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.
Smoke rising into a hot summer day in the general vicinity of Thatcher Park was from a field fire, now extinguished, near Plum Hill Lane on the city's northwestern border.
"There is no need to post blame, the thing has happened, and the people involved, as well as the witnesses to this horrific scene, will never have that day gone from their minds," said Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Dave Nemeyer in a social media post made Friday.
A minor was killed Friday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle in a parking lot near the Forest Grove Dollar Tree, Forest Grove Police Chief Henry Reimann told News in the Grove.
A home was significantly damaged and nine cats died from smoke inhalation, while two more were rescued in Forest Grove Monday afternoon. A massive response from neighboring fire agencies was due to the fire inadvertently being upgraded to a 2nd alarm.
