Klamath Basin News, Monday, 7/27 – Caldwell Fire and Ben Young Fire Updates, OHA Says 277 new Covid-19 Cases

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Monday, July 27, 2020

Klamath Basin Weather

Today A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms during theday, otherwise partly sunny with a high near 92.   A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm tonight with a low around 61.

Tuesday A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Widespread haze before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Slight chance of showers or thundershowers overnight.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 94.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 92.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 86.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 87.

Today’s Headlines

COVID-19 has claimed three more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 289. The Oregon Health Authority reported 277 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday bringing the state total to 16,758.

The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (1), Clackamas (20), Columbia (2), Coos (1), Crook (1), Deschutes (21), Hood River (1), Jackson (15), Jefferson (5), Klamath (1), Lane (8), Lincoln (1), Linn (5), Malheur (10), Marion (30), Morrow (13), Multnomah (44), Polk (2), Umatilla (43), Wasco (5), Washington (39), and Yamhill (6).

Nearby Jackson County had 15 new cases. Klamath County reported 1 new case.

The Lava Beds National Monument was closed Thursday after the wind-driven Caldwell Fire grew onto the southern border of the park. The fire was at 7,903 acres as of Friday afternoon and is one of 15 lightning-caused fires burning on the Modoc National Forest nicknamed the “July Complex.”

The smoke plumes were visible from the Klamath area Thursday and Friday, and Forest Service spokesperson Ken Sandusky said thunderstorms created winds that blew the blaze in every direction. Sandusky said the fire is burning in an area called “gasoline alley,” which he said features challenging topography. Medicine Lake and surrounding U.S. Forest Service roads are closed while crews fight the fire.

The Ben Young Fire has now burned about 1200 acres. The update from the team in Paisley says firefighters continue to hold the Ben Young Fire in place bringing containment up to 65%.

Resources from multiple agencies and contractors are working on the fire, including Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Yesterday’s Activity – Minimal fire activity occurred throughout the day and crews were able to make excellent progress reinforcing the entire fireline with occasional helicopter use. Today’s Operations – Firefighters will continue with patrol and mopping up along the perimeter of the fire in all divisions. Crews are monitoring for remaining heat on steep slopes in smoldering heavy fuels within the interior on the NW corner. Crews are looking for opportunities for fire suppression repairs and bringing equipment off the fireline. Weather and Fire Behavior: Hot, dry weather with calm winds are expected with high temperature in the low 90s and 11% Relative Humidity. Smoldering heavy fuels will continue to burn.

There is potential for isolated thunderstorms today. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued to cover the period of highest thunderstorm risk for late Monday morning through Monday evening. Closures: The emergency fire closure area was reduced on Friday.

The northern boundary has dropped south to Forest Roads 033-122 and 3510-019. Both roads are now closed between Forest Roads 33 and 3510-018. Forest Roads 3510-018 off Clover Flat Road, the 3510 Road between the Forest Boundary west to Forest Road 33, and Road 3509 between Forest Road 3510 and the 28 Road remain closed.

The reduction in the closure area reopens recreation sites including Marster Spring Campground, Chewaucan Crossing Campground and Jones Crossing Forest Camp. Moss Meadow Horse Camp, Moss Pass Trailhead and Campground, and the section of the Fremont National Recreation Trail within the closure area remain closed. The Closure Order is formally referenced as 06-02-03-20-01-01.

Safety: Our highest priority remains the safety of the public and all wildland fire personnel. Fire operation protocols include best management practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within firefighting crews/operations and within the public. Medical staff is available to support firefighters should they be needed.

The Lake County Major Crime Team continues to investigate the July 6 death of Lakeview resident Jacob Wheat. Dean Wood, 32, has been identified as a person of interest in Wheat’s death.

Wood is currently in custody at the Lake County Jail on unrelated charges. Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Oregon State Police troopers found Wheat in a parking lot near 11 North G Street in Lakeview on the night of July 6 after they received a 911 call about a shooting. Wheat died at the scene.

According to a press release, the Lake County Major Crime Team said it is “dedicated to investigating and pursuing criminal charges on any persons involved in aiding with the murder.”

Three U.S. senators sent a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt on Wednesday demanding he “immediately issue guidance on mask and PPE policies” for Interior Department employees.

The letter comes after the Klamath Tribes voiced concern with Bernhardt’s decision not to wear a mask at a meeting with tribal stakeholders during his visit to the Klamath Basin earlier this month. In the letter, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) stressed that the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines regarding personal protective equipment and face coverings “apply to all people, including those working for federal agencies.”

Secretary Bernhardt and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman held a meeting with four tribes along the Klamath River watershed on July 9 during a historic joint visit to the basin. Representatives Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) were also in attendance. The officials’ decisions not to follow CDC and state guidelines “has unnecessarily added to the disproportionate risk of infection faced by our impoverished tribal community,” the tribes’ release said.

Congratulations to Colonel Kyle Teamey, United States Army Reserve, who graduated July 24 from the United States Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in strategic studies.

A former resident of Klamath Falls, Teamy graduated from Henley High School in 1994. The U.S. Army War College’s two-year distance education curriculum educates and develops senior military officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, as well as senior foreign military officers and civilian officials from a variety of federal agencies, to serve in strategic level command and staff positions worldwide. Teamy said he is grateful to the friendship, fellowship, and mentorship he received from friends, family, and teachers while growing up in Klamath Falls.

The weekend saw thousands of people marching in the streets and early Sunday morning came the violence.  Authorities declared a riot early Sunday in Portland, where protesters breached a fence surrounding the city’s federal courthouse building where U.S. agents have been stationed.

Police described via Twitter the “violent conduct of people downtown” as creating a “grave risk of public alarm.” Police demanded people leave the area surrounding the courthouse, around 1:20 a.m. Sunday, and said those who fail to adhere may be arrested or subject to teargas and impact weapons. By 1:40 a.m., both federal officers and Portland police could be seen on the streets, surrounding the courthouse, attempting to clear the area and deploying teargas. Protesters remained in the streets past 2:30 a.m., forming lines across intersections and holding makeshift shields, as police patrolled and closed blocks abutting the area. Multiple arrests were made, but it wasn’t immediately clear how many. Meanwhile, in Eugene, A Black Lives Matter protest was met with a large counter-protest in Eugene on Saturday night, and things quickly got out of hand as the event turned into a riot, according to the Eugene Police.

Oregon State Police in Klamath Falls arrested two southern California men on drug charges early Sunday morning near the Klamath Falls city limits on Highway 97, milepost 278 Officers arrested 41 year old Santiago Romero-Juarez and 27 year old Efrain Ordono, both of Ventura California.

Both were charged on felony counts of unlawful delivery of heroin, unlawful possession of heroin, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. It was not immediately known what the amount of drugs seized in the traffic stop were.

The Klamath County Chamber in partnership with Klamath County and the Downtown Association have KN95 masks to be distributed to businesses and members of the public.

The distribution will take place today at Sugarman’s Corner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The masks will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. If you would like more information, please call the Chamber at (541)-884-5193.

Heat illness poses a serious threat to workers whenever they are not prepared for hot weather. As temperatures rise this – and every – summer, Oregon OSHA urges employers to focus on prevention.

Prevention includes providing water, rest, and shade; gradually adapting workers to hot environments; and training employees to recognize the signs of heat illness and to raise concerns immediately Addressing the threat of heat illness on the job may become more challenging for employers and workers this summer as they also implement measures – including face coverings – to protect against the coronavirus pandemic. Depending on the situation, they may consider certain steps. Those include adjusting work practices – including performing work during the coolest part of the day – making sure workers get regular breaks, shade, and water – with appropriate physical distancing – and using cooling masks or face shields.

Around the state of Oregon

On Sunday, July 26, 2020 at approximately 7:07 P.M. Oregon State Police responded to the report of a motorcycle crash, which occurred on State Route 34 near mile post 14 in Lincoln County.

Preliminary investigation revealed a gray 2012 Ducati motorcycle, operated by Kenneth Robert KEARNEY (51) of Waldport, was westbound negotiating a sweeping left turn when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle went off the westbound shoulder.  The motorcycle came to an uncontrolled rest in the roadside brush.  Kearney was ejected off the motorcycle during the crash. 

Kearney sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. One lane of SR 34 was closed for approximately three hours.

On Sunday, July 26, 2020 at approximately 2:59 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a three vehicle crash on Hwy 22 near mile post 38. Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver Ford F150, operated by Scott Zadow (43) from Portland. was traveling eastbound when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and sideswiped a Nissan Pathfinder operated by Curtis Gagner (42) of Canby.

The Ford F150 continued westbound and collided into a VW Passat operated by John Berquist (50) of Turner.

Berquist sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.Zadow was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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