HASSO HERING

The charred hill on the south side of the Pacific Boulevard viaduct on June 26, 2023.

The hill on the south side of the Pacific Boulevard overpass bears the obvious traces of a recent fire. I could not help noticing this on Monday when I rode on the pathway between Albany Station and Swanson Park.

The grass and brush were scorched from the path all the way up to the road, so that was no small fire. But I hadn’t heard about it.

I asked the Albany Fire Department about it. Fire Marshal Lora Ratcliff responded:

“On 6/10/2023 at approximately 12:15 in the afternoon there was a reported fire along the pathway to the east of the COA (City of Albany) transit office. There was no reported property damage. There were 3 total fire starts, which were started from east to west. The fire on the slope was first, a trash can was set on fire second, and the third fire was to the west in dry grass (5’x5’ in size) in the construction area. A suspect was taken into custody by APD for these fires.”

And yes, Ratcliff added when I asked to make sure, of course the fire department responded. The flames didn’t go out on their own.

I was away in Southern Oregon that Saturday, and the bike and I had not been on that path since. The path runs east from Albany Station and ends at Swanson Park on the other side of the railroad underpass.

There have been other fires on this hillside in the middle of town, a site covered with grass, brush and small trees. The most recent ones happened in August and September 2019 and on Sept. 2, 2020.

Albany police said the woman arrested in connection with the June 10 fire is 45 years of age and appeared to be a transient whose most recent address was in Gold Hill, near Medford.

She was charged with two counts of arson as well as criminal mischief and reckless burning. The Linn County Jail log says she was booked on June 14 and remained in jail today (June 28). (hh)