On Thursday (9/10/20), Portland Fire and Rescue responded to an active fire off of Leif Erikson and Germantown that has since been contained. Mayor Ted Wheeler announced last evening that all Portland parks and natural areas are CLOSED to the public, effective immediately.
This State of Emergency closure includes Forest Park.
The closure will remain in effect through noon on Thursday, September 24, 2020, unless otherwise extended, modified, or terminated.
From the Mayor’s order: “All outdoor parks and natural areas owned by the City of Portland, including all forested parks, and other locations as designated by the Director of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, are hereby closed to the general public except as may be necessary for the City to respond to the impacts of fire danger under this Emergency Declaration, or to respond to any other threats to the public, health, safety or welfare under any and all other Emergency Declarations in effect in the City.”
At this time, questions regarding the emergency declaration are being referred to the Mayor’s office.
Read the Emergency Declaration
Please stay safe, connected, and informed.
Our partners at Portland Parks & Recreation said it best: in these incredible times, remember that a lot of people are coming together to help one another. No amount of smoke can obscure that.
Our thoughts are with those displaced, struggling with, or working on the front line to contain these dangerous, unprecedented fires.
Sign Up for Information on Wildfires and Fire Danger from PublicAlert.org Wildfire 2020
From Portland Monthly: Here’s How to Help Victims of Wildfire