USDA Closes Siuslaw National Forest Recreation The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a closure notice for all parts of the Siuslaw National Forest including the recreational dunes until at least the 24th of September.  The order reads: Due to significant public safety concerns associated with wind storm damage, extremely […]

Air Quality Update   A change in the wind direction has brought about cleaner air in the Florence area this afternoon.  The last Air Quality Index update was 3:40 p.m. and AQI numbers have dropped from a high in the 600’s to 90.4.  The  lower level air quality has improved.  […]

Overnight firefighters completed a successful burnout operation on the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 fire.  Crews removed about 10 acres of unburned fuel between the fire perimeter and established fire line according to the ODF daily briefing.  As of this morning the fire is reportedly 30% contained and today crews are […]

Lane county sheriff’s department has arrested a suspect in the Sweet Creek Fire.  44 year old Elias Newton Pendergrass of Mapleton was arrested for Arson in the first degree in connection with the fire currently burning in the Sweet Creek Area.  Sheriff’s detectives in conjunction with the Oregon State Police […]

The spread of the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 fire near Mapleton is moving slowly southward according to the latest information from the Oregon Department of Forestry.  The more than 400 acre fire is in steep terrain on the south side of the Siuslaw River.  Helicopters continue to retrieve water from […]