Klamath Alerts

DIAMOND LAKE – Oregon 138 East (North Umpqua Highway) and Oregon 62 (Crater Lake Highway) are now open. Sections of the two southern Oregon highways had been closed since Sunday due to heavy snow and falling trees.

Motorists visiting the High Cascades this weekend should prepare for possible delays, short-term closures and winter driving conditions.

Oregon 230, a key route between the Rogue Valley and the Bend, remains closed due to heavy snow and downed trees. Cleanup work will continue through the weekend. Workers must remove trees and debris from the snow berm before the blowers can widen the highway for travel.

“We’re glad to get the area back open. We hate to close highways but sometimes winter forces our hand,” said ODOT District Manager Jerry Marmon. “Crews worked tirelessly every day, only to be pushed back by more snow, hazardous high winds and falling trees.”

Visitors to the Cascades should visit Tripcheck.com before they go and be ready for winter driving conditions. Motorists should also:

• Be prepared for delays and allow extra time to get to your destination;
• Let someone know your destination and when you’ll arrive or be back;
• Have chains and know how to put them on, and
• Make sure you have water, snacks and blankets.

ODOT: SW Oregon: OREGON 62- Crater Lake Highway- Highway is now open from Prospect thru Union Creek to its junction with Oregon 230.

KLAMATH FALLS, OR, January 16, 2020 Snow removal crews will be pulling snow from the curbs and gutters and placing it in the center of the roadways in the downtown core. This work will start at midnight tonight. Downtown diagonal parking will become parallel parking until snow is removed from the center of the roadways. The purpose of loading the snow to the center of the roadways is for ease of subsequent snow removal.

Snow removal crews will begin removal of the snow from the center of the roads beginning the following evening on January 17th starting at midnight.

The City would like to thank citizens, in advance for proceeding with caution in these areas.

### Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the City of Klamath Falls Public Works Department at (541) 883-5363.

 

Above photo submitted by KCFD1

Fatal Residential Structure Fire on Eberlein Ave 1/16/2020 At approximately 2:25 A.M. Firefighter taken to Sky Lakes for injuries. 

On Thursday January 16, 2020 Klamath County Fire District No. 1 received the report of a structure fire with a possible victim trapped inside at 2154 Eberlein Ave. The fire was reported by group passing by. They stopped and made attempts to get the victim out but were not successful due to the extent of the fire.

Law Enforcement Officers from Klamath Falls Police Department and fire personnel arriving on scene noted a large fire within the kitchen and living room area. Fire personnel simultaneously worked to locate the victim and extinguish the fire.

The victim, Madeline L. Murray, was located by fire crews in the living room area and found deceased. Klamath Falls Police Department has notified next of kin.

We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Ms. Murray.

Klamath County Fire District No. 1 responded with 15 fire personnel from four engines and two ambulances along with the Fire Chief, Battalion Chief, Division Chief and Fire Marshal. One firefighter was injured and transported to Skylakes Medical Center where they were treated and released. Damage to the home is estimated at $80,000.00.

The fire has been ruled accidental. We encourage all residents to have working smoke alarms and to change the batteries every six months.

OFFICE CLOSURES

Winter Weather Conditions

KLAMATH FALLS, OR, January 16, 2020 Due to winter weather conditions and for the safety of our citizens, City of Klamath Falls Municipal Court, Administrative offices and Utility Billing offices will be closed to walk-in traffic. We are open for business and handling phone calls but would prefer our citizens stay home and off the roads if at all possible.

More snow and high winds are in the forecast in a winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service at 2:48 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. The advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday.

City Streets crews are working diligently to maintain the roadways.

Please use caution when driving.

The Oregon Tech Klamath Falls campus is closing today, Thursday, January 16 due to inclement weather.

Highway 97 is now closed due to weather at the California and Oregon border all the way to I-5. There is no ETA at this time as to when it will open.

8:43AM UPDATE: U.S. 97 has now reopened from approximately 12 miles north of Weed to Dorris following whiteout conditions.

Update: 9:18am ODOT reports highway open again with chain restrictions.

ODOT: SW Oregon: Highway Closure

Oregon 62 (Crater Lake Highway) is closed due to hazardous conditions from heavy snow and falling trees. 

The closure is from Prospect (MP 45) northwest to the west boundary of Crater Lake National Park (MP 65). Use alternate routes.  

Crews will evaluate High Cascade area highway closures in the morning.