A 2-alarm brush fire, which also burned a shipping container and a junk pile, drew a multiagency response to the Gales Creek Valley on Monday afternoon, including a hazmat team, law enforcement and state fire resources Monday afternoon.
For two weeks, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue will have a temporary chief while Chief Jim Geering takes a vacation for a family wedding from Saturday, Aug. 9 through Aug. 23.
One resident died and a firefighter was briefly hospitalized after flames gutted a home built in 1895 on A Street on Friday evening. The house had been converted into a four-unit apartment.
A small field fire broke out just outside of Forest Grove Monday afternoon, spreading to a nearby property but ultimately burning less than an acre, fire officials say. Read our story, with on-scene interviews and photos.
On Wednesday, July 16, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency over the wildfires at the request of the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Forest Grove firefighters are once again aiding at statewide wildfires.
According to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, about four acres of grass field and some adjacent brush were burned Sunday evening near the intersection of NW Thatcher Road and NW Kemper Road. The cause appeared to be a welding job in the middle of the field that went awry, the agency said.
A two-vehicle crash on Highway 47 between Banks and Forest Grove on Wednesday evening led to the arrest of a Banks man on charges of DUII, reckless driving and assault.
During Wednesday's Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District meeting, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Chief Jim Geering said he would be encouraging the board to take additional ownership of their own agenda.
Gales Creek resident Neal Hammond was set to take his seat on the Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District Board Wednesday night. Instead, he was on wildfire duty near Hermiston called away at the last minute. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue also sent two personnel to the fire.
"As the saying goes, police officers and firefighters have one thing in common, they both want to be firefighters," said Forest Grove Fire & Rescue after police put out a fence fire before fire crews could arrive.
