north coast Volume 19, No. 15
July 24, 2014
northcoastcitizen.com
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‘Scary’ best describes recent Neahkahnie fire
In wake of July 8 fire, area residents look for ways to help avoid future fires and minimize damage By Dave Fisher The Citizen
Josh Uithof could hardly believe his eyes, but, for that matter, neither could anyone who first witnessed the wildfire that raced up a hillside from the beach at Neahkahnie in the early evening hours of July 8. Uithof was headed home shortly after 6 p.m. and had just pulled up at James Rd. just past Beulah Reed Rd. when he looked back and saw a ten-foot high flame shooting out of a log on the beach. In a matter of seconds, the fire marched up the hillside with flames as high as 30 feet or more. The flames disappeared but it was apparent to Uithof that there were houses next to the steep bank that had caught fire. “It was surreal,” Uithof told the Citizen. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.” Uithof, if not the first, was among the first people to call 9-1-1 and report the fire. He stayed until firefighters arrived and even went down to the beach with buckets to where the logs were on fire. By that time, a number of people on the beach pitched in, filling buckets with sand to help fight the blaze.
Linda Cook, a Neahkahnie resident three blocks away from the scene, witnessed the effort. “There was so much spontaneous help going on, with people with buckets and plastic bags of sand and water being dumped on the smoldering logs,” she said. Cook, an accomplished photographer, took a number of photographs of the volunteer effort, a smoldering hillside and the houses set ablaze. “The wind was so severe, smoke was everywhere and flames were flying around. Everyone seemed to be wondering ‘What house is next?’” Cook added Up the hill the fire and smoke drew the attention of Bob and Donna Joseph. “It was pretty scary,” said Bob Joseph, who, like Cook, grabbed his camera and began taking pictures. “A flash of flame appeared over a house and then it turned to smoke. We tried to call 9-1-1 but the line was busy…the smoke didn’t subside.” Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue received the call at 6:27 p.m. and arrived at the scene shortly after. With four houses involved, two of which were severely damaged, the fire went to a second alarm. Firefighters from Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach, Cannon Beach and Oregon Department of Forestry were called in to assist, while members of the Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay A charred hillside, void of vegetation, is all that’s left after a wildfire that began on the beach in a pile of driftassisted with traffic control. wood raced uphill and ignited four homes. Beachcombers witnessed the spectacle from below and some even See FIRE, page 7 pitched in to help dowse the fire on the beach. Courtesy photos
Looking down on a great Fourth of July parade!
If Manzanita’s Fourth of July parade is beginning to look the same year in and year out, you might want to take a page out photographer Laurie Excell’s book and try viewing it from a different angle. “I was standing at the corner of Laneda and Ocean Rd. filming the Manzanita Fourth of July Parade with my DJI Phantom 2 “Aerial” (drone) with a GoPro camera attached,” Excell told the Citizen. “Using a remote control I was able to direct it from the ground while filming the parade from this unique, elevated angle.” The result, shown here, was a view of the parade rarely seen, if ever seen. Said Excell, “I wanted to photograph the festivities from a unique perspective. This was my first Fourth of July event in Manzanita… what a wonderful way to enjoy this special holiday than on a beautiful day at the beach. Manzanita’s Fourth of July celebrations more than lived up to their reputation and exceeded my expectations.”
NORTH COUNTY NEWS ONLINE
As he settles into his new position, Cangelosi is excited about the future The Citizen
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Michael Waterloo of Before joining the HeadRockaway Beach has been light Herald two months ago, named to replace North Coast Waterloo had been sports ediCitizen editor Dave Fisher, tor of the daily Punxsutawwho recently announced he is ney (Penn.) Spirit newspaper retiring at the end of July. for nearly a year. Waterloo moved to OreWaterloo holds bachelor’s gon from western Pennsylva- and master’s degrees in comnia in May to take a reporting munications from Clarion job at the Headlight Herald. University of Pennsylvania, The North Coast Citizen and for a year and a half in Manzanita and the Headserved as sports editor of the light Herald in Tillamook university’s student newspaboth are owned by per, The Clarion Country Media, Call. Inc. He also has “Although Miworked in a varichael has been in ety of journalism Tillamook County positions requirfor only a short ing experience time, we firmly with online and believe he has the digital news platcredentials and forms, including maturity to follow social media. in Dave Fisher’s In a related footsteps,” said move, Hungerford Country Media said the HeadMichael Waterloo CEO Steve Hungerlight Herald’s ford. publisher, Adam “He’s looking forward Schwend, now also will serve to working full-time for the as publisher of the North North Coast Citizen, first Coast Citizen in Manzanita. getting to know this region’s Schwend, who was hired area better and meeting as by the Headlight Herald a many of its residents as year ago as a sales reprequickly as possible,” said sentative, quickly advanced Hungerford. to that newspaper’s highest “We have every intention management position. of ensuring that north Tilla“As a Tillamook County mook County continues to be native, Adam will be a great served by its own top-quality resource for Michael as he publication and website, moves forward with the just as it has been with Dave North Coast Citizen,” said Fisher as its editor.” Hungerford.
Meet NCRD’s new general manager By Dave Fisher
Including E-Edition
New NCC editor named
Nearly four months into the job, Steven Cangelosi, the North County Recreation District’s new general manager, is excited to be part of an organization that has been around a long time, weathered storms and is headed in the right direction, as he sees it. Cangelosi, who replaced Peter Nunn as GM, came on board April 9. Born and raised in Baltimore, he’s a long way from his East Coast roots. Graduating from Pennsylvania’s York College with a degree in recreation administration, Cangelosi knew at an early age what he wanted to do. To augment his college educa-
tion and help pay for it, he held a variety of jobs in, what else, recreation. During a two-and-a-half hear stint with Royal Caribbean cruise lines he visited ports of call in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and the Panama Canal. “I always wanted to do the Panama Canal…it was awesome. Alaska ended up being my last cruise and that’s when I first got acquainted with the Pacific Northwest and fell in love with it.” Other recreationaloriented positions helped mold him, including wilderness training with youth in Georgia and stints with the YMCA. Another opportunity brought him back out west to Tacoma. “I found the career I wanted before I knew there was a course of study for it,” said Steven Cangelosi, NCRD’s new general manager, is a recreational enthusiCangelosi. “My experience ast, himself, and excited to be living on the north Oregon coast. See NCRD page 7 Photo by Dave Fisher
Get in on the catch of the day!
With deliveries of fresh seafood twice a week, Manzanita Grocery & Deli has a great selection of in-season seafood favorites, including wild salmon, Dungeness crab, cod and rockfish fillets, raw shrimp and cooked salad shrimp, oysters and steamer clams just to name a few. Stop in today and check out the catch of the day! H50983
“the little apple” 503-368-5362
Friendly people, friendly service...that’s Manzanita Grocery & Deli
Located in the heart of downtown Manzanita on Laneda Ave. – open 7 days a week!