[Oremem/Idamem] ACTUAL INCIDENT: EEI REPORT SCORCHED EARTH CASCADE LOCKS OREGON

[John E Jewkes-AAA0OR-AAA0ID]

ST AN3DOMS @ AA9USA
PP MTS 1P AN3DOMS
DE AAA0OR NR 512
P 031725Z SEP 03 ZOF ZEN 
FM JOHN JEWKES/AAA0OR OR/AAA0ID ID
TO ZOF DOMS/ AN3DOMS MD/AAA9USA AZ
INFO ZEN JAMES BANKS/ AAA9W AZ
ZEN NNN0GBP OR NMCM SMD
ZEN NNN0EHG OR ECOM OPNS
ZEN AFF5C UT/OR AFMARS SMD
ZEN ALL OR/ID US ARMY MARS MEMBERS AND STATIONS
BT
ACTUAL INCIDENT
SUBJECT: EEI REPORT/OR
1. SCORCHED EARTH
A. TREE-TOP FOREST FIRE AT CASCADE LOCKS OREGON
B. OPERATIONAL NO REPORTED OVERLOAD OF PATIENTS
C. I-84 CLOSED EASTBOUND AT TROUTDALE OREGON AND WESTBOUND 
AT HOOD RIVER OREGON. DRIVERS DIVERTED INTO WASHINGTON VIA 
INTERSTATE BRIDGE SYSTEMS AT THOSE POINTS. LOCAL RESIDENTS 
CAN GET PAST STATE POLICE CHECKPOINTS WITH ESCORT AND IF 
THE CONDITIONS ARE CONSIDERED SAFE. LARGE TRUCKS CANNOT USE 
WASHINGTON STATE ROUTE 14, DUE TO LOW TUNNELS AND NARROW 
BRIDGES. SUCH TRAFFIC MUST USE OREGON STATE ROUTE 35 SOUTH 
TO US HIGHWAY 26 FOR WEST BOUND TRAVEL AND US HIGHWAY 26 TO 
STATE ROUTE 35 NORTHBOUND FOR TRAVEL EASTWARD. 
D. A FAST MOVING FIRE THAT STAYED IN THE TOPS OF THE TREES. 
SEVERAL STRUCTURES WERE THREATENED AND A FEW WERE 
DESTROYED, INCLUDING A SCHOOL AND A GRANGE HALL. BECAUSE OF 
THE PROXIMITY TO I-84 THE STATE POLICE CLOSED THE FREEWAY 
TO ALL BUT EMERGENCY VEHICLES. NO LIVES WERE LOST AND MOST 
INJURIES WERE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FIRE. 
E. POWER AND PHONES ARE OUT OF OPERATION AT THE PRESENT IN 
SEVERAL PARTS OF THE CASCADE LOCKS AREA. WATER MUST BE 
BOILED BEFORE USE, AS THE OPEN AIR RESERVOIR HAS BECOME ASH 
CONTAMINATED. AREA IS LOW ON VEHICULAR FUELS DUE TO FREEWAY 
CLOSURE.
F. LOCAL CELLULAR AND WIRED PHONES ARE OUT OF SERVICE IN 
THE AREA. ONCE POWER IS RESTORED, LIMITED CELLULAR WILL 
BECOME AVAILABLE AGAIN.AS THE TELEPHONE COMPANY REPAIRS 
THEM, WIRED LINES WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AGAIN. LOCAL 
COMPUTER LINES ARE ALSO OUT OF SERVICE AND 911 CENTER IS 
WITHOUT POWER, LINES OF OUTSIDE COMMUNICATION AND 
WATER/SEWERAGE. 
ONLY BATTERY OPERATED RADIOS ARE AVAILABLE TO DISPATHCERS.
G. OREGON STATE POLICE CHANNEL 11 (GOLD) VHF 154.935 MHZ FM 
022351Z SEP 03 TO 040204Z SEP 03; KATU TV 2 031856Z SEP 03; 
OR DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION ECOM NET (ORANGE CHANNEL) 42.820 
MHZ FM 040204Z SEP 03; AMATEUR RADIO ECOM NET 147.120 MHZ 
FM 040001Z SEP 03;
H. I-84 IS IN PROCESS OF BEING CLEANED OF FALLEN TREES, 
BURNED PAVEMENT, AND OTHER DEBRIS. OREGON D.O.T. BELIEVES 
THEY CAN REOPEN I-84 AT 040345Z SEP 03. AT THAT TIME SPEED 
RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN PLACE- MAXIMUM SPEED 45 MILES PER 
HOUR. IT WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. ACCESS FROM I-84 TO THE 
TOWN WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONLY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND 
DELIVERIES TO THEM (MAIL, FEDEX, UPS) UNTIL THE TOWN 
COUNCIL DIRECTS OTHERWISE. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED 
INTO A LARGER DISASTER OR DEADLY IN NATURE. MAYOR OF THE 
TOWN OF CASCADE LOCKS OREGON BELIEVES THAT NEARBY FORESTS 
SHOULD BE THINNED (DEAD/FALLEN TREES REMOVED) BY THE US OR 
STATE FORESTERS. IT IS BELIEVED A CARELESSLY DISPOSED OF 
MATCH OR CIGARETTE SPARKED A DEAD LOG, AND SPREAD QUICKLY 
BY HIGH WINDS TO VERY DRY TREE TOPS OF DEAD AND SICK TREES 
NEARBY. THE MAJORITY OF THE FIRE WAS IN THE TOPS OF THE 
TREES, MAKING FIRE FIGHTING DIFFICULT, AND ALLOWING FOR 
'SPOT' SPREADING OF THE FLAMES WHEN EMBERS WERE BLOWN AWAY.

ACTUAL INCIDENT
BT
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