Likely cause determined in house fire
Siuslaw Valley Fire Marshall Sean Barrett says it’s very difficult to determine, but the probable cause of the fire that destroyed a home on 17th street Tuesday was due to smoking.
His determination is based mostly on a process of elimination.
Barrett pinpointed the likely “point of origin” as being just outside the back door to the garage. There was no electrical wiring or any other likely source near the area.
Barrett said the fire likely started on the ground, spread up the outside wall and into the attic of the home. From there, it was able to gain momentum before erupting into the living area below and through the roof above.
Motorhome destroyed by flames
Tuesday was a very busy day for firefighters. Before the house fire they had worked on a stubborn brush fire north of Florence.
Then, at 11:30 that night, a motorhome coming into Florence on Highway 126 stalled out. When the driver got out to find out what happened, flames began coming from beneath the engine compartment. Barrett said it was a total loss. The RV was owned by a Lakeside woman who had just purchased it that afternoon in Veneta and was on her way home with it.
Oregon voter registrations rise
Oregon’s new “motor voter” program is fueling a surge in newly registered voters in the state under a new law that automatically registers anyone who gets or renews a drivers license.
The Oregon Secretary of State’s office announced this week that nearly 300-thousand people have registered in the past 12 months. More than 75-percent of those did so under the new law that took effect in January.
The increase represents a 14-percent uptick in registered voters since this time last year.
Most of the newcomers did not choose a political party. The law does not allow for the selection automatically; the person must choose after he or she gets his voter registration. More than 25-percent of Oregon voters are unaffiliated with a party.
Oregon was the first state to put such a law into effect. Others are now following suit.
Siuslaw News names new editor
Sports editor and syndicated columnist Ned Hickson has another title to add to his resume this week.
Hickson was named editor of the Siuslaw News. He takes over the position that has been filled by Ryan Cronk since early 2015. Cronk is assuming the post of group editor for several newspapers in Central California, all owned by the News Media Corporation, the parent company of the Siuslaw News.
Hickson has been with the Siuslaw News since 1998. He is only the fourth editor at the twice-weekly publication since 1982.
Gas prices up slightly
Despite the beginning of a switch to cheaper-to-produce winter-blend fuel, prices at the pump took a sudden increase in Florence and the rest of Oregon this week.
Locally, the average cash price for a gallon of regular gas increased by four cents to $2.35…. the Oregon statewide average as measured by Triple-A went up five cents, it’s at $2.51.
Matthew Conde with Triple-A said the hike is primarily due to continued high demand for limited supplies in the northwest.
He said the national average price dipped by two cents a gallon this week; it’s currently at $2.18.
Local fire official speaks at National 9-11 observance
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Administrative Chief officer Julie Brown spoke this week at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Brown’s speech was Sunday during the 15th anniversary memorial service to remember the victims on 9-11.
She was asked to present the speech while attending a six-day course at the National Fire Academy. Her training this week is focused on leadership and administration.
There were more than 300 people in attendance from all over the country.
126 Detour Wednesday
If you were among the people who waited on Highway 126 during a several hour closure Wednesday evening, the problem laid with a downed utility pole at milepost 40.
According to Lt. Bill Fugate with the Oregon State Police a driver crossed the fog line at that spot, crashed into an Emerald People’s Utility District pole.
The driver failed a field sobriety test. A later breathalyzer showed she had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.
Fugate said 21-year old Jeannae (jen-NAY) Marjorie Mackay of Eugene was transported by police to the Buckley House Detox Center in Eugene.
The highway closure forced detours through Highway 36 while E-PUD crews replaced the pole and cleared the power lines.
