8 September 2014
Temperature Spike Hit Coastal Region
Temperatures in the Florence area soared into the high 90s Friday afternoon. Some unofficial readings were in excess of 100 degrees.
By early evening, however, the cool, moist ocean air had flowed over the area, causing temperatures to plummet by as much as 25 degrees in one hour. Skies were cloudy and overcast much of Saturday, with temperatures considerably cooler than the day before.
That onshore flow gave firefighters an edge yesterday in the largest wildfire currently burning in Lane County. The Yellow Point Fire 25-miles west of Cottage Grove, has burnt about 550 acres with the cooler and more humid air allowing firefighters to make some direct attacks along the fire’s edge.
The fire is burning timber and logging slash in a remote area that lies within the footprint of the historic 1966 Oxbow Fire, one of the largest in Oregon at the time, it consumed 42-thousand acres.
Rods and Rhodies Draws Crowd
The cooler weather actually came as a relief to many gathering under cloudy skies Saturday and Sunday for the seventh annual Rods and Rhodies hot rod show in Historic Old Town Florence.
More than 100 hot rods and collectible vehicles lined both sides of Bay Street between the bridge and Nopal Street; as well as up portions of Laurel and Maple. Spectators wandered the streets admiring the cars and just enjoying the day.
Many of the cars lined up to cruise through Old Town Saturday evening. Traffic was reopened through Old Town yesterday afternoon.
FEMA: Be Disaster Aware
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging U.S. citizen to – quote – “be disaster aware, take action to prepare” all this month.
September is National Preparedness Month and several activities along the Oregon Coast will highlight the need to prepare for earthquake and tsunami.
In one of those activities, participants are being invited to race an imaginary tsunami to safety. The “Race the Wave”, September 28th in Cannon Beach will feature a fun-run and walk from the beach, along the tsunami evacuation route to the upland site where the city of Cannon Beach and Clatsop County have placed an emergency supply cache above the tsunami inundation zone.
Smoking Ban Proposal Draws Even Comments
So far, comments to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission about a proposal to ban smoking on Oregon Beaches has been split between the yeas and nays.
The Commission held four hearings last month on the question with official testimony in favor of the ban barely outpacing opposition by a 178 to 165 margin.
Backers say the ban would reduce second hand smoke and litter; opponents say it’s impossible to enforce and would be an excessive use of power.
Departmental staff is to make a recommendation this month; the Parks and Recreation Commission plans to decide in November.
