Update – Wednesday, 9/16

September 16 Fire Statement –

According to today’s incident information, the South ObenchainFire has affected 32,814 acres and is 25% contained.  Mop up and additional containment efforts continue and yesterday (Tuesday), the smoke cleared enough for air support to resume.  

Unlike previous years, group update meetings could not be held in our community so we have had to rely more on the internet for our information.  Facebook has a good page that has been updated every evening – South Obenchain Fire Information is updated by the NW Incident Management Team and the Oregon Fire Marshall Incident Management Team.  YouTube has had a similar update available and managed by the incident management teams.  There is also an InciWeb – Incident Information System page that contains regular updates.

This year our community has encountered many challenges from which there is no turning back – incidents where forward was the only direction.  Our choices have been limited by the need to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our community from the threats of a pandemic and more recently, a conflagration.  The choices we do have are the attitude and values we take with us as we move through these challenges.  This past week, I have been reminded many times of a quote I keep on my refrigerator door.  Swiss philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel is credited with writing it in the mid-1800s.  

“Life is short, and we have too little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us; so be swift to love, and make haste to be kind.”

So please, guard your own health and safety and where you can, help those who are traveling through these demanding challenges with us.

Mayor Lena Richardson