With national insurance companies beginning to refuse to issue policies for homes in some parts of the country due to “growing catastrophic exposure,” is it time to reconsider the construction of houses in fire-prone areas and the way we fight nearby fires when they inevitably come?

This program helps defray the cost of assessing property conditions. For example, the program will pay outright to locate and remove old underground fuel tanks and conduct limited soil sampling. Loans are available to private parties for site clean-up. The program is made possible through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Business Oregon.

Waterfront Park experienced a burst of energy during late morning hours as Chelsea took to rollerblading, injecting a dynamic vibe into the serene environment.