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EUGENE
<br /> EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
<br /> August 7, 2003
<br /> City of Eugene
<br /> 777 Pearl Street, Room 105
<br /> Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
<br /> (541)682-5010
<br /> (541)682-5414(FAX)
<br /> www.ci.eugene.or us
<br /> IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION I
<br /> TREE CREW REMOVES TREE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AS PASSERSBY WATCH
<br /> FIRE DEPARTMENT JOINS STATE RESCUE CONSORTIUM
<br /> GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES FLEET SERVICES FOR WORKING TO REDUCE FUEL EMISSIONS
<br /> BETHEL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK GETS NEW PLAYGROUND, TURF AND OTHER AMENITIES
<br /> AROUND THE CITY 1
<br /> Tree Crew Removes Tree Struck by Lightning as Passersby Watch K nif ice, 4 v A, i....
<br /> The oldest and largest Norway spruce tree in Eugene was heavily damaged /5
<br /> by lightning during the storm that struck the area in the early morning hours .• ` ;•
<br /> on Tuesday, August 5. This news, along with reports of two other hazard ' .: f
<br /> trees, greeted the Parks and Open Space tree crew upon arrival at work im • ,� ti• .i. .• .
<br /> •
<br /> Tuesday morning. Immediately, the crew was on the scene inspecting the • .
<br /> tree, located in the parks blocks at Eighth and Oak, and pronounced the
<br /> damage fatal. The trunk of the 92-year-old tree was literally shattered, its .s•:,p ,A4 , •. iv •
<br /> contents exploding up to 100 feet from the tree, while the tree's top c' ., '1.,,remained remarkably intact. The tree crew, assisted by the aerial lift truck, t'
<br /> tractor and other Parks and Open Space staff, closed one lane of traffic on ,, I L#,
<br /> Eighth Avenue and Oak Street and cut down the tree, removing five dump ram t ��
<br /> trucks of debris, as over 100 spectators, many of whom were shopping at 1
<br /> the weekly Farmers' Market on the parks blocks, watched. By noon, �� �" r 1
<br /> pedestrian and vehicular traffic was restored, and people were eating lunch -Ai ,
<br /> on the parks blocks, undisturbed by the drama that had unfolded that ►f``� t .• * .
<br /> morning. ,„, ,' , At •.
<br /> "Our priority was safety. The tree could have fallen either on the street or '�! �`
<br /> people setting up or shopping at the Farmers Market," said tree specialist i.
<br /> John Luther. The removal of the 90-foot tree in the middle of downtown
<br /> took place with little damage to surrounding trees or vegetation. Debris `'44: A ', *�
<br /> from the tree was delivered to Lane Forest Products to be recycled. In
<br /> addition to the spruce on the park blocks, the tree crew dealt with two other ^-
<br /> hazard trees and numerous other downed limbs related to the storm that day. For more information, call Tree Specialist
<br /> John Luther at 682-4817.
<br /> Fire Department Joins State Rescue Consortium
<br /> Eugene's Fire and EMS Department has joined a consortium of state mutual aid fire departments and districts under
<br /> ORS 190 to provide and receive fire-based technical rescue services. The work to solidify Eugene's participation in this
<br /> effort has been on-going for the last year. The agreement will add Eugene Fire's Technical Rescue Team to a state
<br /> consortium of teams that will train to the same National Fire Protection Association standards and have access to
<br /> multiple teams as needed, as well as additional training and equipment. The State recently received a $750,000 grant
<br /> that includes a provision for outfitting three semi-trailers with heavy rescue equipment. Currently, one is scheduled to be
<br /> placed somewhere near the Portland metropolitan area, one in Bend, and one in Eugene. These trailers will be in the
<br /> care of the Oregon Department of Transportation and delivered by ODOT staff when called for. In addition to the fire
<br /> EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
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