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Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Widespread smoke, otherwise sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph. Overnight, smoky skies with a low around 51. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
Major Wildfire east of Chiloquin Growing
Chiloquin, Ore. – Crews were able to make significant progress on the Copperfield Wildfire east of Chiloquin last night, aided by lower temperatures and higher relative humidity.
Estimated Size: 3,656 acres
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under Investigation
Estimated Cost: $500,000
Primary residences destroyed: 7
Other buildings destroyed: 10
Fire Equipment and Personel: 36 fire engines, 4 helicopters, several bulldozers and some 286 firefighters are now on the scene.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 3 and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team are working in unified command to contain the fire, protect homes as well as critical infrastructure. Additionally, representatives of the Klamath Tribe are working with fire officials to ensure protection to cultural sites and assess if any sites were impacted during the first night of firefighting. Unfortunately, it was discovered that seven primary residences may have been impacted on the first day of the fire along with several outbuildings but are pending assessments of damage by Klamath County Emergency Management and assisted by OSFM.
Today temperatures will begin to warm up, but the high winds firefighters contended with yesterday will significantly calm down. This will allow fire crews to strengthen lines around the fire to try and hold within the present footprint. Structural task forces from Lane, Deschutes, Polk/Marion, Linn, Clatsop, and Washington Counties will be focused on protecting homes near the fire, mopping up around structures, and fortifying critical infrastructure protection measures.
Multiple air resources will continue working the fire today, including helicopters and other fixed wing aircraft. As a reminder, drones interfere with aircraft on the fire line, please do not fly drones in the fire area – “If you fly, we can’t”.
Community members and visitors in the area are advised to stay safe and stay informed. Visit https://www.klamathcounty.org/300/Emergency-Management for up-to-date information on evacuations and evacuee resources.
A road closure remains in effect on the Sprague River Highway between mile markers 5 and 15. Visit www.tripcheck.com to get the latest on road closure changes. More information will continue to be posted and shared to the fire information Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CopperfieldFire2024.
Evacuation shelters for those needing it have been set up at the Chiloquin Community Center at 140 S 1st Ave. in Chiloquin, as well as the Klamath Falls Fairgrounds at 3531 S 6th St. in Klamath Falls. Large animals can also be accommodated at the Fairgrounds.
Schools are in session. Watch For Students Near Schools
And At Bus Stops
It’s the first day of a new school year for students in the Klamath County and Klamath City school districts.
In the county district, Klamath County School District’s 14-member maintenance team has been busy this summer, using their expertise to renovate and update school buildings, among other improvements.
Highlights include construction of gymnasiums in Bonanza and Chiloquin, completion of a new concession stand at Henley High, and completion of seismic work at Keno Elementary School. The new 16,422-square-foot gymnasium in Bonanza is expected to be completed this fall. Work is just beginning on new 11,580-square-foot gym in Chiloquin. KCSD’s bright yellow buses will be back on the roads.
They are counting on drivers to follow the rules to ensure students are safe while they are entering and exiting the bus. Also, don’t forget to slow down while driving in school zones and keep an eye out for kids walking or bicycling to school. School buses use flashing lights to notify drivers. Here is a rundown of what the rules when you are sharing the road with a school bus and students:
— Yellow lights: Prepare to stop. Slow down. Do not pass the bus.
— Red lights: Stop. Drivers coming from both directions must stop. Do not pass the bus when the lights are flashing. When the lights turn off, proceed with caution. Be on the lookout for children near the road.
— School zones: Oregon state law requires drivers to go no faster than 20 mph in school zones between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Watch for school zone signs near schools. Drivers also need to watch for youth who are bicycling or walking to school. Many area roads do not have sidewalks.
Tips for students (and parents)
- Arrive at the bus stop five minutes ahead of time.
- Keep belongings stowed in a backpack or bag.
- Watch for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the road.
- Look both ways before crossing the road.
Bus routes for the 2024-25 school year are available on the KCSD website.
Marijuana Bust at Sprague River
The successful execution of three search warrants near Sprague River resulted in the seizure of more than 3,200 marijuana plants and 180 pounds of processed marijuana products.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) reported the triple grow-op busts on Thursday, all of which were for properties within the Klamath Forest Estates. Two properties were located on Ruffed Grouse lane and the third on Pheasant Lane.
KCSO said law enforcement discovered the illegal marijuana grows thanks to tips from the public. No arrests were made at any of the seized properties. Illegal use of water was estimated to exceed 392,000 gallons.
The Warner Creek Fire that burned more than 82,000 acres of the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in northern Lake County is now 100 percent contained.
But the refuge will remain closed through June 15, 2025, because of extensive fire damage and the potential threat of invasive species. In a press release, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials for the Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Lakeview said beginning Sept. 2 visitors will have access to 186,000 acres of the refuge, including Hart Mountain Road, Frenchglen Road, Camp Hart Mountain Campground, Shirk Road, Flook Lake Road and Poker Jim Ridge. When the refuge reopens, visitors are asked to clean their vehicles to prevent invasive weeds from entering the refuge that could affect sagebrush rehabilitation.
The lightning-caused fire started Aug. 5 and quickly spread to more than 65,000 acres, or nearly 24 percent of the refuge.
Both Post Meadows and Hot Springs campgrounds had significant damage, especially in riparian areas and surrounding seasonal roads. The fire also resulted in the temporary evacuation of staff living at refuge headquarters but bulldozers and other equipment were used to prevent damage to the residences, offices and visitor center. According to the release, FW&S will “work with partners to assess the burned areas and develop a rehabilitation plan that balances the needs of wildlife, habitat and public recreational opportunities.”
Oregon’s U.S. senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced late last week the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding Klamath Community College and Linn-Benton Community College a combined total of $265,829 to grow their commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs.
A CDL is needed for careers operating large vehicles, including semi-trucks and buses. KCC’s training includes HAZMAT certification. KCC is receiving $135,286 and Linn-Benton Community College is receiving $130,543 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to recruit and enroll students, veterans and current servicemembers, and members of underserved communities in the colleges’ respective CDL programs.
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant program through the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has three goals: to expand the number of CDL holders possessing enhanced operator safety training; to provide opportunities for current or former members of the United States Armed Forces — including National Guard members and reservists — and their spouses to enter trucking or busing; and help increase training opportunities for candidates from underserved communities.
The award for Klamath Community College is expected to help produce at least 23 student drivers in its CDL program.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting free pheasant hunts for kids 17 and under. There are two hunts in Southern Oregon, one in Central Point and another Klamath Falls.
Kids must have a valid Hunter Safety Education card and a valid hunting license. They must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. The Central Point hunt is taking place at the Denman Wildlife Area on September 14 and 15. Check in starts at 7 a.m. and the hunt goes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To join the hunt, participants must register beforehand. For more information on this hunt, call 541-826-8774.
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Around the State of Oregon
A woman is facing charges after her eight-year-old child called 9-1-1 on Monday to report that mom was driving recklessly along Beltline toward Springfield.
Local police say word reached officers that 43-year-old Camie Sorensen’s blue Subaru was driving at a high rate of speed and running multiple red lights. Officers reportedly brought Sorensen to heel after her vehicle came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the intersection of Pioneer Parkway and Q Street.
She was taken into custody for reckless driving, reckless endangering and attempt to elude. Officials say the child came through the experience unharmed.
Ghost Guns To Be Outlawed this week
So-called ghost guns, privately made firearms that don’t have serial numbers and are largely untraceable, will be banned across Oregon starting Sunday after a federal judge denied a legal challenge that tried to block the prohibition.
Ghost guns differ from weapons manufactured by licensed companies in that the latter are generally required to have serial numbers — usually displayed on the frame of the gun — that allow officials to trace them back to the manufacturer, the dealer and the original purchaser.
The U.S. Department of Justice reported recovering 25,785 ghost guns in domestic seizures in 2022. In the Oregon case, Stephen Duvernay, a lawyer for the Oregon Firearms Federation and the Firearms Policy Coalition Inc., argued in federal court this month that self-made guns without serial numbers are common in the U.S., The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
Duvernay also said requiring his clients to add serial numbers to their guns or gun parts would be impractical, adding that about 1 million people own such weapons in state and would be affected by the new law. In 2023 the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2005 banning ghost guns.
State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat, had pushed for the legislation for years, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
When the ban takes effect, firearms made after Oct. 22, 1968, must have a serial number, and violating the law could result in a $1,000 fine. Repeat offenders could face higher fines and potentially incarceration. Under the law, people with firearms that currently do not have serial numbers can have numbers put on them by federally licensed gun dealers so they comply with the statute.
Since July 2023, Oregon has also barred the sale, transfer and import of unserialized firearms and the possession, sale and manufacturing of firearms that cannot be detected by metal detectors or X-ray machines.
Federal officials are moving ahead with plans to promote the shipment of goods by zero-emission trucks up and down the West Coast.
Authorities say the U.S. Department of Transportation is giving Washington, Oregon and California 102-million dollars to create a network of charging and fueling stations to power battery and hydrogen fuel-cell semi-trucks traversing the three states. Officials say major hubs would be built in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.
A medical helicopter called to the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 5 on Friday couldn’t immediately respond due to interference from a civilian drone flying over the crash site, spokespeople for the Oregon State Police and Life Flight Network said.
The Linn County crash killed the driver, 45-year-old Dustin Andrew Brown of Sweet Home, and injured his 19-year-old daughter and an additional 19-year-old passenger. An Oregon State Police spokesperson said Brown lost control of his Hyundai while trying to avoid a rear-end collision. All three people in the car — whom troopers said did not appear to be wearing seatbelts — were ejected from the car as it rolled over, coming to a stop on top of Brown.
Troopers and other motorists lifted the car off Brown, but he was declared dead at the scene. The medical helicopter had no way to contact the operator of the drone to make sure it didn’t run into rescuers. But Hannah, the spokesperson for Life Flight, said first responders were able to take the two passengers to a hospital by ground instead, and so the flight was called off.
CAL FIRE Law Enforcement is asking for the community’s help following a vegetation fire that sparked in Shasta County earlier last week.
Firefighters with several agencies responded to a report of a fire near Old Oregon Trail and Lynn Drive just after noon on Tuesday. No injuries were reported, and crews were able to keep the fire to under three acres. The cause is currently under investigation.
Officials are asking anyone who may have witnessed the fire or has information on how it started is asked to contact CAL FIRE’s confidential hotline at 1-800-468-4408.
Will Oregon follow suit? California lawmakers have approved a host of proposals this week aiming to regulate the artificial intelligence industry, combat deepfakes and protect workers from exploitation by the rapidly evolving technology.
The California Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, is voting on hundreds of bills during its final week of the session to send to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Their deadline is Saturday.
The liberal Democratic governor has until Sept. 30 to sign the proposals, veto them or let them become law without his signature.
Newsom signaled in July he will sign a proposal to crack down on election deepfakes but has not weighed in other legislation. He warned earlier this summer that overregulation could hurt the homegrown industry. In recent years, he often has cited the state’s budget troubles when rejecting legislation that he would otherwise support.
MONMOUTH, Ore. –The Western Oregon University Foundation released its annual report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The report includes total contributions to the Foundation for 2023-2024, and recent budgetary year results on Endowment, Scholarships, and Competitive Grants.
Contributions totaled $5,137,525 for the fiscal year–one of the strongest fundraising years in the Foundation’s history– and include all new outright or committed private gifts and grants made to the WOU Foundation. The Foundation received gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations, and contributions increased almost 78 percent in the 2024 fiscal year from the prior year.
Scholarships and student aid awards surpassed $1 million for the fifth year, with the WOU Foundation investing $1,259,233 back to students with emergency or financial needs, academic merit, athletics participation, and more.
Katie Wojke, vice president of advancement and executive director of the Western Oregon University Foundation shares that growth in areas that positively impact students is made possible due to each and every generous contribution. “Private philanthropy and volunteer service are critical to supporting students during their higher education journey. Thank you to each and every donor and volunteer who is making an impact and lifting up Western and its students.”
The Foundation and University have also seen an increase in the number of volunteers who are giving back to Western in creative ways.
“It has been 37 years since I graduated, and the more time that passes the more I value the education and experience I received. I volunteer at WOU out of a sincere desire to give back to an institution that has given me so much,” says Doug Ladd ‘88, chair of the WOU Alumni Board.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded more than $102 million in federal funding to Oregon, California, and Washington to install electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations for trucks along Interstate 5 and other key freight routes.
The award will result in new, publicly accessible EV charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles like delivery vans and long-haul freight trucks. The stations are part of a collaborative project among the West Coast states to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles in the trucking and logistics industries.
You can read more details about the award, and the full list of awarded projects nationwide, in this online PDF from the Federal Highway Administration.
California’s award for the “West Coast Truck Charging and Fueling Corridor Project” is the one shared with Oregon and Washington. The grant funding comes from the federal Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant program under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Be Prepared with Fire Weather Tools
As August rolls on, the National Weather Service (NWS) reminds wildland fire managers that we have tools to help you monitor and fight wildfires. Whether it is a prescribed burn, ground fire or crown fire, fire managers can use this information to make decisions on how best to combat fires and keep the public safe.
Fire weather forecasters – The NWS issues Fire Weather Outlooks for the next eight days. These outlooks show areas where pre-existing fuel conditions, combined with forecast weather conditions, may result in a significant threat of wildfires.
Our Fire Weather Program supports land managers and firefighters who mitigate and respond to fires. Our weather forecasts are designed to highlight times and locations where a fire may be exceptionally hard to control. For example, we offer Red Flag Warnings, which mean warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds are ongoing or expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger in 12 to 24 hours for specific locations.
Need a fire weather Spot Forecast? Land managers can request a site-specific, localized forecast for prescribed burns and wildfires to assess a potential threat. NWS recently updated this tool and will deliver additional enhancements to the application later this year. Learn more about the new Spot Forecast tool.
For federal and select state large wildfires, onsite weather forecasting support to firefighters is critical. An NWS Incident- Meteorologist (IMET) can be deployed to your incident command post. IMETs arrive on scene within 12 to 24 hours after activation and can serve up to 14 consecutive days before being relieved by another IMET. https://www.weather.gov/news/241507-fire-weather-tools
PLEASE Help Prevent Human-Caused Wildfires
- Immediately call 911 to report fires.
- Drones and other unmanned aircrafts are illegal to fly near fires.
- Fireworks, incendiary/tracer ammunition and exploding targets, are prohibited during fire season (May-October).
- Use caution when target shooting. Clear a 20-foot radius around the target by removing all vegetation and rocks.
- Ensure vehicles and trailers are properly maintained
- Make sure chains and other metal parts are not dragging.
- Keep exhaust systems clean and use spark arrestors.
- Do not park on dry grass.
- Carry extra water, shovel, and/or a fire extinguisher with you.
- Ensure your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving your campsite by making sure it is cool to the touch.
- Please don’t smoke and if you do, don’t throw out cigarette butts.
- Please be mindful and think about your actions
To ensure all Oregonians remain safe during the 2024 wildfire season, we urge everyone to stay tuned into these communications channels and follow all official safety guidelines related to air quality and recreation:
Watch Duty app: Download this app on your smartphone to understand where wildfires are in real time as well as monitor air quality and other metrics. https://app.watchduty.org
Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: During fire season, this web-based interactive map is updated daily with current fire perimeters and locations. This website acts as the wildfire resource coordination center for the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Oregon Dept of Forestry, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/index.aspx
InciWeb the Incident Information System: The federal interagency all-risk incident information management system provides an interactive map with real-time location information on wildfires. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire News: The official wildfire news blog for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Look here for all wildfire news related to state forest lands. https://odffire.com/
Keep Oregon Green: A partnership comprised of statewide and interagency groups working together to promote awareness of the risk and causes of wildfires and how to be prepared in case of a wildfire emergency. https://keeporegongreen.org/
OregonLive Wildfire Map: A project managed by OregonLive that incorporates data from InciWeb, National Interagency Fire Center, Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, NOAA into an easy-to-use map tool. https://projects.oregonlive.com/wildfires/map
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – Air Quality Monitoring Data: A real-time map and cell phone application you can use to track air quality, including wildfire smoke impacts, across the state. Check your app store for OregonAir. https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map
Purple Air – Air Quality Map System: Real-time air quality information using crowdsourced data and data from EPA air sensors. https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p604800/cC0…
NOAA High Resolution Rapid Refresh Data Visualization: The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency(NOAA) is an experimental data visualization tool for wildfire smoke. Be sure to turn on the “Vertically Integrated Smoke” layer to see smoke paths. https://hwp-viz.gsd.esrl.noaa.gov/smoke/index.html
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