On Wednesday, September 8, the Marion County Board of Commissioners proclaimed September 8 as the one-year anniversary of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires:
PROCLAMATION
WHERE AS, on the night of September 7, 2020, winds in the Santiam Canyon reached over 70 miles per hour, causing the Beachie Creek and the Lionshead fires to merge, burning 193,556 acres in Marion County; and
WHERE AS, in the early morning hours of September 8, 2020, deputies, firefighters, volunteers, neighbors, and farmers, put their lives in danger to ensure residents were evacuated as quickly as possible; and
WHERE AS, individuals, businesses, nonprofits, churches, and government agencies, all responded to the urgent needs of wildfire victims and first responders by providing food, water, shelter, and other basic necessities; and
WHERE AS, on September 8, 2020, Marion County declared a State of Emergency, the governor invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, and on September 15, 2020, the United States President approved a disaster declaration for Oregon, providing federal resources, programs, and funding for wildfire victims; and
WHERE AS, many of the wildfire victims are still in the beginning stages of rebuilding and healing from this tragedy; and
WHEREAS, to date, Santiam Canyon businesses have reopened, over 200 homeowners are prepared to rebuild or repair their properties, over 300 residential properties are cleared of debris, and over 13,000 hazardous trees have been removed from the area; and
WHERE AS, Marion County is committed to the ongoing rebuilding efforts in Detroit, Gates, Idanha, Lyons, Mehama, Mill City, North Fork, and the Santiam Canyon; and
NOW THEREFORE, the Marion County Board of Commissioners recognizes that September 8th is the one-year anniversary of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires.
Click here to view the signed proclamation.
