates go up or in some cases- property owners struggle to get cover. Since the 2020 Labor Day fires destroyed parts of the state- with nearly $3 billion in losses, property owners across Southern Oregon have faced an ongoing flow of communications from insurance companies- whether it’s increases,  a threat to cancel, or difficulty finding insurance, according to state Rep. Pam Marsh, a Democrat, representing southern Jackson County.

National Insurance Shake-up As Natural Disasters Eat Into Profits

Published in May, a New York Times investigation showed that homeowners insurance was unprofitable in 18 states in 2023. This prompted insurers to raise premiums, cancel policies, or completely leave states. Driven mainly by natural disasters related to climate change such as wildfires in the western states, hurricanes in Florida, and major storms and flooding in the Midwest, as climate change escalates, insurers- who carry the weight of the disasters, are experiencing more pressure. Without insurance, homeowners won’t be able to get a mortgage. This could result in a domino effect, with declining property values reducing tax revenues across counties- funding vital for schools and other essential services. California is experiencing a crisis as companies like Allstate and Farmers Direct are not underwriting new policies or renewing existing ones in reaction to legislation that made it difficult, if not impossible, to stay profitable. California insurers can’t raise rates more than 10% without a lengthy review process and are also prohibited from using “catastrophe modeling” to predict disasters such as wildfires and storms when setting insurance rates. Many of the industry’s largest companies responded by simply leaving the state. Russ Schweikert, a partner at Ashland Insurance said, “The good news in Oregon is that we’re not California”

Home Insurance In Southern Oregon

The reasons behind the rising premiums and shrinking choices are a combination of many things happening at the same time but affecting consumer’s wallets in a big way. With 105 companies operating within the state at the end of 2022, Oregon still has a robust home insurance market and strong consumer protection laws such as HB 82 which requires insurance companies to notify property owners when premium increases are related to wildfire risk. Insurers must also indicate mitigation actions property owners could take that could result in benefits such as discounts, incentives, or other premium adjustments. These requirements create transparency. Insurance companies don’t only rely on selling insurance to make profits but also invest money from premiums, often in the stock market or real estate. In a strong economy, it’s not a good time to buy stocks, and as occupancy rates in commercial buildings are still flagging after the pandemic, real estate is less attractive. Insurers are now relying on selling insurance to be profitable but reinsurance rates have also increased.

Property Owners Struggling To Find Insurance Cover

Greg White, owner of Reinholdt & O’Harra Insurance in Ashland said that the higher up in the woods you get in Ashland, the fewer the insurance options. Based on wildfire score, insurance companies may say ‘No, thank you.’ Insurers don’t rely on the Oregon Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map created by Oregon State University, and each company has its own way of calculating the wildfire risk. Those homeowners who can’t find coverage elsewhere can look at the FAIR plan, a state-sponsored insurance pool. One of the majority of states with this option of last resort, Oregon’s FAIR plan premiums are higher, and coverage is capped at $600,000, but the number of Oregonians taking advantage of the FAIR plan is “astoundingly low,” according to Marsh. There is an upward trend in policies written, largely driven by the issue of wildfire concerns, as the majority of standard carriers pull out of high-risk wildfire areas. Some insurers are seeking ways to give a discount for the Firewise program, where neighbors take collective measures to “harden” homes and create defensible space around structures and this could prompt more communities in high-risk zones to do so. Mitigating risk at all levels in forests, from homeowners and neighborhoods, is the best way to ensure Oregonians have the benefit of a competitive insurance market.   (SOURCE)  

Attention Dog Lovers: Jackson County Sheriff Search & Rescue Looking for K9 Handlers 

  Decades before Wine Enthusiast magazine included southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley as one of the 2022 top five wine regions in the world, the Winchester Inn in Ashland had been celebrating regional vintners and catering to people who travel here to savor award-winning red, white and sparkling wines. Now, the Winchester Inn has been nominated by USA Today as a 2024 Best Wine Country Hotel. Nominees are selected by a panel of experts and voting by the public continues until 9 a.m. July 22.

Vote for The Winchester Inn

Best Wine Country Hotel — The Winchester Inn in Ashland, Oregon, offers a boutique hotel experience that combines comfort and charm, including a gourmet breakfast served each morning as part of the stay. Situated in downtown Ashland, the inn offers convenient access to nearby wineries, outdoor activities such as hiking and biking, and the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-wine-country-hotel-2024/the-winchester-inn-ashland-oregon/ https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/  

David Grubbs’ Murder Investigation Remains Active

The Ashland Police Department’s investigation into the murder of David Grubbs on November 19, 2011 remains open and active. Recently two new detectives have been assigned to look into new leads that have come in.

It has been Four Years since Fauna Frey, 45, disappeared in Oregon on a road trip, June 29, 2020, following her brother’s death  —

 

ODF’s Weekly Situation Report is to help create a snapshot of large fire information, weather and prevention information.

To read the full report, visit https://ow.ly/VjfX50SCLwS

Fires Around the State

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

The Forest Service says since June, more than 100 wildfires in Oregon and Washington were caused by people, Though most of the time crews were “largely successful” in putting them out, officials are urging the public to help reduce the amount of preventable fires firefighters have to deal with.

The U.S. Forest Service says a surge of human-caused wildfires is stretching resources thin as extreme heat, dry conditions and lightning in the forecast increases the chances of wildfires. In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page.

OSFM sending firefighters, incident management team to Falls Fire in Harney County

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is sending its Blue Incident Management Team and four task forces to the Falls Fire burning 20 miles northeast of Riley in Harney County.

7/17 – The fire was mapped at 91,269 acres during an infrared mapping flight overnight & that perimeter is visible on the Watch Duty map via the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). For fire information, please follow the Falls Fire Facebook Page or the Falls Fire InciWeb page.

OSFM sends task force to Lone Rock Fire through Immediate Response

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing resources to assist locals battling the Lone Rock Fire in Gilliam County.  A task force from Linn County and a division supervisor were mobilized early this morning. The fire sparked Saturday afternoon and burned about 4,200 acres by evening. The Gilliam County Sheriff has Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notices in place for the community of Lone Rock. 7/17 – The fire is now estimated at 71,000 acres and 10% contained per the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). For evacuation information, follow the Gilliam County Sheriff.

Larch Creek Fire – Wasco County

7/16– Evening update from the Larch Creek Fire Facebook page: 18,690 acres, 27% contained.

Firefighters made excellent progress today and the Larch Creek Fire perimeter is now fully lined. There is potential for thunderstorms in the area overnight through tomorrow morning. Storms may bring gusty outflow winds and test firelines overnight into tomorrow morning. Precautions should be taken to prevent the start of additional fires. Fire restrictions are in effect for ODF and USFS jurisdictions. Evacuations remain in effect and levels did not change today. Evacuation information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff.

U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighter Dies after Activity

Wildland Firefighter Daniel Foley, 27, was working in the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Oregon. A wildland firefighter is dead after completing a routine preparedness activity. U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighter Daniel Foley, 27, was assigned to Fremont-Winema National Forest, according to The Herald and News. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family, friends and wildland fire community,” said Benjamin Wilson, public information officer. Foley’s father shared his son’s journey in a Facebook post: “He started as a volunteer with Twin District in Lancaster went on to become a EMT and then a professional firefighter in Fauquier County VA. He moved back home a few years later and worked at the Buffalo VA hospital which he loved. He followed his best friend/brother Dan Sutch to Oregon to work as a wildland firefighter with the US Forestry Service. He passed away in the line of duty July 9th doing what he loved and always dreamed about with his best friends.”   (SOURCE)

Governor Kotek Declares Extended State Of Emergency Due To Imminent Threat Of Wildfires

Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency because of the imminent threat of wildfire beginning on July 12, 2024, and continuing through October 1, 2024. “Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace. Hot and windy conditions this weekend, including forecasted lightning in some areas, are threatening even larger wildfires,” Governor Kotek said. “I am declaring a State of Emergency to access state resources for communities across Oregon as we respond to this year’s escalating wildfire season. “Throughout the summer, it will inevitably get hotter and drier, presenting an even greater risk of catastrophic wildfires. The best way to limit wildfire impacts on our communities, natural areas, and first responders is to be aware of the conditions and prevent wildfires from starting. “I urge all Oregonians to follow the instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions.” A link to Executive Order 24-13 can be found here. Following ORS 401.165 et seq., Governor Kotek determined that the State of Oregon is in a critical fire danger situation, threatening life, safety, and property because of extreme high temperatures. The state has experienced wildfires this season resulting in three state conflagration declarations and two federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations, several community evacuations, threatened and damaged structures, and critical infrastructure. Oregon’s neighboring states of California, Idaho, and Washington continue to experience similar fires and weather. The extended weather forecast for Oregon predicts ongoing warm and dry conditions, creating an imminent fire threat across a large portion of the state. This declaration directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to support access to and use of personnel and equipment of all state agencies necessary to assess, alleviate, respond to, lessen, or recover from conditions caused by this emergency and to meet requests by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and/or county and tribal emergency management to support response needs to respond to or lessen the effects of, the wildfire emergency as described in the state’s Emergency Operations Plan. The Oregon National Guard will deploy, and redeploy, firefighting resources as needed and following Operations Plan Smokey 2024 throughout the remainder of the fire season based on need. Those who believe they have been charged excessively high prices for essential consumer goods during this emergency are encouraged to report violations to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Services, which has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices.

Lightning Moved through Oregon Quickly Tuesday Night

Several fire starts were reported in Douglas County following a string of lightning storms that swept through the district Tuesday night, July 16, 2024, said the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA). According to the DFPA, strikes were recorded from Glendale to Elkton on the west side of the district and from Tiller to north of Glide on the east side of the district.

Officials say the DFPA immediately responded to the fires by initiating aerial and ground lightning reconnaissance. Fire officials confirm that there are several fire starts in the West Fork area, mostly northwest of Glendale. The DFPA says that resources are actively engaged, including the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) area severity aircraft.

30,000 Children In Low-Income Oregon Families Missing Out On Extra Food Benefits

Thousands of low-income Oregon families are leaving food money on the table this summer. The Department of Human Services said Monday that families with 320,000 children have received extra food assistance for the summer but families with another 30,000 children who qualify need to apply. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, or Summer EBT, pays a one-time payment of $120 per child to help low-income families cover food costs over the three-month summer period when children are not in school and don’t have access to those free meals. The payment adds to other assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. The summer program totals about $35 million in aid a year and is funded entirely by the federal government. A pilot run of the program in Oregon showed it reduced child hunger by one-third, said Iván Hernández, a spokesman for the Oregon Food Bank.Apply for benefits Families can apply online in​ English and Spanish. For other languages, use the paper application​. Call  833-673-7328 to find out if your child qualifies or for more information. Allow up to 30 days for applications to be processed. Families can also obtain other free food this summer by texting “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304, visit summerfoodoregon.org or go to  food resources​. “Part of why this is so effective is because it provides households with extra funds to purchase foods of their choice from retailers like grocery stores or farmers’ markets, which means kids won’t have to travel to summer meal sites that might not meet their dietary needs/preferences or be culturally appropriate,” Hernández said. This spring, the Oregon Food Bank estimated that one in five children in the state face hunger, but Feeding America says it’s one in six. In January, Oregon officials applied for the program, and this spring the Legislature agreed to the federal requirement to pay for half of the administrative costs, about $13 million over two years. Families who are already on SNAP, the Oregon Health Plan or Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, have received automatic $120 payments earlier this month. But these other children qualify as well:

• Children in foster care.
• Children who attend a school in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and:
  • Have a monthly income of $3,152 for a family of two, $3,981 for a family of three, $4,810 for a family of four or $5,640 for a family of five.
  • Are enrolled in migrant programs.
  • Are homeless.
  • Attend Head Start.
  • Participate in food distribution programs on Native American reservations.

Department of Human Services officials are sending letters to families that qualify by the end of this month. Officials are adding the payments to SNAP cards or, for others, mailing debit cards with the money on them to families. Officials do not ask for a child’s or family’s immigration status on the application or to determine eligibility, and enrollment in the program also does not affect a child’s immigration status, DHS said, nor does the so-called public charge rule apply. The rule can be used to deny visas or legal residency to families that lack economic resources. Families can check to see whether they received the benefits by checking their EBT card. The deadline to apply is Sept. 2. (SOURCE)

People living, dumping on Oregon’s public lands ‘overwhelming’ Bureau of Land Management

BLM spokesperson Samantha Ducker told KOIN 6 News that the federal agency, which owns about 25% of Oregon, knows that people are living and dumping on public lands. While the public is encouraged to camp on BLM land, BLM regulations prohibit people from camping in an area for more than 14 days. Once the two-week limit is reached, campers are required to move 25 miles away from their previous campsite. If people remain in the area past the deadline, BLM Law Enforcement officers can issue a $250 fine. But with 25 law enforcement officers and five special agents employed across the entire state, BLM officers are overwhelmed by the number of illegal long-term campsites in Oregon. “The BLM is experiencing many problems with unauthorized, illegal long-term occupancy of public lands,” Ducker said. “This is distinctly different from camping for recreational purposes. These long-term occupancies are overwhelming the agency’s resources to deal with them, and in many cases result in hazardous wastes that require specialized contractors for removal and remediation.” READ MORE: https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/people-living-dumping-on-oregons-public-lands-overwhelming-bureau-of-land-management/amp/

Oregon seeks public comment on large-scale farming regulations

Oregonians have until July 22 to submit comments on the implementation of new environmental restrictions for the state’s largest farms. When the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 85 last year, regulations were signed into law for Confined Animal Feeding Operations. Now, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is working to implement them. Brian Posewitz, staff attorney for the group WaterWatch of Oregon, said the new rules will help protect one of Oregon’s most important natural resources. “All Oregonians should care about that, because all Oregonians should care about our water supplies, both in the streams and rivers as well as in the groundwater,” Posewitz emphasized. “Because those water supplies are precious to everybody.” The regulations mean more closely monitoring the amount of water used by the large farms and considering the placement of the operations to reduce nitrate contamination in groundwater caused by manure. The move to protect Oregon’s water supply coincides with an increase in demand for water as the state reenters its wildfire season. As important as Oregon’s water is, regulations often come with a price tag. Large ag operations could be more limited in their site selection, disposal of waste and use of water. The Oregon Farm Bureau predicted tougher rules will affect people’s trips to the grocery store. Lauren Poor, vice president of government and legal affairs for the bureau, thinks the new rules will make it harder to buy local, and wonders if the changes are justified. “There wasn’t a clear indication that there needed to be changes to this program to protect Oregon’s waterways or Oregon’s water supply,” Poor contended. According to Poor, the previous regulations were working, and continuously changing them can be difficult for producers. The deadline is July 22 to submit public comments to the Oregon Department of Agriculture before the regulations are finalized the end of this summer.

Coast, Columbia River at risk of flooding from climate change, sea level rise, scientists find

In Oregon, up to 142 critical infrastructure sites could be impacted along the coast by the end of the century, mostly in the state’s northwest corner

Hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure and services along the Oregon Coast and in parts of the Columbia River Gorge are at risk of repeat flooding if nothing is done to rapidly curb greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change, scientists find. An analysis of flood risks around the U.S. under various climate change scenarios was published June 25 by the Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, a national nonprofit that includes about 250 scientists, analysts and policy experts. The researchers looked at the possibility that essential facilities – including medical facilities, government buildings, fire stations and public housing – would be flooded at least twice a year. In Oregon alone, up to 142 critical infrastructure sites could be impacted along the coast by the end of the century, primarily in the state’s northwest corner. More than 130,000 people live in the three counties – Clatsop, Coos and Tillamook – that would be most impacted, the analysis said. The scientists analyzed the flood risk of critical coastal infrastructure through the end of the century under three scenarios. The first considered a lowering of greenhouse gas emissions, creating relatively low sea level rise by 2100 of about 1.6 feet. The second scenario projected a medium sea level rise to 3.2 feet by the end of the century. The third – a worse-case scenario – envisioned a rise in greenhouse gas emissions during the second half of the century causing a 6.5 foot increase in sea levels by 2100. Across the U.S., more than 15,000 critical infrastructure sites could be impacted if sea levels rise more than 6 feet by 2100, the study said. The researchers found that twice as many critical infrastructure sites were in areas with predominantly Black, Hispanic or Latino and Native American populations. In Warrenton, a key wastewater treatment plant could face flooding once every two weeks by 2100 in the low sea level rise scenario. The Knappa Fire District Station in Astoria and the Cannon Beach Post Office on North Hemlock Street could be flooded as often as every two weeks in the highest risk scenario. The same would apply to two apartment buildings offering affordable housing in Seaside. “In truth, our collective willingness to stop polluting now will determine the scale of the problem late this century,” the scientists wrote. The EN-ROADS simulator developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also shows flooding from rising sea levels and climate change moving deeper into the Columbia River Gorge by 2100 if climate change continues to worsen and oceans rise. According to the simulator, the single most effective policy decision to slow climate change would be to tax carbon dioxide emissions by the ton and charge heavily polluting industries, such as those in the oil and gas sector, forcing them to decarbonize. In the report, the Union of Concerned Scientists recommended that policymakers, planners and technical experts collaborate and invest to safeguard critical infrastructure in high-risk areas and to start working now on moving people and services as needed to areas with more protection. More broadly, they called for a rapid phasing out of fossil fuels, holding heavy greenhouse gas emitters accountable for their pollution and costs and ramping up clean energy investments. (SOURCE)

Public comment sought on program serving older adults and people with disabilities

Salem, OR – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), along with the Oregon Health Authority, will hold a forum to receive feedback from the public on implementation of Oregon Project Independence – Medicaid (OPI-M). OPI-M is being launched by the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities this year as a result of an 1115 Demonstration Waiver. This forum for public input is referred to as a Post-Award Public Forum by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is required by federal regulations. It will provide information on the implementation of OPI-M since the waiver was approved by CMS on Feb. 13, 2024, in addition to providing an opportunity for the public to provide feedback. OPI-M operates under the authority of section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act. The waiver is in effect from Feb. 13, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2029. The forum will be held as a video conference on Zoom on Aug. 5, 2024, from 3 to 4:30 ​p.m. Pacific Time​. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Real-Time Captioning (CART) will also be provided. To request other accommodations, please contact Max Brown by email at rown@odhs.oregon.gov“>Max.Brown@odhs.oregon.gov or by phone at 971-707-1019 no later than 48 hours prior to the forum. Meeting: OPI-M Post-Award Public Forum When: Aug. 5, 2024, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time Where: Video conference meeting on Zoom

• To join by video conference: Join Zoom Meeting​
• To join by phone: dial 669-254-5252; meeting ID: 161 701 1754; passcode: 664575

Additional resources and information about OPI-M:

• Draft Quarterly Monitoring Report​ (currently under CMS review)
• Read the ODHS news release: CMS approves expansion of program providing older adults and people with disabilities more options for support at home

Dog injures paw on hiking trail in Oregon, needs to be carried down Saddle Mountain by rescuers

On July 14, a 160-pound dog was safely carried down Saddle Mountain in Oregon. Firefighters rescued the canine after he injured his paw while on a hike with his pet parents. Following the incident, officials have advised owners to ensure their pups have booties to avoid similar accidents involving sharp wiring laid down for stability and traction. On Sunday, Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District rescued an injured pup from Saddle Mountain in Oregon. They had the assistance of the Gearhart Volunteer Fire Department, Hamlet Volunteer Fire Department, and Seaside Fire & Rescue. The dog weighed about 160 pounds and needed to be carried down the mountain by the rescuers. The Great Pyrenees needed a stretcher after he injured his paw while hiking with his parents. Welded wire fencing has been cited as the cause of the injury. While it helps with traction and stability for hikers, it can prove harmful to animals. Unfortunately, the sharp wires often stick up from the ground and have led to injury in the past as well. The pup was happily hiking with his owners when he suddenly refused to budge. Upon further inspection, the dog’s parents realized his paw was cut and called for assistance to carry him down the mountain. In a Facebook post , Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District noted that although the hiking trail was listed as dog-friendly, it wasn’t so due to the presence of sharp wires and rocks. The authorities stated that if one wants to hike up Saddle Mountain with their furry companion, it would be best to invest in some dog booties. They will keep their precious paws safe and avoid incidents like this. It is also important to note that owners must have their canines on a leash on the hiking trail. The post 160-Pound Dog Carried Down Oregon Mountain by Firefighters appeared first on DogTime .

The Oregon Coast Aquarium New Tufted Puffin Oregon License Plates on Sale

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins. Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts. The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1109674113319848