Fire Ban Likely to Continue
With the beginning of October just days away there is still no indication yet as to whether Lane county will rescind the summer fire ban. The Coastal areas of Lane county are at a low risk for fire which would usually mean a change from no burning to burning with some restrictions and permits required, but the rest of lane county and douglas county to the south of us are still experiencing weather conditions that are more prone to fire. Mapleton is currently at a moderate risk for fire with Douglas County at high with red flag warnings out. The Lane Regional Air Protection agency regulates outdoor burning and as of yesterday still prohibits burning throughout the county. Last year the burn ban extended into October for the first two weeks before being lifted.
Earthquake offshore
There is no Tsunami warnings issued, but another quake off the coast of Oregon just west of Bandon has struck over the outer fault line that runs parallel to the Oregon coast. The USGS says the quake was a magnitude 3.2 and happened around 1:24 this morning on the Blanco Fracture zone. USGS says quakes around this region are not uncommon and should generally not be a cause for alarm.
County to go Tobacco Free
Lane county has announced that effective October 1st all of Lane County owned or leased properties will be smoke free. Including e-cigarettes. Lane county commissioner Pat Farr says Lane County employees, clients, partners, and visitors will benefit from the cleaner air while reducing the physical and social costs of Tobacco Use. The county issued press release says the change to smoke- and tobacco-free properties comes after a deliberate and thoughtful public process earlier this year involving Lane County staff, public health experts, CHIP partners, and Lane County commissioners. Lane County joins 10 other Oregon counties and organizations in going tobacco free, including PeaceHealth, Lane Community College and the University of Oregon.
Suicide Awareness Event for Veterans and Family
This Saturday in Springfield Lane County Public Health (LCPH) and the Lane County Veterans Service Office, in cooperation with local and national partners, are hosting a suicide awareness event for veterans, their families, and concerned others to learn about resources in our community. Nearly 20 veterans die by suicide each year in Lane County and there are currently more than 34 thousand veterans living in Lane County. The event will be from 8:30 until noon tomorrow at the Holiday inn 919 Kruse Way in Springfield. If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health issue or you’re interested in how you can support vets in our community, please register for the Veterans Suicide Awareness Summit at eventbrite.com