By Lyssa Schmidt | Communications Director
WEST COAST WILDFIRES: This is the first of a 3-part report highlighting the wildfire devastation in the Salem, OR, area. You can read the full blog here.
Wildfiresin the Salem, OR, destroyed many parks and campgrounds, a concern as the risk for erosion causing landslides could impact the water quality locally.
“The North Santiam Canyon, where the fires burned, is also the source of the City of Salem's drinking water,” Kaileigh said. “The City of Salem has advanced technology to protect our drinking water, but there, it is something that is being very closely monitored.”
The areas surrounding the wildfires, including Salem and Portland, experienced extremely hazardous air quality for two weeks, Kaileigh said. The Air Quality Index was between 500-600, when healthy is considered to be 0-60. Many businesses closed for multiple days for health and safety reasons; on top of closures related to COVID, these situations have been very hard hitting for local small businesses.
“During the time of fires when the air quality was at its worst, our unsheltered neighbors were also impacted,” Kaileigh said. “In Salem, there are thousands of unsheltered individuals, some of the most vulnerable of our population, that were stuck outdoors without protection from the hazardous air quality. Salem Cloth Project worked with a grassroots group called Free Fridge Salem to help collect and distribute masks and food to our unsheltered communities. But it was clear that these individuals were hit hard.”
Though the impact of these wildfires is far from over, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread like wildfire - Kaileigh said she feels inspired by the community that has surrounded those in need locally.
“While the results of these fires have been truly devastating, it is also really inspiring to watch people and agencies in the community coming together,” she said. “There is so much collaboration, overwhelming donations, and so much support out there. It is very touching and what I hope will be a shift in culture for our community. Almost every small business in town, despite their own hardships, have provided donations, space or support in some way.”
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