Campfire Ban Begins Sept.11 for Olympic
National Park and Olympic National Forest
Due to the unprecedented fire incidents in Oregon and Washington along with the need to align with state and county campfire restrictions and reduce smoke emissions in already poor air quality conditions, the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park will implement a complete ban on all campfires, including charcoal, as of 12 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. This closure will be in effect until it is rescinded. These restrictions do not apply to gas or propane stoves.
Gas or propane camp stoves may still be used in the wilderness backcountry but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Extreme caution is urged with any open flame.
Visitors to national parks and forests should always use caution to prevent human-caused wildfires. To reduce the risk, please consider the following:
Fireworks are prohibited on federal public lands.
Before going camping, learn of any fire restrictions in place and never leave a campfire unattended.
If smoking, always dispose of cigarette debris in some type of an ashtray.
To report a fire dial 911.
How to Extinguish a Campfire: smokeybear.com/
Active Fire Information – Incident Information System: inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Olympic National Park information: www.nps.gov/olym/
Olympic National Forest information: www.fs.usda.gov/olympic
State and county area burn bans: www.waburnbans.net
Mount Lena Fire Update
The lightning-caused Mt. Lena Fire that started on Aug. 16 continues to burn in the southeast portion of the Olympic National Forest in the Hamma Hamma area. The fire has grown to an estimated 20 acres after the area received a pattern of hot, dry, unstable conditions over the last several days. Fire personnel are continuing to monitor fire behavior. A confinement strategy is being implemented to keep the fire north of the Hamma Hamma Road and west of Cabin Creek. Smoke from the Mt. Lena fire may be visible at times. Due to the steep, hazardous, and inaccessible terrain, this will be a long duration fire that will continue to burn until a season-ending weather event in the fall. Updated fire information for the Mt. Lena Fire can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7184/
For public safety, Olympic National Forest has implemented a fire closure of the Lena Lake trail system (Trails # 810, 811, and 821) due to its proximity to the Mt. Lena Fire. The closure prohibits public access to trails that lead to both Upper and Lower Lena lakes, as well as the southern portion of The Brothers Wilderness. All visitor use past the Lena Lake trailhead at the junction of Forest Road 25 is prohibited. The trail and area closure will be in place until the fire no longer poses a threat to the area.
Heavy smoke on the Olympic Peninsula from unprecedented wildfires in Eastern Washington and Oregon is expected to linger in the coming days. Detailed information about air quality and wildfire smoke impacts on health as well as smoke modeling tools and guidelines for considering whether to modify activity can be found online at www.wasmoke.blogspot.com.
Take & Make:
Macramé Leaf Keychain
Celebrate fall with a leaf macramé keychain take and make craft! Beginning Monday, Sept.14, visit your North Olympic Library System (NOLS) location during curbside service hours to pick up a kit — all supplies and instructions included. This project is recommended for tweens, teens, and adults, and will be available while supplies last.
This program is generously supported by the Friends of the Library. For more information about this and other programs happening this fall, visit www.nols.org, email Discover@nols.org, or call 360-417-8500. To help slow the spread of the coronavirus, all NOLS branches remain closed to the public. Curbside library service, including returns and holds pick-up, is available from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at all NOLS locations, and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks.
FCH News and Information
• Our new External Clinic at Bogachiel Clinic is under construction in preparation for winter and flu season.
• Chinook Pharmacy, Bogachiel Medical Clinic, and Clallam Bay Medical Clinic will be hosting a flu vaccination clinic. Sept. 18 will be hosted in Clallam Bay and the 19th of September will be hosted in Forks.
These clinics will be drive-through style. Please bring your insurance card and a photo ID.
Vaccines will be given beginning at 10 a.m. and stop at 2 p.m. or when supplies run out. Vaccines will be given in the order of first come, first serve.
We can vaccinate those 6 months and older. Patients over 65 will be given the High Dose. Insurance will be billed for flu shots. Cash pay amounts are $30 for normal doses and $70 for the high dose.
General Health Question of the Day
· “How does the flu spread?”
Person to Person
• People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
Period of Contagiousness
• You may be able to pass on flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
• People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins.
• Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
• Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others with flu viruses for an even longer time.”
Source – https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm
• If you have general health information questions, please send them to information@forkshospital.org No private medical information, please.
Thank You
Thank you CDK sewing group. Your continued generosity is much appreciated.
Assistance
• Pandemic EBT is a new emergency program for ALL children in grades K-12 in Washington who receive free or reduced price school meals. P-EBT is not subject to public charge and will not affect your immigration status. P-EBT provides families with funds to pay the cost of meals while schools are closed due to COVID-19. No interview is required. Apply by following this link https://www.washingtonconnection.org/eapplication/home.go? action=Introduction&source= or calling the Customer Service Center at 877-501-2233 from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
• Here is a link to the 211 website for non-emergency assistance, as outlined in a separate information release: www.win211.org. If you would like to speak with a live person, call 833-492-0834.
• The Clallam County Hotline number is 360-417-2430.
• A toll free line has been established for those also in need. Whether child care, food or prescription delivery, mental health or any other need, people can call 1-833-492-0834 for referral to assistance.
• Forks Food Bank is located at 181 Bogachiel Way in Forks. The Food Bank is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 – 5 p.m. P.O. Box 763 Forks, WA 98331
• Forks Food Bank has become the Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline box distribution hub. Boxes arrive shortly before the food bank opens. For more information call 360-640-8211.
• The County Emergency Operations Center is operational Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Forks Abuse, located at 81 S 2nd Ave, Forks, WA has a food pantry outside and is accepting donations daily.
• The Caring Place has diapers available for families in need. Call 360-374-5010
Behavioral Health
• In response to COVID-19, Washington has launched Washington Listens, a support program and phone line to help people manage elevated levels of stress due to the pandemic. People who call the Washington Listens support line will speak with a support specialist and get connected to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous. The Washington Listens support line is 1-833-681-0211. It is available from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or preferred method.
• ImHurting Crisis Chat is a service offered through Volunteers of America Western Washington. Their toll-free 24-hour crisis hotline number is 1-888-910-0416. The 24-hour crisis online chat is at www.imhurting.org.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255 and is available 24 hours a day
• West End Outreach Services continues to be open regular business hours. Our providers are offering all behavioral health services over the telephone so the community can continue to “Stay Home and Stay Safe.” West End Outreach Services are available by phone at 360-374-5011 Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
