Blue River

[p911dad]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Sweet Jesus, that is so sad. I feel so badly for you folks. Lifetimes of work, saving and planning gone just like that.

[LWJ]

^^^not funny.

Also, this is rural Oregon. They are rednecks. Get out of the Willamette valley and the demographics look like Appalachia.

[SpyderMike]

A flyover of the southern Oregon fire Ashland/Talent/Phoenix/Medford area:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=Pi42MtEPC64&feature=emb_logo

More than 600 homes in the area gone and over 100 businesses.

[wdfifteen]

It is heartbreaking to think of what is happening to our fellow citizens out there. That Blue River video is devastating to watch.
Tabs - not funny.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It is heartbreaking to think of what is happening to our fellow citizens out there. That Blue River video is devastating to watch.
Tabs - not funny.

He can be a jerk for sure. I think sinister is the appropriate word for the most part, but in this case — jerk.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

A flyover of the southern Oregon fire Ashland/Talent/Phoenix/Medford area:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=Pi42MtEPC64&feature=emb_logo

More than 600 homes in the area gone and over 100 businesses.

Terrible. I was expecting more forest fire. In that area it appears to be mostly dry grass fire. .

[SpyderMike]

My understanding is that it started at the edge of Ashland near the forest...the winds blew it into town and along the 99-Interstate 5 corridor.

[SpyderMike]

The estimate of homes/structures lost in this particular fire has been updated from 600 to 2,350.

[LWJ]

I just got off the phone with a woman whom I work with who lives in Mehama. This is up the North Fork of the Santiam where several towns were also devastated.

She said that her home was spared. Also, that Canyon Autobody in Mehama was spared. Canyon Auto has a dear place in my heart as they sprayed Glasurit on my 911 SC.

I guess the take away? Not all is lost. It was uplifting to talk with her.

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I just got off the phone with a woman whom I work with who lives in Mehama. This is up the North Fork of the Santiam where several towns were also devastated.

She said that her home was spared. Also, that Canyon Autobody in Mehama was spared. Canyon Auto has a dear place in my heart as they sprayed Glasurit on my 911 SC.

I guess the take away? Not all is lost. It was uplifting to talk with her.

Nice to hear some good news. I grew up in the area and my parents still live there. Several of their friends on the North Fork did lose their places as well as quite a few along Jennie Road just across 22 from the North Fork.

My parents were able to go home yesterday and their house was fine although the fire stopped literally about 15' from their house. The way embers dropped there was no predicting what would make it and what wouldn't.

Pretty devastating to see so many of the places I grew up with not make it. Family places in Gates and Detroit are all gone. I was happy to see the Gingerbread House make it through.

I'm not sure why they didn't cut power prior to the big winds. Everyone knew they were coming and friends at the local fire departments have said the fires in Detroit, Gates, Mill City and Mehama were most likely the result of downed power lines.

[jyl]

After what PG&E has been through in CA, I also am surprised the OR utilities didn't cut power more aggressively during the high winds.

[LWJ]

Here come the lawyers...

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by jyl

After what PG&E has been through in CA, I also am surprised the OR utilities didn't cut power more aggressively during the high winds.

It is puzzling as they were touting on the news Monday night that power had been cut to Mt. Hood areas to prevent fires and it was working.

[Heel n Toe]

https://www.facebook.com/SweetHomePoliceDepartment/

Sweet Home Police Department
1 hr ·

09/17/2020 12:15 pm

Linn County Sheriff removed any evacuation notices for Sweet Home and adjusted some surrounding areas yesterday around noon. Currently the fire is listed as 10% contained, up from 4% yesterday morning.

At 06:20 am Linn County:

DOWNGRADED - The area of Level 2 to a Level 1 for Residents in the area of Upper Calapooia Road, Crescent Hill Rd, Brush Creek Rd from Hwy 228 to the county line and and all side spur roads off these roads near Holley/Crawfordsville area.

DOWNGRADED – The area south of Highway 226 at Lyons, including the McCully Mountain road system, Rashmar Road, and Substation Dr, is downgraded to a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation alert.

They also announced GATES BRIDGE EAST is closed for next several days
HWY 22 is CLOSED Eastbound at the intersection with HWY 226, and Westbound at Idanha.

The weather forecast remains favorable this afternoon, with high humidity and rain in the forecast this afternoon/evening. Meteorologists are calling for between .25 and .5 inches of rain with more if accompanied by thunderstorms tonight (Thursday). Heavy rains increase the likelihood of slides and falling debris for fire fighters. Thunderstorms can bring lightning, increasing concerns for additional fire potential.

Ground crews continue to make great progress in connecting fire lines around the fire. Aircraft are available to help fight the fire but the heavy smoke has kept them grounded.

We will continue to monitor the situation and post updates three times/day and more emergent information as it becomes available.

Please continue to follow official sources for the most accurate information.

Holiday Farm Fire: https://www.facebook.com/HolidayFarmFire

Linn County Sheriff’s Office Wildfire Update: 541-812-2260
https://www.linnsheriff.org/fire_live_updates_sept_2020/

Sweet Home Fire District: https://www.facebook.com/sweethomefire

US Forest Service – Willamette National Forest: https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf

Oregon Office of Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/OMDOEM/

#sweethomeoregon #holidayfarmfire #OregonFires2020

[LWJ]

Update:

Air seems clean in metro Portland.
I could actually smell things yesterday. Walked the dog in the woods. Delightful.
I saw my first star in almost two weeks last night.

Takeaway. A number of friends say that they will never take clean air for granted. A friend lost his home. I know many who evacuated. I am on a board and we are setting up a fund for people who lost their homes. There are a lot.

Now to rebuild.

[jschmidt63]

Air cleared in Eugene Springfield Metro this past Friday. Two weeks of smoke and ash hell with air quality 300-700 PPM living with a mask. I have lived through fires in Oregon and witnessed one up the McKenzie several years ago but nothing like this. My 911 was in my garage whole event and was still coated with fine covering of ash I was able to liberate it from yesterday.
My heart goes out to all the small communities in Oregon burned out. And all the Oregon vineyards close to harvest not sure if they can salvage grapes smoked out that long. For me just a horrible inconvenience for them its all lost.

[LWJ]

This video really brings the fire into perspective. Amazing what happens when Mother Nature gets angry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JknmMzCxwIg