Western Lane Ambulance District employee killed in Highway 126 crash

Western Lane Ambulance District officials confirmed Monday afternoon that one of their employees was killed in a crash on Highway 126 east of Walton earlier in the day. In a Facebook post, they said Sarah Susman was headed into work when the crash happened. She was a part-time employee with the district. The crash involved a log truck and at least two cars. The highway has been closed since just after 7 a.m. According to Lane Fire Authority, commuters could expect a lengthy closure and detours. Traffic is being detoured to Highway 36 at Mapleton and Poodle Creek Road, the Oregon Department of Transportation said. During the closure, officials will be removing logs from the road while law enforcement investigates and reconstructs the crash.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

Salem: Center Street Bridge lanes reopened following fire at encampment

Crews extinguished a fire at a homeless encampment next to the Center Street Bridge that temporarily prompted lane closures Monday morning. Firefighters responded to a report at 11:22 a.m. of a fire near the Front Street off-ramp from the bridge, according to dispatch records. The fire began at an encampment under the bridge, according to Greg Walsh, a spokesperson with the Salem Fire Department. Firefighters extinguished the flames within 15 minutes, but officials did not have additional details on the extent of damage or what caused the fire. It is unclear how many individuals were living at the camp. Walsh confirmed there were no injuries from the fire. Police officials temporarily closed at least one lane on the Center Street Bridge and streets in the vicinity while crews worked to extinguish the fire.
Statesman Journal - Metered Site

Rain helps increase Cougar Peak containment in Lake County

As of Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, the Cougar Peak Fire had grown slightly to 91,392 and was 49% contained. Northwest Incident Management Team 12, led by Incident Commander Jeff Dimke, will be shadowing Northwest Incident Management Team 8 to learn about the Cougar Peak Fire before taking command on Thursday morning, Sept. 23. According to a Tuesday fire update from Northwest Incident Management Team 8, the precipitation from past days and cooler weather have helped firefighters make great strides toward containment of the Cougar Peak Fire. Resources will continue to mop-up as large fuels across the fire area continue to smolder and cause smoke. Suppression repairs to dozer line berms and backhaul of equipment has started in contained areas across the fire.
Lake County Examiner

Update: Police seek tips after arson at Springfield strip mall

Police are seeking the public's help solving an arson that damaged a Springfield strip mall late Sunday night. Eugene-Springfield Fire responded to the Centennial Plaza mall just after 11:30 p.m. and just 30 minutes later, Springfield police also responded to the scene. The person who reported the fire told police he was working on a washing machine in the laundromat when he smelled smoke, He went outside and saw the sidewalk in front of the Day Spa on fire. The man said he believed the fire was started with something highly flammable, but he did not see the start of the fire himself. No one was around when he came outside, he added. Police also said the man grabbed water and put out the fire on the concrete, but he then felt intense heat coming from the wall and the fire began to spread, which is when he called 911.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

Fire danger and industrial fire precaution levels decreasing thanks to widespread rain and lowering temperatures

Widespread rain along with lowering temperatures across Southern Oregon has been a welcome sight to many Oregonians and firefighters across the area. Thanks to that that widespread rain, on Saturday, the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest District announced that effective Sunday, at 12:01 a.m., the public fire danger level will be decreasing to moderate and the industrial fire precaution level (IFPL) will decrease to one across Jackson and Josephine Counties. That means that Saturday will be the last day power-driven and/or spark-emitting machinery is completely prohibited. However several restrictions will continue to remain in place even with IFPL decreasing including: No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.
KDRV-TV ABC 12 Medford

Illinois Valley firefighters contain vehicle from spreading into surrounding wilderness

Around two Saturday afternoon, firefighters from Illinois Valley Fire and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to an abandoned RV fire off Kerby Main Line and Service Road 39-8-3. Fire crews say that there was minimal spread to the wildland and that the fire has been controlled and under investigation. IVFD says that they will be checking the surrounding burn area throughout the night.
KDRV-TV ABC 12 Medford

Fire at Springfield mall deemed suspicious

Eugene-Springfield Fire responded to a fire at the Centennial Plaza strip mall in Springfield late Sunday night. Crews arrived at about 11:33 p.m. to the 600 block of West Centennial Avenue and found the fire burning in the underside area of the building with smoke on the inside of one business and burn marks up the outer wall, according to officials. One person found inside the business was evaluated but was not injured. The fire is said to be suspicious and is being investigated, according to officials. Officials do not have an estimate of the damage yet.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

Devils Churn rescue effort leaves anger, frustration in its wake

Devils Churn is an ocean-worn crack in a massive basalt flow created by a volcano 37 million years ago. Seventy-five yards wide at its mouth, the chute slices 200 yards inland, narrowing to just three or four feet before ending at the base of Cape Perpetua towering above. The churn’s wild waves draw thousands of people a year to the Forest Service day-use area. Visitors can view the action from platforms above or walk down a long, paved path to a series of steps leading to the basalt and the water’s edge. Steve Allen, 67, of Walnut Creek, California, was visiting there Sept. 9 with his wife, Linda. They walked the path to the bottom. Steve Allen told Linda he was going ahead to check things out, picking his way east around a corner on the south edge of the chute. He got to within 30 feet of the end.
The Oregonian

’Busy beaver’ causes brush fire near Multnomah Falls

A brush fire near Multnomah Falls Thursday night was caused by a busy beaver according to Corbett Fire. Fire officials said the beaver caused a tree to fall onto a power line, sparking the flames. Then, the east wind helped fuel the flames, fire officials said. The fire was brought under control in about two hours. There were no evacuations and deputies said there was no immediate danger to the public.
KIMA-TV CBS/CW+ 29 Yakima