La Grande Observer Daily Paper 08-19-15

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By StuartTomlinson The Oregonian

• As wild firesrageacross7western states,Oregon finds itself competing with others for limited resources

TheAssociated Press file photo

Firefighting resources, which are in increased demand, include 20-person hotshot or hand crews who scratch out fire lines with their hands and chainsaws, air tankers that lay down ribbons of red retardant, helicopters to douse hot spots, and two- and three-person engine crews who often respond when fires first break out.

The perfect storm oflightning strikes that crashed last week across Oregon's droughtstrickenforests,range and grasslands starteddozens ofw ildfires. Then the winds blew, turning small fires into raging infernos. Air tankers couldn't fly. Firefighters on the ground had to retreat. More than two dozen homes burned to the ground near John Day on the Canyon Creek complex of fires. And just that quickly, Oregon's fire season — which had started relatively calmlyshot to the top of the list of national priorities along with Washington state, where the wildland fire season started early and has stayed hot. That list is long: About 95 large wildfires are burning approximately 1.1 million acres in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada and Colorado. Resources are stretched so thin that for the first time since 2006, national fire officials are mobilizing 200 active-duty military troops from Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Tacoma to fight the fires. So the question national fire bosses ask one another during a conference call each morning at the National Incident Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, is simple: Where are the worst fires burning and where do the resources to fight those fires need to go? As of Monday, the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Rockies and Northern California were all at their highest priority levels, a SeeResources / Page 5A

Locals authorities take over Elgin blaze • Phillips Creek Fire handed back to local authorities By Dick Mason The Observer

ELGIN — Monday was a red letter dayin the saga of the fire that terrified the Elgin community earlier this month.

The Phillips Creek Fire, More inside seven miles northwest of Elgin, was turned back over to HIGHTEMPSWILL POSE ISSUES FORFIREFIGHTERS the Umatilla National Forest A week of intense wildfires has left managers concerned and the Oregon Department about heat-related illnesses among crews as temperatures of Forestry on Monday. Conin Eastern Oregon pressed into the 90s on Tuesday. trol of the fire was handed Page 6A backfrom a federaland state interagency firefighting team RELIEF EFFORTS FOR BAKER COUNTY to federaland state agencies With eight structures lost and several houses previously on at the local level. a Level 3 evacuation notice, the Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire The turnover was made behas wreaked havoc. Local individuals and organizations cause the Phillips Creek Fire have taken it upon themselves to gather and provide has been contained to the resources to those affected by the fire.Page 6A point that it no longer poses a threat to The Umatilla National Forest threat to homes on the northpeople or structures. ''We feel that the isresponsibleforprotectwest edge of Elgin and in an entireperimeter of ing the national forest land area north of Summerville. the fire area is secure," the fire is on, and ODF is Level 1 evacuation notices said Amber Mahoney, responsible forprotecting were issued to a number of a public affairs special- the private land it is on. The residents in these areas Aug. ist for the Umatilla Phillips Creek Fire today is 2-3, telling them to be ready a far cry from what it was National Forest. to leave on a moment's notice. two weeks ago when it posed a serious SeeChange / Page 5A

Observer file photo

Firefighters line Highway 204 earlier this month to keep the flames from jumping the highway. The Phillips Creek Fire today is a far cry from what it was two weeks ago when it posed a serious threat to homes on the northwest edge of Elgin and in an area north of Summerville.

INDEX Business........1B Classified.......4B Comics...........3B Crossword.....6B Dear Abby ... 10B

WE A T H E R Horoscope.....6B Lottery............zA Obituaries......3A Opinion..........4A Record ...........3A

Sports ............SA State.............10A Sudoku ..........3B Wallowa Life..6A Wonderword... 3B

Fu ll forecast on the back of B section

Tonight

Thursday

51 Low

88/53

Mainly clear

Sunny andnice

• Citizens for Good Government discusses term restri ctionsforcom missioners signatures

Union County Citizens for Good Government is almost ready to submit the petition thatwould go to the votersto limit a commissioner's term to eight years. When the grassroots group met for the second time on Tuesday to discuss the wording to use on the petition, there were a few new faces. It's the aim of Jim Mollerstrom, the chief petitioner and one of the people who formed thegroup,to get community members from every town in Union County to participate in the group. So far, thereisrepresentation from every town except Summerville, Imbler and North Powder. SeePetition / Page 5A

The members of Union County Citizens for Good Government are hoping to gather more than 650 signatures from registered voters on the petition requesting that term limits be on the ballot.

WALLOWA COUNTY

Police search

for Joseph man after assault For The Observer

contact

JOSEPH — Police continue to search for a Joseph area man after he reportedlyassaulted his ex-girlfriend and set her house on fire before fleeing Monday night. Law enforcement officials are seeking Jon Howells, 35, who police say set the house at 61099 Ski Run Road and a nearby car on fire. Firefighters and officials, including Wallowa County Sheriff Steve Rogers and Joseph Fire Chief Jeffrey Wecks, were still on the scene investigating at midday Tuesday. SeeSearch / Page 5A

Wallowa County Sheriff Steve Rogers asked that anyone with information about Howells' whereabouts call 541-4263131.

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

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Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to news@lagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A.

RIDAY IN OUTDOORS HUNTERS SET FOR ARCHERY SEASON

WhO tO

By ChuckAnderson

CONTACT US Issue 98 3 sections, 36 pages La Grande, Oregon

Getting

By Cherise Kaechele The Observer

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