RE: Riverside Fire

From: Christie DeSantis

Sent: Mon Sep 14 08:54:22 2020

To: Dan Huff; Gerald Fisher; Chaunee Seifried

Subject: RE: Riverside Fire

Importance: Normal

Attachments: image001.jpg; image002.jpg;

Sorry this is what you’re having to deal with in the middle of trying to save the town. ☹

From: Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2020 11:58 AM

To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>; Chaunee Seifried <cseifried@cityofmolalla.com>; Christie DeSantis <cdesantis@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: FW: Riverside Fire

Just so you all know the information I have been sending Council and some of the responses.

From: Dan Huff

Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2020 11:52 AM

To: DeLise Palumbo <dpalumbo@cityofmolalla.com>; Keith Swigart <kswigart@cityofmolalla.com>; Leota Childress <lchildress@cityofmolalla.com>; Elizabeth Klein <eklein@cityofmolalla.com>; Jody Newland <jnewland@cityofmolalla.com>; Terry Shankle <tshankle@cityofmolalla.com>; Crystal Robles <crobles@cityofmolalla.com>

Cc: Darlene Bishop <dbishop@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: RE: Riverside Fire

Councilor Palumbo – I have the utmost confidence in our Molalla City Council. I have never worked with a more competent group of individuals. In a conflagration fire such as this, we, (City of Molalla) are not the lead agency. We scratch and claw for every bit of information we can obtain. Our job is law enforcement, hydrant flow and doing whatever is asked of us. Clackamas County EOC has not provided updated information readily. However, Molalla Fire Chief, Vince Safford has been No. 2 in command of the Fire EOC since this past Thursday and he has been supplying information to us as best he can.

The Feds are in control of Fire Fighting operations and I do not know details of deployed resources. Only the reports we receive every morning from our local EOC at Mulino School. Chief Schoenfeld and I have done our utmost to provide the Council and community with information as we receive it and in a manner that makes sense. People driving around Molalla do not have a perspective of what is going on behind the smoke and frankly neither do I. However, right now Molalla is safe. People need to return to their homes and hopefully that can happen soon.

Dan Huff

City Manager

City of Molalla, Oregon

(503)829-6855

______________________________________________________________________________

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From: DeLise Palumbo <dpalumbo@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2020 11:18 AM

To: Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>; Keith Swigart <kswigart@cityofmolalla.com>; Leota Childress <lchildress@cityofmolalla.com>; Elizabeth Klein <eklein@cityofmolalla.com>; Jody Newland <jnewland@cityofmolalla.com>; Terry Shankle <tshankle@cityofmolalla.com>; Crystal Robles <crobles@cityofmolalla.com>

Cc: Darlene Bishop <dbishop@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Re: Riverside Fire

Dan I believe your city council is all aware that the fires have not been contained.

A bit more confidence in us is warranted perhaps.

Councilor Palumbo.

From: Dan Huff

Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2020 9:23:07 AM

To: DeLise Palumbo; Keith Swigart; Leota Childress; Elizabeth Klein; Jody Newland; Terry Shankle; Crystal Robles

Cc: Darlene Bishop

Subject: RE: Riverside Fire

Mayor and Council – It is important to remember that these fires are not contained! At this time the fire is not threatening the City of Molalla. Good progress has been made on each of the fires and the Beachie Creek and Riverside Fires have not merged. The hard work of our local Molalla Fire Department should be commended. Unbelievable work from homeowners and private individuals has been phenomenal. We should all stop and think about those people who have lost all or part of their homes and livelihoods at this point. Please be patient. We do not control the actions of the fire – it has its own plan.

We should have some good information just after 10:00am today and we are preparing for reentry. I have been in contact with the School District Superintendent and we are working on staging at the High School and Bohlander Field if needed.

Dan Huff

City Manager

City of Molalla, Oregon

(503)829-6855

______________________________________________________________________________

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW DISCLOSURE

From: DeLise Palumbo <dpalumbo@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2020 12:08 AM

Cc: Darlene Bishop <dbishop@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Re: Riverside Fire

Is there a way to obtain more information on what is being done to address the fire?

I realize we are in a transitional period because of the new command center, but it seems as if we should be getting more information by now.

Some people are driving around Molalla and saying there is no fire within 4 miles of the city at this time.

Is that true?

In no way would I suggest doing anything that would risk the safety of our first responders. I am only asking where our resources are at this time and what their efforts have been recently, even if it is simply waiting for the fire to connect.

After that, then what?

Thank you.

Councilor Palumbo.

From: Dan Huff

Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 9:23:25 AM

To: Keith Swigart; Leota Childress; Elizabeth Klein; DeLise Palumbo; Jody Newland; Terry Shankle; Crystal Robles

Cc: Darlene Bishop

Subject: Riverside Fire

Mayor and Council – We had a very limited briefing this morning at Mulino School. Molalla Fire Chief Stafford has been stationed in Oregon City with the Federal and State EOC and he addressed us by phone today. Today, the weather inversion continues to work in our favor. Federal and State Hot Shots have taken over fighting the fires. Molalla Fire District and Colton Fire District are managing a number of water tenders around the City of Molalla. Public Works has very efficiently prepared our water system for continued use in fighting fire, filling water tankers. Molalla Police Department is in town and will continue to be present throughout the incident. Molalla remains at a Level 3 and there is no adequate way to give people a timeline for return. It is a fire with its own way of responding.

I want to also let you know that this community has been phenomenally generous with their donations to feed and quench the thirst of our fire fighters and police officers. Special thanks to the City of Oregon City and the City of Canby who have graciously offered to help with law enforcement patrol and relieving our very tired officers. Both of these cities have also offered resources and space as needed.

We will continue to give up dates as the information is available.

We have been dealing with a lack of information throughout this incident and one area that you as Councilors can help us all with is the quelling of rumors. Just reiterate what the Chief and I have stated.

Dan Huff

City Manager

City of Molalla, Oregon

(503)829-6855

______________________________________________________________________________

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW DISCLOSURE