Community of Happy Camp begins recovery after Slater Fire destruction

Though evacuations in Happy Camp have been lifted, officials say there are many hazards left behind.

In the form of decimated, but by the slater fire burning in both josephine and siskiyou counties.

Today there was an informational town hall at happy camp high school.

As you can see on your screen, happy camp is facing the worst destruction it has ever seen.

The citizens of happy camp though seem reslilient and strong to start the recovery process.

Much like a lot of oregon right now, many happy camp residents have been held up in evacuation centers, and have not been allowed to come back in an see their property.

One of the biggest concerns that officials are facing before letting people back in, are hazardous trees that surround many properties in happy camp.

Since the fire burned through the forest area surrounding the city, those trees are now threatening to fall at any moment.

They could fall on you or your property.

Before people can back into houses, those trees will have to be taken care of.

"as you can see in the days that have passed, our focus has changed from life saving to the recovery and the security in protecting you from the dangers and the hazards that you have heard mr. rick dean explain also."

Another area of concern is bridges that were burnt in the area which hasnt allowed proper assesment of some buildings.

Those bridges will have to be repaired so that procy operations direcor for the incident, and he says a list is being finished of the damages of all the buildings there.

On your screen, you can see the phone number that you need to call.

Vela vel-uh said that as early as tonight you may be able to find out what your property looks like.

But you may have to wait until tomorrow.

Call 530-643-3662.

Keep in mind that there needs to be some double checking because smoke caused low visibility in coverage now the slater fire is still growing.

That's right, it's up about two thousand acres since yesterday.

The slater fire overall is 150,230 acres.

About 42-thousand acres are in josephine, the rest are in siskiyou county.

Containment is at 24-percent on this