Lightning Strikes
From Midnight Sunday to 5am Western Lane District received 56 lightning strikes. In anticipation of storms the Oregon Department of Forestry mobilized units to be on the lookout for potential fires that may come from such strikes. Assistant District Forester Chet Behling says they responded to 6 fires caused from lightning with the largest being 4 acres. Behling says cooler temperatures and moisture helped to keep the fires small but with temperatures expected to warm up over the next 10 days the likelihood of returning to extreme fire danger is good. West Lane Fire and EMS Authority Chief Michael Schick said none of the strikes were in the Siuslaw District.
Road Closure
The section of Bay Street from Laurel to the Siuslaw River Bridge will be closed most of the day on Friday to prepare for the annual Block Party. City officials ask that you use caution in that area as workers set up tents and a stage. If previous years the road has remained partially open while the set up was under way and cars were driving through the area and even under the tents. The free event will begin at 5pm Friday evening and go until 10 pm. there may also be some residual workers on Saturday morning.
BLM Restrictions
The Bureau of Land Management has placed a ban on all campfires on their lands beginning today. In addition to fires and campfires, the stronger restrictions also prohibit smoking in vegetated areas; using vehicles in unmanaged vegetated areas; operating a chainsaw; welding, cutting or grinding; or using an internal combustion engine without a spark arrestor. These prohibitions will stay in effect until rescinded. Those disregarding the active restrictions can be fined up to $100,000 and or imprisoned for up to 12 months. You can view all active restrictions and closures at blm.gov.
Free Store to Close
The 7th Day Adventist Church’s Lois Davidson Better Living Center will be closing effective July 28. The community store, know as the Free Store has become too difficult to manage according to a release from the church. They will be disbursing all remaining clothing tomorrow and Sunday. The BLC director Kathy Ross is retiring and she says they are sad to see the facility go that has at times helped as many as a thousand people in a month, but volunteers have been scarce in recent years. The church located at 85130 Highway 101 north of Florence will also be selling off two adjacent properties.