Firefighters had a successful day yesterday. The continued cooler weather pattern allowed for firefighters to work on completing control lines around the fire. The fire size remains at an estimated 2,435 acres and is 15% contained.
The Kimberling Fire, east of Rose Lodge, has a fire line around the entire perimeter and hose lays were constructed. Water began flowing at noon. Mop-up is underway from the perimeter towards the center of the fire. This work will continue for the next few days.
On the larger portion of fire near Otis, crews have nearly completed fire line around the perimeter. Hose lays are being constructed that will assist with the mop-up operations. Hazard tree mitigation and powerline repair is still part of the day shift’s operations.
Night shift resources will focus on patrolling the fires and monitoring fire behavior. Day shift resources will finish building fire lines and continue mopping up around the fire tomorrow.
The predicted weather calls for continued cooler temperatures in the 60s with higher relative humidity that will keep the fire from being as active as it has been. Rain is in the forecast starting early next week.
The area remains extremely hazardous. Falling debris, downed powerlines and hazard trees continue to be issues. Please avoid the fire area. Highway 18 remains closed at this time. This closures is in place to protect members of the public, as well as firefighters.
Oregon reports 293 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 6 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed six more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 505, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
“Today’s 500th death marks another sad milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon,” said Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen. “These are our family members, our friends, neighbors and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences to every Oregonian who has suffered a loss to COVID-19.”
Oregon Health Authority reported 293 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 29,156.
The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (2), Benton (3), Clackamas (15), Clatsop(2), Columbia (4), Deschutes (9), Douglas (4), Jackson (11), Jefferson (4), Klamath (2), Lane (13), Lincoln (1), Linn (3), Malheur (28), Marion (48), Morrow (5), Multnomah (68), Polk (5), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (27), Union (2), Wasco (1), Washington (26) and Yamhill (9).
Oregon’s 500th COVID-19 death is a 49-year-old woman in Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug.12 and died on Sept. 2 at Providence St. Mary’s in Walla Walla, Washington. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 501st COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on Aug. 27 and died on Sept. 6 at Adventist Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 502nd COVID-19 death is a 97-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on June 29 and died on Aug. 29 at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. Presence underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 503rd COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 27 and died on Sept. 5 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 504th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Multnomah County who died on Aug. 28 at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 505th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 26 and died on Sept. 2 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
See table below for total cases, deaths, and negative tests by county.
County
Cases1
Total deaths2
Negative tests3
Baker
90
2
1459
Benton
243
6
11592
Clackamas
2142
59
55049
Clatsop
102
0
5094
Columbia
143
1
6379
Coos
131
0
6023
Crook
59
1
2385
Curry
25
0
1511
Deschutes
720
12
26552
Douglas
187
3
11717
Gilliam
4
0
257
Grant
8
0
821
Harney
12
0
742
Hood River
238
0
4651
Jackson
954
3
30043
Jefferson
486
8
4392
Josephine
174
2
10811
Klamath
242
2
9450
Lake
29
0
805
Lane
838
12
57082
Lincoln
472
13
8210
Linn
427
13
14966
Malheur
1381
22
4626
Marion
4222
85
43465
Morrow
470
4
1600
Multnomah
6522
128
129384
Polk
474
15
7980
Sherman
18
0
321
Tillamook
45
0
2790
Umatilla
2839
41
12273
Union
431
2
3160
Wallowa
23
1
885
Wasco
226
3
4574
Washington
4073
53
84020
Wheeler
0
0
157
Yamhill
706
14
15722
Total
29,156
505
580,948
1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.
2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please.
3This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.
Stay informed about COVID-19:
:The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.
:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.
:The World Health Organization guides the global response.
Firefighters are taking advantage of the cooler weather and making progress in building fire lines around the perimeters. The fire has not experienced significant growth in the last 48 hours.
The Kimberling Fire, east of Rose Lodge, has a fire line around the perimeter and hose lays are in progress. Mop-up is planned to commence later today. Mop-up activities consist of digging up hot spots using hand tools and following with water. It is tedious work that could take days before the fire is considered out.
The larger portion of the fire near Otis has crews working to establish fire breaks using hand crews in steeper areas and dozers to re-open roads for control lines. The majority of the fire perimeter does not have control lines established yet.
Michael Curran, ODF District Forester, asks for the public’s patience and understanding of the road closures. “Until hazard trees are removed, repairs to the power lines are made and structure assessment completed, portions of the fire will remain closed to the public for the fire fighters ”safety” he stated today.
Blue heron at Salishan Nature Trail Gleneden Beach. The sepia color is due to smoke and ash in the air-heron and fallen tree at the golf course next to the nature trail. I walked on the trail and watched the heron for a long time, and took photos. He was very hungry, patiently fishing; he caught and ate a lot of fish. didn’t seem to mind me taking photos, even when I slowly moved to get a little closer. Life marches on with them. Sad to see the trees broken and fallen. There were several trees at the Salishan golf course felled by those strong gusts of wind the other day.
Pacific Power working around the clock to restore electric service in aftermath of wildfire devastation
The company is making progress across the region amid historic statewide disaster
PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 12, 2020) — Working overnight and through the morning, Pacific Power crews restored more than 1,500 customers in the Lincoln City area as of 2 p.m. Saturday. Approximately 250 outages remain in Lincoln County, which at one time during the week had more than 14,000 customers without power.
Nearly 11,500 customers remain without service in Oregon and northern California with approximately 10,000 of them in the southern Medford area. Most of the outages in Medford are connected to lines de-energized Thursday to allow firefighters to safely complete their work.
“A lot is changing during the very active stages of the wildfires, and we are working around the clock to complete restorations as quickly as possible,” said David Lucas, vice president of operations. “Please stay safe, and know we are staging supplies, including large numbers of poles and equipment, so we can be ready to move as soon as we have an all-clear from first responders.”
Current information from fire authorities indicates a number of customers may remain without power for an extended period in some locations until active fires have been contained and our crews are allowed access to begin restoration.
More than 420 personnel are deployed throughout the more challenging areas. They are patrolling areas to survey damage and doing the repair work they can outside of active fire areas. Pacific Power is also using helicopters to survey damage in advance of being able to enter areas.
While access to heavily damaged areas is limited, Pacific Power has been able to make a preliminary inventory of equipment that needs to be replaced or repaired:
385 distribution poles
130 transmission poles
30 distribution transformers
Forecasts indicate weather will remain favorable today and through the weekend for most locations with rain possible next week.
“Our hearts go out to all that have been affected by these recent events. We are part of the communities we serve and are devastated by what we’re seeing as our friends, neighbors and our own employees are forced to evacuate,” said Lucas. “We stand ready to support the Red Cross and local agencies who are providing much needed relief to community members. We thank our emergency responders and all those on the frontlines for their tireless work to keep us all safe.”
How to be ready, how to get help
Pacific Power customer care agents are available and ready to help customers through this incredibly difficult time. They can be reached 24/7 at .
Customers should be prepared for prolonged power outages by having on hand adequate food, water and back-up batteries. They are also encouraged to follow any local evacuation orders and look out for neighbors.
The company is working with the Red Cross and local agencies to directly aid people in need. Support is available for those in wildfire-affected areas at the following community shelter locations:
Oregon:
Josephine County Fairgrounds – 1451 Fairgrounds Rd, Grants Pass
Jackson County Expo – 1 Peninger Rd, Central Point
Oregon State Fairgrounds – 2330 17th St. NE, Salem
Klamath County Fair Grounds – 3531 S 6th St, Klamath Falls
Kla-Mo-Ya Casino – 34333 US-97, Chiloquin
Linn County Fairgrounds – 3700 Knox Butte Rd E, Albany
Benton County Fairgrounds – 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis
Deschutes County Fairgrounds – 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond
Douglas County Fairgrounds – 2110 Frear St., Roseburg
Polk County Fairgrounds – 520 S Pacific Hwy W, Rickreall
Newport Recreation Center – 225 SE Avery St, Newport
Northern California:
Kahtishraam Wellness Center – 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka
Siskiyou County Fairgrounds (taking large animals) – 1712 Fairlane Rd, Yreka
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital staff to celebrate community at drive-by parade
Planning, designing and constructing a large project – such as the new Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital – usually culminates with a grand opening celebration. Because of the constraints of COVID-19, this key event has pivoted into a physically safe celebration of the Lincoln City community, to honor residents’ support and patience throughout.
The drive-by parade celebration will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Community members are invited to drive by the front entrance of the new hospital where staff members and key stakeholders will wave, cheer and greet passersby. The first 125 participants will receive a small token of appreciation.
“What a fun way to celebrate our friends and neighbors who helped make our new hospital possible,” said hospital CEO Lesley Ogden, MD. “So many people contributed to the success of this project. It would be impossible to express adequate appreciation with mere words, but I want everyone who played any part in this project to know: We are profoundly grateful for you!” The hospital is located at 3043 NE 28th St. in Lincoln City. To join the parade, enter on the driveway closest to the front of the building.
About the new Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital: The $45-million project was funded entirely by the nonprofit Samaritan Health Services with support from the North Lincoln Health District, the North Lincoln Hospital Foundation and countless generous donors. The result is an efficient, innovative, patient-centered and flexible 16-bed critical access hospital to replace the original and outdated hospital. All inpatient rooms in the new state-of-the art hospital are private and most have forested views of Devils Lake.
Along with building a 52,000-square-foot hospital, the project included the complete interior remodel of a former nursing home building located on the campus. That building has been transformed into administrative and business office space, as well as the new home to Samaritan Physical Rehabilitation – Lincoln City, offering physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. The final phase of the project was completed in mid-June, with demolition of the original hospital building and construction of a centrally located and environmentally friendly main parking lot to serve the hospital and other medical buildings on the 12-acre campus.
“This has been an unusually challenging year. We opened our incredible new hospital on Feb. 4 with such high hopes. Within weeks, we faced the shutdown of all but emergency procedures because of mandated coronavirus restrictions,” Ogden said. “Fortunately, we have been able to resume all normal medical services, although with visitor restrictions still in place. We don’t want to delay our celebration any longer. So, please join us as we celebrate.”
Created by the design-build team of HGA Architects and Skanska USA Building, the hospital design inside and out has a Northwest feel reflecting the coastal forests and Pacific beaches of Lincoln City.
At a formal gala held for donors and other key stakeholders in early January, before the hospital opened its doors to patients, Dr. Ogden stated: “We now have a facility that reflects the best health care that can be offered – from its beauty, technological advancements, earthquake resiliency and flexibility of use to its focus on the patient, our community and wellness. This hospital will keep our community safe and will be a hub of health care for another 50-plus years.”
After an emergency evacuation of all patients and staff on Wednesday, Sept. 9, ahead of wildfires that threatened the city of Lincoln City, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital reopened Saturday morning, Sept. 12, offering emergency services and limited inpatient services. Full hospital and clinic services will be phased in beginning on Monday, Sept. 14.
A post on the hospital’s Facebook page, , stated:
“We are relieved, exhausted, emotional and so very grateful that our amazing employees are eager to return, even when their own personal circumstances may be in disarray. Prayers to those who are hurting now, and much appreciation to first responders, firefighters, police and so many others in our community who put themselves in danger to protect our lives and property.”
A caravan of ambulances transferred nine inpatients to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport the morning of Sept. 9. Many staff members who live in areas designated for evacuation left to tend to personal affairs, while others headed south to Newport to offer assistance at their partner hospital, which was experiencing an influx of patients in the Emergency Department and other outpatient services.
Officials with the Oregon Health Authority assured the executive leadership at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital that they could resume business once it was determined that all systems were operational and that the building was safe and clean to occupy. Once consistent electrical service was restored to the hospital and adequate staff scheduled to offer continuous 24 hour coverage, the decision was made to reopen the hospital with limited services at 7 a.m. on Sept. 12.
Samaritan services in Lincoln City that will reopen on Monday, Sept. 14, are:
All provider clinics.
Outpatient Laboratory.
Diagnostic Imaging, with limited CT and MRI service.
The “morning after” devastation is overwhelming as Oregon residents survey the fire storm of damage and the death and destruction to the lives who lost everything this past week. Few words can describe the armageddon that swept huge swaths of north and south Oregon. The story is unfolding in the Oregonian.
(6 AM) Echo Mountain Fire Complex – DOWNGRADE NOTICES for Lincoln City Area – Downgrade to a Level 2:· NE East Devils Lake Road south to mile post 3.6 (bridge replacement cut off) and the Neotsu neighborhood
· All other West and East side streets off of NE East Devils Lake Road
Removal of Evacuation Level:
All of S Schooner Creek Road
Community Members in the newly downgrade levels can return to their homes and business at this time. If you need transportation back to your home you can call the County Call Center at (after 8am) for coordination.
Cautionary Re-entry Information:
· It is always advisable to do a safety check of your home and property when you return.
· You may experience some intermittent power disruption over the next few days.
· Continue to monitor local media sources, county website and your telephone devices to receive further information and updates.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to the Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center at ,
September 11, 2020 Updates
7:30pm – While winds have lessened, the Echo Mountain Complex remains active. Firefighters are watching weather conditions and monitoring other factors such as relative humidity, as they relate to fire behavior. This complex of fires, which is comprised of two fires, is estimated at 2,435 acres and is 0% contained. Fire resources across the region are spread thin as fire conditions have reached extreme. Fire officials estimate that at least 100 structures have been damaged or destroyed. Two structural task forces have been ordered. Upon their arrival, they will begin damage assessment and inventory of all the structures impacted. This work is very methodical and will take several days to complete. Many areas remain under evacuation orders. These orders are issued by Lincoln County. Fire managers are asking people to stay out of the fire areas. There are many hazards still present. Fire weakened trees and falling debris, as well as downed power lines present dangerous conditions. There are many road closures in the area. The closures are to provide for the safety of the public and firefighters. Many of our public lands have been closed to the public due to the extreme conditions. Please check the status of all land prior to heading out. Next update:
3:00pm – Some evacuation levels have been downgraded. Downgraded to Level 2 (Get Set) – Roads end from the beach over to Hwy 101, south to NW 39th and west to ocean. You may return home. Be aware that NW Natural does not have gas back on yet and and electricity may go off and on for the next few days as crews repair lines. Level 2 and Level 1 notices removed: NW 39th to west side of Devil’s Lake and south through the city of Lincoln City. If you need transportation back home, contact the Lincoln County Call Center .
9:25am -Most recent fire map updated below- not much change. Incident command is briefing now, stay tuned here for updates as we learn them. We will send notice as people are able to return back home. At this time, there are no needs for donations or volunteers. We will let our community know if that changes and also where you can go to help. Thank you so much for the outpouring of support.
Looking for Family Members
Safe and Well Program –
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Lincoln Alerts:
Add your email to your profile.
If you are checking on family members – create profile with their address and your contact info – add your email
Update your contact info.
CURRENT WILDFIRE ACTIVATIONS/SMOKE CONDITIONS IN LINCOLN COUNTY:
Facebook Updates:
Lincoln Alerts: Text LINC4ALERTS to 888-777 for general updates. Sign up with your address here for targeted evacuation notices:
Check on loved ones or share your status at
North Lincoln County in the communities of Lincoln City, Otis, Neotsu and Rose Lodge
Level 3 – LEAVE NOW EVACUATION NOTICE (still in place as of 8:20pm Friday)
All of East Devil’s Lake Road
Hwy 18 from milepost 0 to Rose Lodge
NE Highland Road and all roads off of this
N. Slick Rock Creek Road
N. Boulder Creek
N. Sundown Drive
N. Bear Creek Road
S. Schooner Creek Road
N. Meadow Place
N. Mable Drive
FR 25 Road
Updated AM
(6 AM) Echo Mountain Fire Complex – DOWNGRADE NOTICES for Lincoln City Area –
Downgrade to a Level 2:
· NE East Devils Lake Road south to mile post 3.6 (bridge replacement cut off) and the Neotsu neighborhood
· All other West and East side streets off of NE East Devils Lake Road
Removal of Evacuation Level:
All of S Schooner Creek Road
Community Members in the newly downgrade levels can return to their homes and business at this time. If you need transportation back to your home you can call the County Call Center at (after 8am) for coordination.
Cautionary Re-entry Information:
· It is always advisable to do a safety check of your home and property when you return.
· You may experience some intermittent power disruption over the next few days.
· Continue to monitor local media sources, county website and your telephone devices to receive further information and updates.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to the Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center at ,
There may be additional road closures throughout the county due to downed trees and lines. Visit for more information.
RESOURCES – Immediate Needs
Evacuation point is at Newport Recreation Center in Newport. The OCCC Evacuation point has been moved to the Newport Rec Center. 225 SE Avery St, Newport, OR 97365
Transfer to other evacuation shelters will be managed from this location by the American Red Cross. Contact the Red Cross at or website:
Additional unofficial evacuation sites have been set up by various cities and churches. List will be posted here when we et it updated.
Barnyard Animals – Livestock County Commons – 633 NE 3rd St, Newport, OR 97365
The Lincoln Commons is available 24/hours with pens, buckets, water and hay for livestock.
Users of the facility must be prepared to care for their animals.
Users must register and check in with a volunteer during the day and during their stay at the Commons.
Companion Animal Supplies – Dogs, Cats and Pets
If you have evacuated with companion pets and need supplies. There are companion animal supplies available at Animal Shelters entrance at 510 NE Harney street.
Lost pets/animals left in the evacuation area, the best thing to do is direct them to our lost/found page:
Additional Information
Current Fire Restrictions:
Current Smoke Conditions – Air Quality Information:
Summer Weather Outlook – National Weather Service
COUNTY EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION CALL CENTER:
to go to our specific Call Center page to watch our video and review information sheets you can print from home.
When the is activated it is intended to provide the following:
Fire evacuation levels and locations
Road closures
Shelter locations for both people and pets/livestock
Fire/weather conditions
Smoke precautions
Frequent updates will be pushed out to local/regional media partners, Lincoln Alerts notification system, community support groups, local policy groups and will be available on our County Emergency Management webpage under the “Seasonal Hazards: Wildfire” page.
This has been a heartbreaking week. Wildfires are ravaging the West — displacing thousands of Oregonians, destroying homes, and exposing so much of our state to a thick blanket of hazardous smoke. I am deeply appreciative for the firefighters, first responders, administrators, and volunteers who are working around the clock to keep our communities safe.
And of course this catastrophe is coming during the pandemic, creating a compound tragedy and a particularly complicated set of challenges for people at high risk of COVID-19. I urge everyone , prepare stay-at-home and evacuation kits, and make evacuation plans (). You can sign up for text message, call, or email alerts by heading to , searching for your county, and signing up for alerts. For more information about what each level of evacuation entails,. Should you need to evacuate, .
These circumstances would be challenging enough in normal times. But the truth is that wildfires and the dangerous smoke they create are threatening to make the pandemic even worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that smoke can make people more prone to respiratory diseases, including the coronavirus. And while in other years Oregonians could go to their local libraries or other large indoor public spaces to be in cleaner air, many of those spaces are currently closed due to the pandemic.
Now is the time to do everything we can to take care of our health and the health of our neighbors and loved ones. And the best way to do that is to limit your exposure to smoke.
Specific tips from the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC are:
— Keep indoor air as clean as possible by closing all windows and doors, using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce air pollution, avoid smoking tobacco, using wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, candles, incenses, or vacuuming;
— Close all windows and set air conditioning to recirculate air when driving;
— Stay hydrated to reduce symptoms of scratchy throat and coughing;
— Stock up on medicines routinely taken by storing a 7 to 10-day supply for prescriptions medicines in a waterproof, childproof container to take with you if you evacuate;
— Reduce time spent in smoky areas;
— Reduce time spent outdoors and avoid vigorous outdoor activities; and
— Listen to your body and immediately contact your healthcare provider or 911 if you are experiencing health symptoms.
Other steps you can take to create a cleaner air space at home to protect yourself from wildfire smoke during the pandemic include:
— Using a portable air cleaner in one or more rooms;
— Creating a do-it-yourself box fan filtration unit (,NOTE to never leave these unattended);
— During times of extreme heat, pay attention to temperature forecasts ; and,
— If you have a forced air system in your home, you may need to speak with a qualified heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional about different filters (HEPA or MERV-13 or higher) and settings (“Recirculate” and “On” rather than “Auto”) you can use to reduce indoor smoke.
Guidance for Oregonians who are quarantining or isolated due to the coronavirus:
— Regardless of whether you have the coronavirus, if you are ordered to evacuate, you should do so — Your first priority in wildfire situation is to respond to the evacuation and safety instructions of your local and state fire officials;
— If possible, get in touch with your local public health authority for solutions to help you continue to isolate or quarantine if you are evacuated from your home;
— Notify officials at any shelter or evacuation space that you are in isolation or quarantine so they can help you stay distanced from others;
— Wear a mask at all times if you may come into contact with others who do not live with you, or anytime you are outside of your home;
— If you are an older adult or a person with disabilities, reach out to the Aging and Disabilities Resource Connection for information about resources 1-855-ORE-ADRC();
— Practice physical distancing to the greatest extent possible if you must travel outside of your home for to evacuate or for any other reason.
For other recommendations from state officials, including those for Oregonians with chronic illnesses, . For information about state resources, or text 2-1-1.
It is important to remember that while cloth masks can protect you and others from the coronavirus, they will not protect you from wildfire smoke because they cannot catch small, harmful particles found in smoke — and that some symptoms, like dry cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing can be caused by both wildfire smoke exposure and the coronavirus.,which include fever or chills, muscle or body aches, and diarrhea, which are not related to smoke exposure.to help you determine whether you need further assessment or testing for the coronavirus.
These are challenging times. But by sticking together, doing everything we can to being prepared, and heeding warnings and orders from public health officials, we will get through this. My team and I will be sharing more updates about wildfire safety and federal resources on , and I encourage you to bookmark my website and check back for more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please stay safe.
OREGON WILDFIRES IMPACT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
As firefighters continue to battle widespread wildfires that have burned more than one million acres, emergency responders are working around the clock with a focus on saving lives.
Throughout the week, evacuation levels have been changing by the hour as a result of the dynamic fire conditions. Evacuation areas expanded on Thursday afternoon, affecting tens of thousands of people. By late in the afternoon, the number of Oregonians under some level of evacuation notice had jumped to an estimated 500,000, with notices affecting the more densely populated Clackamas County and including additional notices across Oregon.
The statement provided by the Office of Emergency Management of 500,000 evacuated was referenced incorrectly. As Governor Brown stated in her press conference today, 500,000 Oregonians are under an evacuation notice (Level 1, 2 or 3) and more than 40,000 have evacuated. With the rapidly changing situation, all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information to best inform response efforts and those seeking safety. OEM is working directly with the Red Cross, FEMA, local counties and law enforcement, as well as incident management teams to coordinate and align these crucial information efforts.
“We fully recognize the importance of this information to Oregonians – for response and for planning efforts, and for those seeking safe shelter,” said OEM Director Andrew Phelps. “We are committed to getting it right.”
OEM urges the public to update information on their status with the Red Cross, seek shelter and stay informed. As with all disasters, evacuated Oregonians are sheltering with friends and family, with many choosing to stay in vehicles. Let loved ones know you are safe at theWebsite. State emergency managers encourage people affected by the fires, whether or not they have evacuated, to register on the site. It is a helpful tool that can bring relief to people looking for loved ones during these fires, and help inform search efforts.
More information will be shared as soon as it is verified and available. We recognize the uncertainty and anxiety Oregonians are feeling at this time and that people need timely and accurate information. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to keep you informed.
Members of the public who are seeking additional information, dial 211 or , also reachable by texting your zip code to 898211 (TXT211).
LINCOLN CITY, Oregon- Evacuation orders for Level 2 and 1 South of NE 39th , from NW 39th Street to the West side of Devils Lake then South through the City Limits and from NW Logan Road (Roads End Area East to Hwy 101/Hwy 18 Interchange) have been removed.
Community members may return to their homes and businesses. You can view the updated evacuation map and view updates on the City’s Website
Please call the Lincoln County Call Center at if you have questions or need assistance returning home.
Echo Mountain Wildfire Updates and Information
September 11, 2020 Updates (3:36pm)
NW Natural customers in the north end of Lincoln City (Logan Road North and east to Neotsu) may or may not have Natural Gas. The gas regulators and key values for this area are in the active fire area of the Echo Mountain Complex, no estimated time for repair.
Evacuation level updates are being made available through theand through Lincoln Alerts-DOWNGRADE NOTICE – Removal of Level 2 and 1 South of NE 39th–This is an emergency notice from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office regarding the Echo Mountain Fire Complex.
The Level 2 and 1 evacuation notices in the Lincoln City area have been removed:
From NW 39th Street to the West side of Devils Lake then South through the City Limits
Community Members in the downgrade area can return to their homes and business at this time. If you need transportation back to your home you can call the County Call Center at for coordination.
Cautionary Re-entry Information:
It is always advisable to do a safety check of your home and property when you return.
You may experience some intermittent power disruption over the next few days.
Continue to monitor local media sources, county website and your telephone devices to receive further information and updates.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to the Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center at , .
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Power is in the process of being restored but there are still outages being reported. Pacific Power is calling residents to check if the power is on at your location. To check on your location, to report an outage, please call .
Hwy 18 remains closed
At this time, to volunteer or donate, please call the Lincoln County Call Center at .
DOWNGRADE NOTICE – Removal of Level 2 and 1 South of NE 39th, Lincoln City
This is an emergency notice from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office regarding the Echo Mountain Fire Complex.
The Level 2 and 1 evacuation notices in the Lincoln City area have been removed:
· From NW 39th Street to the West side of Devils Lake then South through the City Limits
Community Members in the downgrade area can return to their homes and business at this time. If you need transportation back to your home you can call the County Call Center at for coordination.
Cautionary Re-entry Information:
· It is always advisable to do a safety check of your home and property when you return.
· You may experience some intermittent power disruption over the next few days.
· Continue to monitor local media sources, county website and your telephone devices to receive further information and updates.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to the Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center at , .
Governor Kate Brown Announces Updates to the County Watch List, Umatilla County Moves to Phase 2
Jackson and Jefferson Counties Move Off Watch List
(Portland, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that Jackson and Jefferson Counties have succeeded in reducing the spread of COVID-19 sufficiently enough to be removed from the County Watch List. In addition, the Governor announced that Umatilla County has met the prerequisites to move to Phase 2, effectively immediately.
“I want to commend county officials and community members in Jackson, Jefferson, and Umatilla Counties for their efforts in curbing community spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Brown. “Their work in reducing community transmission shows that we can reduce the spread of this disease if we all work together.”
County Watch List
Counties are placed on the Watch List when COVID-19 is spreading quickly and public health officials cannot trace that spread to specific sources—creating a potentially dangerous dynamic. Specific markers of this rapid community spread include when there is a sporadic case rate of 50 or more per 100,000 people in the last two weeks and the county has had more than five sporadic cases in the last two weeks (sporadic cases are those that cannot be traced to a source; they indicate community spread). Counties remain on the Watch List for a minimum of three weeks and until their sporadic case rates drop below these thresholds.
The County Watch List allows the state to prioritize resources and assistance to counties that are seeing the broadest spread of COVID-19. When a county is placed on the Watch List, the Oregon Health Authority increases monitoring and communication, and deploys additional technical assistance and resources, such as epidemiological support, case investigation, and contact tracing help.
No counties have been added to the Watch List this week. The complete now includes the following: Malheur, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties.
Umatilla County Moves to Phase 2
Over the past two weeks, (Aug. 23-September 5), Umatilla County has had a total of 252 cases for a case rate of 310.5 per 100,000 people. In the past week, the county had 107 cases for a case rate of 131.8 per 100,000. Excluding adults in custody, the case rate was 87.5 per 100,000, down from 109.7 per 100,000 over the prior week. Over the past two weeks, 17% of cases could not be traced to a known source, and the county has averaged 18 cases per day.
Because of these improvements in the county’s COVID-19 metrics, Umatilla County has been approved to move to Phase 2 of reopening.
OHA will be monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in Umatilla, Morrow, and Malheur counties, as well as throughout the state, and stands ready to work with the counties on the Watch List should any concerns arise.
Governor Brown added, “COVID-19 is still very much with us, and that all Oregonians play a part in helping keep their friends, families, and neighbors safe and healthy. We must continue to work together by physically distancing, wearing a face covering, staying home when sick, avoiding large gatherings, and washing our hands often.”
Berry Martin Broke in to Lincoln City grocery store during the night…
On September 10, 2020, Christian Martin Berry was arrested for Criminal Trespass II, Criminal Mischief II, Burglary II, Interfering with a Peace Officer and Theft I (for theft committed during an emergency in an area affected by fire, catastrophe or emergency). Berry was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail with a total bail of $127,500.
Last night, September 10, 2020, at about 9:15 p.m., the Lincoln City Police Department responded to a report of a broken window and a male inside Grocery Outlet, 4157 NW Highway 101. At the time, this location was part of a Level 3 mandatory evacuation zone as a result of ongoing firefighting efforts with the Echo Mountain Complex Fire. The initial report was made by an ODOT employee who was manning a roadblock at the intersection of NW Logan Rd and N Highway 101, just below the Grocery Outlet location.
Lincoln City Police Department (LCPD) arrived on scene at about 9:20 p.m. and discovered a lower glass window of the automatic front door was broken out. A sleeping bag and backpack were laying near the damaged entrance door. Additional LCPD officers responded and set up a perimeter. Officers had difficulty seeing inside the darkened store as the power was currently out in the area. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) K9 team was requested.
LCPD officers made multiple announcements over the PA system commanding anyone inside the building to exit, but no response was received. A short time later LCSO’s K9 handler Deputy Akin and K9 Bonnie arrived on scene and began making additional announcements that a K9 was on scene, but still no response was received.
At about 10:08 p.m., the K9 team along with LCPD officers made entry into the building and began searching the store for intruders. During the search the suspect, identified as Christian M. Berry, was located sitting on the floor at the south end of the store drinking beer and listening to music on his cell phone.
Berry refused to obey verbal commands by officers to drop the beer bottle and stand up. A team of officers were able to place Berry in handcuffs and walk him to the front of the store.
Berry then refused to exit the store through the broken front door and was placed in a “WRAP restraint device, which allowed officers to carry Berry through the opening in the door. The “WRAP” was then removed.
Officers noticed Berry had a cut on his back and called for medical care, but Berry refused assistance. Berry was subsequently transported to the Lincoln County jail and lodged there on charges of Criminal Trespass II, Criminal Mischief II, Burglary II, Interfering with at Peace Officer and Theft I (for theft committed during an emergency in an area affected by fire, catastrophe or emergency.)
It should be noted that on July 22, 2020, Berry was cited and released (due to COVID-19 jail restrictions) by the Lincoln City Police Department for Burglary II, Theft I, Criminal Mischief III and Criminal Trespass II for entering and stealing merchandise from the Zuhg Life Surf Shop in Lincoln City.
The Lincoln City Police would like to express our thanks to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this incident along with a special thank you to Deputy Akin and K-9 Bonnie for their help in locating and capturing the suspect.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium Mourns the Loss of Beloved Sea Lion
Newport — The Oregon Coast Aquarium is saddened to announce the passing of Max, our oldest sea lion. Max enjoyed a long and healthy life of 30 years at the Aquarium and passed away from natural causes this week. Max was one of the original sea lions when the Aquarium opened in 1992. He was just 2 years old when he arrived from the Chicago Brookfield Zoo where he was born. Max, a California sea lion, was a favorite of many guests.
“Max was always eager to please his trainers. One of his favorite behaviors was fetching toys. Without us asking, he would retrieve toys from the pool and bring them to us and then look at us like he just did the best thing ever and deserved a whole bucket full of fish. He had this look with very sweet brown eyes that felt like he had a deep connection with us staring into our souls.
Max was loved not just by all his trainers and guests, but also by all of his sea lion pool mates. Our female sea lions, Catalina and Rosa, would argue over who got to be closest to Max during breeding season.
Everyone who has worked with Max has been able to build a strong relationship with him. He will always have a very special place in my heart and many others.”, says Brittany Blades, Curator of Marine Mammals.
Max was a geriatric sea lion and an exceptional patient allowing us to do medical behaviors like X-rays, blood draws, ultrasounds and chiropractic treatments with little to no food incentive. Max had recently developed a cough which prompted the staff to take radiographs of his throat, lungs and heart. After radiologists looked at his x-rays, it was recommended we transport him to OSU to get a CT scan. Max was diagnosed with congested heart failure last week after taking him to Oregon State University for the CT scan and echocardiogram.
“Max was such a beloved ambassador of his species, who delighted our visitors and staff for many years. We will miss him forever.” says Carrie Lewis, President/CEO of the Aquarium.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following downgrades for the areas in Lincoln City:
Downgrade from Level 3 to a Level 2:
NW Logan Road (Roads End Area) East to Hwy 101/Hwy 18 Interchange
From the beach at NW 39th Street to the western edge of Hwy 101
Downgrade from Level 2 and 1 to zero:
From NW 39th Street to the West side of Devils Lake then South through the City Limits
Community Members in the newly downgraded areas can return to their homes and business at this time. If you need transportation back to your home you can call the County Call Center at for coordination.
Please see the attached map with the current evacuation levels still remaining in place.
Cautionary Re-entry Information:
It is always advisable to do a safety check of your home and property when you return.
You may experience some intermittent power disruption over the next few days.
Continue to monitor local media sources, county website and your telephone devices to receive further information and updates.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to the Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center at , www.co.lincoln.or.us/echomountainfire .
Closures: check ODOT trip check for current road closures.
Lincoln City, OR: Last night fire fighters were able to continue fighting throughout the night and built on yesterday’s work. Fire fighters held the fire inside the perimeter and the acreage remains the same. Additional fire fighters and equipment arrived and are working the fire today. Today’s objectives are:
* Construct and hold fireline, using direct attack as safely possible,locate, identify, and mitigate hazard trees,
* Establish hose lays and support holding and mop-up operations.
* The fire still remains very active and dynamic. Roads closed to the public are for the public and fire fighters’ safety. Large water tenders and fire engines are using these roads and it’s not safe for public entry. Please respect the closures.
* Fire managers from Florida Fire Service arrived yesterday and were assimilated into the current fire command. They were in-briefed about the current fire status at 8:00 P.M. last night.
* Incident Command Post will be at the Elders’ Lodge at Grande Ronde.
* Today’s weather forecast: Expect smoky skies to continue through Friday and into the weekend. Relative humidity is expected to remain high through tomorrow as weak on shore winds continue. Winds will be low at 5 mph and out of the west.
* Evacuation locations:
*Newport Recreation Center 225 SE Avery St, Newport, OR 97365,
* Agate Beach State Park Campground, Parking lot with restrooms
* And the South Jetty are available for overflow camping by folks evacuating from Lincoln City
*Please contact Preson Phillips at or Jered Mangini at if you plan to use these facilities.
* Toledo -Evacuation Sites -Information RVs (trailers and truck campers also) at TJSHS:Coordinator -Deanne Barnhart
* Tent and outdoor camping at Memorial Field,
* Under City Supervision Indoor Facility Needs -call for details
* Church Coordinator: Tom Morris 541-290-9318Echo Mountain Complex UpdateThursday, September, 11, 2020, 11:30 AM,
* Rick Dolan, Incident Commander Oregon Department of Forestry
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital reopens
