Row River Valley Community Partnership

07/13/2026

ODF's Weekly Situation Report is to help create a snapshot of large fire information, weather and prevention information. To read the full report, visit https://odffire.com/2026/07/13/weekly-situation-report-july-13-2026/

07/13/2026

Petitions... Again?!? 😊

Hi everyone... yes, we're asking for signatures again!

If you happen to see our petition at the Community Ice Cream Social or Bohemia Mining Days, we'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to sign it.

Why are we doing another petition?

Our valley is well known at the county and state levels. This time, however, our audience is the federal government. We currently have our Main Dorena Fire Station funding request before both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

Community support matters.

Our local tax base is simply too small to fund construction of a fire station on its own. By collecting signatures, we're showing federal decision-makers that our community stands behind this project and understands how important it is to the safety of everyone who lives, works, and recreates here.

A signature only takes a moment, but together they tell a powerful story. All can sign - even those in broader areas as our firefighters protect an Oregon watershed and forests.

Thank you, as always, for standing with us and helping build a safer, more resilient Row River Valley. ❤️

07/12/2026

Should you remove every plant within 5 feet of your home to reduce wildfire risk?

Not always, but experts recommend keeping this area as free of vegetation and other combustible materials as possible. If you choose to keep a plant close to your home, where you place it and how you maintain it matter.

Learn how to create a safer, Firewise landscape, https://beav.es/fVa.

07/12/2026

07/11/2026

The First Women to Rookie at Each Smokejumper Base

Every smokejumper base has its own history. One story that often goes unnoticed is the first woman to complete rookie training at each base.

I had the privilege of interviewing Kim Maynard, Wendy Kamm, Diane Pryce, Robin Embry, Carlene Anders, and Sandy Ahlstrom Romero for "The Fire Chronicles: Stories from Women Wildland Firefighters."

This graphic includes the women that I currently have photographs. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to find photos of everyone on the list.

The first women to rookie at each smokejumper base include:

• McCall (1981) – Deanne Shulman (far left) ***First Woman Smokejumper***

• Missoula (1982) – Kim Maynard (second from left), Wendy Kamm (third from left), and Marti Billingsley

• Redmond (1983) – Sherill King

• Redding (1983) – Diane Pryce (center photo)

• Grangeville (1985) – Robin Embry (right of center)

• North Cascades (1986) – Carlene Anders (second from right) and Debbie Englehart (Burgett)

• Fairbanks (1990) – Sandy Ahlstrom Romero (far right)

• NIFC Boise (1993) – Allison Cushman

• West Yellowstone (2000) – Lesley Williams

This research is ongoing. If you notice something that should be corrected, or if you have photos or additional information to share, I'd appreciate your help in preserving this history.

07/11/2026

The district serves Creswell, Cottage Grove and nearby areas. But in recent years, staff said they’ve struggled with higher demand and rising service costs.

07/11/2026

🔥 🚒 With wildfire season in full swing, we, like many of you, actively use the Watch Duty app.

This year, Watch Duty added functionality to display utility outages pulled from a national database.

Please note that this information is not an indicator of a fire-related outage.
__________________
For outage needs, always refer to:
🔗 laneelectric.com
📱 SmartHub
ⓕ Facebook
☎️ 541-484-1151

07/11/2026

Today, July 10, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic Thirtymile Fire, where four young wildland firefighters did not survive. The fire started from an abandoned campfire in the Chewuch River Valley on the Methow Valley Ranger District. Their passing has left an indelible mark on the lives of many families, Forest Service employees and the broader community of wildland firefighters.

We continue to remember Jessica Johnson, Devin Weaver, Karen Fitzpatrick and Tom Craven not only for the gifts they shared with us during their lives, but also for the heavy sense of loss we still feel from their passing.

And in their memory, today we pause to honor and recommit to the continuous organizational learning that we strive for—evolving our firefighting, communication, and safety strategies while also enhancing community awareness of wildfire risks.

(Forest Service photo of Thirtymile Fire Memorial located in the Methow Valley Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest).

07/04/2026

I'm working to document all women Incident Commanders and have received a list from Bea Day. Her list is pretty thorough but over the years I've heard of two other women who were ICs but can't find anything more about them. I need help from you all. Does anyone have information on Type 2 IC - Mary Jo Harvey and/or Type 2 IC - Pam Ensley, both from Region 6?

As soon as I feel comfortable that I have a solid list, I'll post it here. Thanks in advance for any help!