(PORTLAND, Ore.) Hello Portlanders! It's Wednesday, Aug. 2 - Here's your daily round up of all the news happening in the City of Roses.
1. PF&R responds to small wildfire on Hayden Island
Portland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a wildfire on Hayden Island early Wednesday. Crews initially used a boat to access the fire, but it was too far away and extinguishing the flames became a challenge. The passage to access the fire was too narrow for fire engines, so small trucks and ATVs were used.
Authorities said the fire reached up to about 18,000 square yards and was burning through grass, shrubs and trees. Crews were eventually able to halt the fire’s progress using brush rigs. PF&R announced that the fire was under control at 3:51 a.m.
2. Officers arrest suspected drug dealer with 3,500 counterfeit fentanyl pills priced at 80 cents
A police officer doing surveillance in the area of Southwest 6th Avenue and Harvey Milk Street on Tuesday spotted a man selling what was believed to be fentanyl. PPB Officer David Baer said he went to stop the individual, but he ran on a skateboard. He was arrested a couple blocks away. The 17-year-old had an outstanding warrant for robbery.
However, it wasn’t the craziest bust of the week, according to police. Officer Baer said they found a man with around 3,500 blue pills laced with fentanyl on Monday, selling them for as little as 80 cents. The suspected dealer was identified as Edis Centeno. He appeared in court on Tuesday on felony drug charges.
3. Tiny endangered turtles arrive at the Oregon Zoo
A group of tiny turtles from the Columbia Gorge will be receiving care at the Oregon Zoo until Spring 2024. The 11 northwestern pond turtles, which are considered an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon, will be cared for until they are large enough to survive in the wild. The Oregon Zoo has conserved and released 1,500 turtles back into the wild.
“Each hatchling is critical. We need to increase the number of turtles in the wild if we’re going to save this species from extinction,” Senior Keeper Sara Morgan told KOIN. “These hatchlings are very vulnerable to predators. At this small size, a bullfrog can scoop up a mouthful right out of the nest.”
During their stay at the zoo, the hatchlings will receive heat lamps and lots of food. They’ll later be returned home and monitored for safety. To check them out, visit the Oregon Zoo’s YouTube page.
Thanks for reading! See you tomorrow with all the latest Portland news.
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