Category Fire
State fire marshal resigns hours after being put on leave, but officials are mum on why
A tree burns alongside Jennie Road in Mehama on Wednesday, September 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Jim Walker, the Oregon state fire marshal since 2014, resigned on Saturday, just hours after his bosses at the Oregon State Police put him on paid administrative leave. Superintendent Travis…
FIRE UPDATE: More victims found in Santiam Canyon; evacuation level reduced for some communities Saturday
Teams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon National Guard staff a roadblock on Friday, Sept.11, to prevent unauthorized access to closed fire areas. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office photo) UPDATE 1 p.m. SATURDAY: Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said the evacuation level was…
Molalla evacuating as two huge wildfires burn towards each other
A roadside sign alerts drivers of a closure on Highway 22 on Wednesday, September 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) UPDATE 5 p.m: State revises count of evacuees in state to 500,000. UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Two suspected of looting in burn zone arrested U Two monster wildfires…
PHOTOS: Damage from the Beachie Creek Fire shows burned homes, iconic restaurant still standing
Destroyed vehicles in Gates on Wednesday, September 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Hundreds of homeowners in the Santiam Canyon returned home Wednesday to see if their homes were still standing. The air was thick with smoke and the sky was a shade of orange as sirens…
Charred homes awaited some who returned to assess the damage from Santiam Canyon wildfire
Michael Chauran hugs Tasha Mack, whose family owns the property that Chauran and his wife live on and that was burned in the fires, on Wednesday, September 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Michael Chauran and his wife Lori drove up to their Mehama home Wednesday to…
Two deaths related to Santiam Fire confirmed by sheriff
Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast updates the community on the first fatalities from the Santiam Canyon wildfire on Sept. 9, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast on Wednesday confirmed two deaths related to the Santiam Fire that’s devastated the area and is…
Extraordinary video shows devastation in the community of Detroit
United Methodist Church is backed by the cast of smoke-filled skies in Salem on Tuesday, Sept. 8. A long camera exposure causes the long light streaks from passing cars. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) NOTE: The videos aren’t displaying on some browsers properly. You can see them…
Oregon facing historic loss of life from wildfires, Gov. Kate Brown says
Traffic moving on Front Street in Salem leaves trails of light streaks caused by a long camera exposure. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Gov. Kate Brown warned Oregonians on Wednesday to expect the greatest loss of life to wildfires in the state’s history. The governor provided no…
PHOTOS: Aumsville residents prepare for evacuation as Santiam Canyon wildfires continue burning
Scott Johnson and wife Mindy discuss their imminent evacuation from their home in Aumsville on Tuesday, September 8. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The sky in Aumsville shifted from burnt orange to a dark red on Tuesday, as residents prepared to possibly leave their homes. A wildfire…