Pacific Monitors Nearby Lee Falls Fire

University officials are carefully monitoring the Lee Falls Fire, burning 11 miles southwest of Forest Grove. The fire, which ignited on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 8, is burning around the community of Cherry Grove.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire was 75% lined as of 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, and continues to be confined to the Cherry Grove area.

There is no danger to Pacific’s Forest Grove Campus due to this wildfire. If there is a threat to the campus, the community will be alerted through Boxer Alerts and on the university website.

While the Lee Falls Fire is not causing immediate danger, smoke from it and other Northwest wildfires is impacting air quality in the Forest Grove area. The safety of our university community is of the utmost priority. Employees whose work environments are impacted by air quality should contact their supervisors.

Due to air quality issues, changes are being implemented for the following university events:

AUGUST COMMENCEMENT, SAT., AUG. 10
• The ceremony will take place as scheduled beginning at 9 a.m.
• The ceremony will be shortened to limit everyone’s exposure to smoke.
• To shorten the ceremony, graduates will not be hooded on stage. Graduates are asked to arrive to report to campus with their hoods already on.
• A livestream of the ceremony will be shown in the University Center and can also be accessed on the Pacific website.
• A limited number of N95 masks will be available for participants and guests at the ceremony. Guests should consider bringing their own masks if desired.

SCHOOL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY
• The Nature Walk Adventure scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10 has been canceled.

The Commencement and Emergency Operations Committees will meet no later than 6 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, to assess developments. Any updates will be posted here.