Weekly Update - June 25, 2021
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General Operation Updates
As we prepare for triple-digit weather, red flag wildfire conditions and another potentially severe wildfire season, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Debris Management Task Force (Task Force) continue to plan, prepare and ensure crew and community safety. All work crews will have fast access to radios for quick fire-related communication, water tankers will be present on work sites and work shifts may be staggered during peak temperature times during the day. Leadership will continue to work with a range of local, state and federal wildfire partners to ensure operations are fire-wise, safe and continue significant progress as another wildfire season arrives. We urge all Oregonians to be hyper-diligent about fire prevention this summer and join our charge that no more lives be lost to any wildfire activity.
The tail-end of both debris removal and hazard tree operations will tend to move slower as work nears completion due to difficult terrain, closing out soil sampling and hydro-mulching activities, and navigating proximity between properties. Work will be paused during the Fourth of July weekend. Overall, 70% of statewide debris removal work is complete with many fire areas weeks away from full completion. A majority of fire-damaged trees throughout the state have been assessed and 30% of hazard tree removal work is complete.
By the Numbers
Step 2 of removing tree hazards began in December 2020 and will progress through multiple impacted areas simultaneously. We estimate it will take 6-18 months to complete all properties. In total, this work will require marking and cutting more than 140,000 hazard trees and removing ash and debris from more than 1,400 participating properties.
Below is a summary of the work that has been completed thus far:
Current “By the Numbers” updates are available on the debris and tree removal data dashboard. The interactive status map on the same page provides a visual of all work underway.
Northern Operations
Beachie Creek/Lionshead Fire areas Santiam River corridor, primarily in Marion and Linn counties, Highway 22 and adjacent area Debris removal 42% complete; hazard tree removal 35% complete
Hazard tree work is underway at mileposts 35-40, 50-51 and 57-58. Hazard tree work is also underway near home sites in both Detroit and the Gates area. We ask all motorists to use alternate routes and expect delays in the corridor.
Echo Mountain Fire area Lincoln County, Lincoln City area, Highway 18 and adjacent area Debris removal 86% complete; hazard tree removal 52% complete (remainder of trees are primarily on property sites participating in the state program)
Work is nearly complete while a few areas await household hazardous waste and property hazard tree removal.
Holiday Farm Fire area Lane County, McKenzie River area, Highway 126 Debris removal 57% complete; hazard tree removal 68% complete
Hazard tree work continues at mileposts 29 and 32-33. Crews will be stacking logs in the Blue River area. Hazard tree work continues on properties and in local park areas. Travelers can expect long traffic delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes.
Riverside Fire area Estacada area, Clackamas County, Highways 224 and 211 Debris removal 72% complete; hazard tree removal 17% complete
Debris removal is expected to be complete in the coming weeks. Hazard tree work continues between mileposts 38-40, 44-46 and on private property. Due to falling rocks, trees launching from steep slopes and other safety hazards, Highway 224 remains closed.
Southern Operations
Almeda Drive Fire area Medford/Talent/Phoenix, Jackson County, Highway 99 and Interstate 5 Debris removal 82% complete; hazard tree removal 62% complete (remaining hazard trees primarily on private properties participating in the program)
Work is on track to be complete by the end of July. Hydro-mulching is underway on cleared sites and completion letters continue to be sent to property owners. Wildfire survivors have moved into all 27 units at the Totem Pole Mobile Home Park in Talent as part of FEMA’s Direct Housing Mission. Construction work continues on the two additional Direct Housing sites in Jackson County.
Archie Creek Fire area Douglas County, Highway 138 Debris removal 86% complete; hazard tree removal 27% complete
Hazard tree cutting and removal continues in the area at mileposts 22-24. Glide area residents and travelers will likely see crews chipping woody debris near the highway.
South Obenchain Fire area Jackson County, northeast of Eagle Point, Highways 62 and 140 Debris removal 18% complete; hazard tree removal N/A
Debris removal work has now begun in the Butte Falls Highway area and crews expect to quickly complete work on the 17 home sites participating in the program.
Thielsen Fire area Eastern Douglas County, Highway 138 Debris removal N/A; hazard tree removal 8% complete
Hazard tree cutting crews have made quick progress and cutting crews are working at mileposts 78-79.
242 Fire area Klamath County, Highways 62 and 97 Debris removal 0% complete; hazard tree removal 0% complete
With nearly all fire-damaged hazard trees evaluated and marked, cutting and removal crews have mobilized to the area and debris removal will begin in the next two weeks. Local parks have been allowed to reopen through state hazard tree removal efforts.
Topics of the Week
No legislative updates are currently scheduled. Legislative session at the Oregon capitol is scheduled to end by midnight on June 27. To watch previous updates, visit the pages for the Oregon House Special Committee on Wildfire Recovery or the Oregon Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery Committee.
HB 3127, also known as the Wildfire Recovery Funding Bill, currently sits in the Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and pieces of it are finding homes in other end-of-session funding bills. SB 762, focusing on wildfire resilience, prevention and risk mitigation, defensible space and other items, is awaiting a second reading in the Oregon Senate.
The Statesman Journal sat down with Dwayne Canfield, Interim Executive Director of the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center to hear the organizations assessment of the area’s wildfire and recovery.
As we approach the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a number of measures will be taken to support safety and mobility including a brief work pause in fire corridors. Speed zones will be strongly enforced in work areas, but crews will also pause work over the weekend to decrease delays for travelers. Using alternate routes is encouraged.
Air Quality Monitoring Report | 6/14 - 6/20
Local environmental health is one of our top priorities. In addition to conducting required asbestos testing in an efficient manner for all debris removal home sites, state contractors are visually monitoring and controlling dust to protect air quality during ash and debris cleanup work. If dust issues occur, our crews will stop work and fix the issue before resuming to protect public health. You can view the latest soil sampling FAQs on our news page. Questions about dust from private contractors are not part of state cleanup work and can be directed to local city and county public health departments.
Each week, contractors report their visual monitoring results, and the testing labs report their sample test results for active work areas. Recent results include:
Almeda Fire
Number of properties that had air sampling: 4
Number of air samples collected: 25
Results above action level: 0
Visual monitoring: no recorded dust levels that exceeded action levels
Beachie Creek Fire
Number of properties that had air sampling: 2
Number of air samples collected: 6
Results above action level: 0
Visual monitoring: no recorded dust levels that exceeded action levels
Echo Mountain Fire
Number of properties that had air sampling: 1
Number of air samples collected: 3
Results above action level: 0
Visual monitoring: no recorded dust levels that exceeded action levels
Holiday Farm Fire
Number of properties that had air sampling: 1
Number of air samples collected: 3
Results above action level: 0
Visual monitoring: no recorded dust levels that exceeded action levels
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The “action level” is the threshold for action at a site, or from a lab test result. Learn more about action levels, how we control dust and test air samples in our air quality monitoring FAQ.
For specific air quality monitoring data, email Liz McIntire with the DMTF at elizabeth.mcintire@odot.oregon.gov.
If you have questions about hazard tree removal in your community, our hotline can help point you in the right direction. Please access information from your local county government first, and then call our hotline at 503-934-1700 if you need more information.
