ODF PROHIBITS DEBRIS BURNING THROUGHOUT WALLOWA COUNTY DURING REGULATED CLOSURE

All debris burning, including use of burn barrels, is banned throughout Wallowa County effective today, July 31, the start of a "regulated closure" declared by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The regulated closure is intended to reduce the chance of a wildland fire, according to Matt Howard, ODF's assistant Wallowa Unit forester.

Other regulations now in effect include:


Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited. 
For landowners and/or their employee(s) thereof, conducting activities associated with their livelihood, cutting, grinding and welding is prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m.

Use of fireworks is prohibited.

Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads or inside buildings.

Camping, cooking or warming fires are prohibited, except in designated areas. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are permitted at all locations.

Off-road driving and motorized vehicles on unimproved roads is prohibited.

Possession of a shovel at least 26 inches long and a 2 lb fire extinguisher or filled gallon water container is required while traveling in a mortorized vehicle, except on state and county roads.

Chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m. 

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JOSEPH FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE RURAL GRASS FIRE BEFORE IT SPREADS OUT OF CONTROL

A quick response by Joseph Fire and Rescue volunteers extinguished a small grass fire on Klages Road in rural Joseph before it could spread beyond the less-than-an-acre it blackened Monday morning, July 30.

Among those on the scene was Assistant Chief Matt Walker, a Wallowa Lake resident who responded from Enterprise, where he was at work.

The blaze broke out shortly after 7 a.m. when a malfunctioning power line dropped sparks onto the dry grass. The property owner noticed the fire and called 9-1-1 when he went to investigate why his irrigation pumps had stopped.

Assisting were the Oregon Department of Forestry, responsible for wildland fires in nearly all of Wallowa County, and Pacific Power.

Grass fires like this one also can be started by lightning or carelessness, such as burning trash without a permit or tossing a lighted cigarette from a passing car.

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JOSEPH FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE BIKERS WHO WENT OVER THE SIDE ON ROAD 39

Joseph Fire and Rescue firefighters rescued two motorcycle riders Saturday, July 7, after they went over an embankment when they miscalculated a tight curve known as Red Rock on Forest Road 39 through the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway.

Both riders, in their 50s and from Caldwell, Idaho, fell 100 to 150 feet. Their Honda Trike continued another 150-200 feet and was destroyed, Fire Chief Tom Clevenger reported.

Firefighters and Wallowa County sheriff's search-and-rescue personnel retrieved the victims with a Stokes basket system involving ropes and pulleys.

The pair was part of a group of about 30 cyclists riding the winding, scenic road, also known as the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road.

Among those responding was Assistant Chief Matt Walker, who lives at Wallowa Lake. During the incident, Joseph Firefighters and lake residents Doug Buska and Dirk Wiggins were on standby to roll Joseph Engine 5 from the lake fire station in case of another emergency in or near Joseph.

Also responding were Wallowa County sheriff's deputies, Wallowa Memorial Hospital ambulance crews and LifeFlight air ambulance pilots and medical personnel. Both victims were airlifted to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho, where they were reported in serious to fair condition. Firefighters were dispatched at 12:07 p.m. and cleared the scene at 4:30.

Clevenger said this was the second recent motorcycle accident on the same curve. Joseph firefighters had rescued two cyclists three years ago when they fell 75 feet down the embankment.

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LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION SURPRISES FIREFIGHTERS WITH THANK-YOU C-NOTES

Joseph volunteer firefighters display the $100 bills they received Thursday, June 28, as an acknowledgment of their service to Wallowa Lake from the Wallowa Lake Property Owners Association. President Sharon Bolen passed out thank-you cards with the cash at the fire department's weekly meeting. 

Left to right are (seated) Dusty Creps, Dirk Wiggins, Doug Buska, Kevin Warnock (standing) Andy Hayes, Justin Doherty, Casey Hayes, Matt Walker, Andy Osborn, Jeff Wecks, Keith Newburn and Fire Chief Tom Clevenger. Later in the evening, firefighters re-elected Clevenger as chief and elected Walker as assistant chief for logistics, Wecks as assistant chief for training and Doherty, Warnock and Andy Hayes as captains.

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FIRE DAMAGES JOSEPH MOBILE HOME; TWO FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND FROM WALLOWA LAKE

Joseph Assistant Fire Chief Matt Walker and Volunteer Firefighter Dirk Wiggins responded from Wallowa Lake Tuesday night, May 15, to a mobile home fire in Joseph. They joined Joseph and Enterprise volunteers who doused the blaze quickly, keeping it from spreading to nearby houses.

The fire was just a few yards from Our Little Store, where a May 2 fire did major damage. The cause of that fire remains undetermined and the business is rebuilding.

Fire Chief Tom Clevenger, a deputy Oregon fire marshal and an Oregon State Police arson investigator were on the scene Wednesday. The same team investigated the store fire as well.

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FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND FROM WALLOWA LAKE TO FIGHT COMMERCIAL FIRE IN JOSEPH

Three Joseph volunteer firefighters living at Wallowa Lake were among 17 who fought a late-night fire at Our Little Store in Joseph Wednesday, May  2.

Yellow tape secures fire scene

Assistant Fire Chief Matt Walker and Firefighters Dusty Creps and Doug Buska responded to the blaze on Engine 5 from the lake fire station, joining nine Joseph and five Enterprise firefighters on the scene. Even though the three fought the fire, they also were designated to leave and respond to any other emergency in the area served by Joseph and Enterprise fire departments.  

Even though it was nearly midnight, firefighters arrived within 13 minutes of being paged from their homes.

The fire appeared to have started just outside the back door of the store after closing. It traveled up the wall and into the roof and attic of the building. Investigators from the State Fire Marshal and Oregon State P0lice spent all day Thursday at the scene but were unable to determine a cause, according to Fire Chief Tom Clevenger.

There was substantial damage to the exterior and interior of the convenience store and its appliances and merchandise. 

Clevenger credited firefighters with quick action, limiting damage to the store and preventing it from spreading to the adjoining Timberline Realty office and American Legion hall. Clevenger, a retired career firefighter, said it was "as good a job as I have ever seen from any paid, experienced department."

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LAKE RESIDENT AMONG JOSEPH VOLUNTEERS DOUSING FIVE-HOUR STRAW-BALE FIRE

Ten Joseph volunteer firefighters, including Wallowa Lake resident Dusty Creps, fought a stubborn fire involving more than 300 tons of dry straw in stacked bales on Wednesday, April 11.

The blaze at the Triple Creek Ranch in rural Joseph broke out in late afternoon and burned for five hours. Creps responded from his home. Five Enterprise firefighters also took part.

Firefighters saved nearby structures, including the big landmark "TC"  barn on Liberty Road. 

Damage was estimated at $84,000. Fire Chief Tom Clevenger said the cause remains undetermined.

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