8 May 2015
Early Fire Season Possible
Dry conditions and brisk winds caused a smoldering pile of logging slash to race up a steep, forested hillside in the area this week. The blaze, north of Mercer Lake, blackened 6.3-acres. Unit Forester Phil Hunter with the Oregon Department of Forestry said the pile had been burned by Leasure Excavating April 27th. That blaze, and others in Western Oregon, are signs of a likely early beginning to fire season.
Phil Hunter – “I know we’ve been getting a few periodic little showers and stuff, but… we kind of judge, you know, what our fires are going to do. We’re really about a month ahead of what we typically are, so. Unless we get some, you know, some good significantly wetting rain we’re likely could be in fire season next month, you know, instead of around July 1st like we usually are.”
Crews with the Oregon Department of Forestry, along with one from Leasure Excavating, built a fire line around the blaze… Hunter said they will keep an eye on it.
Oregon Dunes Triathlon
More than 200 athletes, along with their families, friends and spectators are ready to compete in the third running of the Oregon Dunes Triathlon tomorrow.
That’s a huge increase from the first race two years ago where there were 49 entries.
With race day entries, organizers at Dunes City Hall say they expect more than 250.
The Olympic distance triathlon begins with a 15-hundred meter swim in Woahink Lake, followed by a 40-kilometer bike ride on Canary and Clear Lake Roads, and ending with a ten K run through Honeyman State Park.
That’s 31-miles combined. The so-called “sprint” triathlon is half that distance; and athletes can register for a duathlon whick is just the biking and running.
The starting area at East Woahink Day Use area opens at 6:30 tomorrow morning. The Olympic triathlon and duathlon get under way at eight; the sprint races at nine.
If you are driving on Canary or Clear Lake tomorrow before noon… be aware of race traffic and congestion… and organizers say you can watch at the finish line… at the Sand Dunes day use area at Honeyman State Park.
A place to clean the catch
A new fish cleaning station at the Port of Siuslaw sport marina is set to open tomorrow. Port President Ron Caputo said it’s pretty nice.
Ron Caputo – “They have six cleaning stations in it, high pressure hoses and big marble cutting boards.”
Not only can it handle three times the number of anglers at a time, it is also farther away from the boat launch and will alleviate congestion
Ron Caputo – “Present station causes a lineup and only two people can use it at a time, so this’ll be a big improvement.”
Caputo, who is also the President of the local Salmon Trout Enhancement Program said the facility was built using a $26-thousand Fish and Wildlife grant and donated labor and materials from the Port and STEP.
Tomorrow’s dedication is set for noon.
Most home improvements need permits
Officials in the City of Florence Building Department say there are a lot of home improvement projects going on, but many of them don’t have the necessary permits… that can lead to faulty electrical conditions; unsanitary plumbing; and unsafe construction. If you use a licensed and bonded contractor, they know the rules, but often the work is done by homeowners themselves. That’s ok, says Building Permit Technician Eric Rines, as long as the home is not for sale or rent within two years.
Eric Knute Rines – “That still doesn’t exempt you from getting the building or plumbing or mechanical permits to do the work. The permits are still required.”
It’s much better to get the right information before you do the work.
Eric Knute Rines – “The best thing to do before you start any project is just to pick up the phone and call me down here at the building department and ask me, “is this something I need to get a building permit for?”
Permits and inspections are intended to make things safer; reduce fire hazards and prevent damage in the event of storms.
