Sweet Lorane Community News, September 24, 2020
Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 24, 2020
By Pat Edwards
Lorane firefightere, Pete Kersgaard, viewing the aftermath of the wildfire that burned between Carpenter’s-By-Pass and Territorial Roads. Photo by Shane Kronberger
Our community dodged another wildfire bullet again this week. At about 4:00 p.m. last Wednesday, September 23, high winds developed in our area. Apparently, a tree, located on private property situated between south Territorial and Carpenter’s By-Pass roads fell on some power lines which ignited a fire that quickly began to spread. Many of us were glued to the Lorane Facebook page and the various fire alert websites to get updated information as it happened. Neighbors close to the fire began loading their horses and livestock into trailers in case they needed to quickly move out of the way of the blaze which the winds were blowing towards Territorial. The fear was palpable, but soon, fire vehicles and Bruce McDonald’s big CAT which has already seen a lot of use in local fires, were seen heading for the site. Shortly afterwards, reports and photos of helicopters with buckets of water were seen flying over the community and we all rejoiced. Prayers went out on-line for rain which was already showing up as sprinkles coming from the west. Within minutes, reports began showing up that the rain had hit the area as a steady downpour. Although the fear was still present, we all began to feel that this was one battle that we were not going to lose.
Helicopter with bucket of water heading for the Lorane wildfire on September 23, 2020. Photo by Jessica Betts
During the duration of the fire, the administrators of the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page were busily manning the page in order to give family members of area residents and neighboring communities permission to join the page so that they could follow the progression.
The next day, the Lorane Rural Fire Protection District fire department released the following statement:
“With the help of North Douglas, Lane Fire Authority, ODF, air support and good ole Oregon rain, we were able to get a good knock down. (The) last unofficial estimate is around 10-15 acres in size. ODF will stay on scene mopping up hot spots overnight and possibly into tomorrow. We also have a dozer on site to create a fire line around the perimeter. Thank you to all of our supporting agencies for the quick response.”
The community was especially vocal in posting thanks to all who worked so hard to protect us. These thanks included in the many posts the following morning can be summed up by Karen Pidgeon.
“Heartfelt thanks to all who helped get the fire out, and everyone for their communications. After the weeks of fires and smoke and worry, this was a huge fear for everyone out here… so thankful for such a great community!”
Thank you, LRFPD and all those who helped with the fire, for taking such good care of us! It was a pretty scary time and we are so thankful that so many were prepared and able to get this fire out before it got started. Mother Nature was definitely on our side last night, too, but you are all our heroes.
Sweet Lorane Community News – September 17, 2020
Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 17, 2020
By Pat Edwards
Residents of Lorane, like most people in Oregon, are reeling from the burden that we are all carrying right now. The addition of the devastating wildfires to our COVID-19 concerns have made our load almost unbearable. The worry and fear that we are feeling for our neighbors whose lives and homes are directly impacted was made real to us in the Lorane area recently when a grassfire was discovered along Lorane Highway toward the top of the Conard (aka Fox Hollow) Hill, about 3 miles north of Gillespie Corners. Fortunately, it was discovered early, the recent strong winds were not present, and our local firefighters were on the scene quickly. It was contained and extinguished within a few hours. I’m sure that I wasn’t the only one who, upon hearing of the fire, began “just-in-case” preparations by packing our evacuation bags as soon as we heard. Our thanks and appreciation go out to everyone who made sure that we stayed safe.
Mike Plank with his wife Tracy (holding Calliope Stevens)
Sadly, the fires and other upheavals in our lives overshadowed the quiet passing of two of Lorane’s residents and one from Crow. Mike Plank suffered a cerebral stroke in late August and went into a coma. He quietly passed away on September 5, 2020, without regaining consciousness. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mike or his wife Tracy, but they were close friends and good neighbors of our grandson, Kevin Stevens, and his partner, Jazmine Bangs. They attended the Lorane Christian Church and were regulars at the Lorane Family Store. The Planks bought Nancy O’Hearn’s home on Old Lorane Road several years ago and have been spending their time remodeling it. He was a contractor by trade, and, besides Tracy, he left behind two daughters, Casey and Jenni, sons-in-law, Cory and Supa, and grandson, Blake. As a community, we were lucky to have Mike in our midst, and I know that he will be missed by those who had the opportunity to know the kind, caring person he was.
Bruce and Sharon Malcolm
Many in the community are mourning the death of our much-loved, Sharon Malcolm, who also died on September 5. Sharon has been fighting stage 4 stomach cancer since she was diagnosed earlier this year. Her daughter and son, Ashley, and James Malcolm arrived several months ago to stay with her and take care of her at the family home on Fire Road where she lived alone. Sharon’s husband, Bruce Malcolm, was killed in an equipment accident on their property in the summer of 2018.
Sharon was a successful realtor for Windermere Real Estate and was an active community member in Lorane since she and Bruce were married in 1977.
Ashley announced her mother’s death on the Lorane Facebook page: “Life can be so unfair sometimes. Today we lost one of the great ones and it doesn’t even seem real… (She was the) best kick-ass mom anyone could ever ask for. She was incredibly kind and caring, had the greenest thumb of anyone I’ve ever known; was a pool volleyball rockstar, tequila lover, jokester, card shark, and die-hard Oregon Duck Fan. Raise a glass for my mom Sharon today. She’d want everyone to celebrate her life...”
I considered Sharon a good friend and knew her to be an exceptional cook who kept a beautiful home and yard. It’s hard to believe that she’s gone.
On September 11, long-time Crow resident, Margeinea Bloom, peacefully passed in her sleep. Her daughter, Corinne Gording, commented, “I guess some of the best angels are taken on 9/11.” Margeinea served as the much-respected bookkeeper for the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District for many years during the time when my husband Jim was on the board during the 1970s and 1980s. I remember Margeinea for her kindness and ability to make friends easily and I know that all of her loving family and friends are grieving her loss.
Jim and I send our sincere condolences to the families of these three people. Their absence will be felt by many.
All Things Lorane 