Four heat-related deaths reported in Marion County amid Willamette Valley heat wave

Dejania Oliver, Salem Statesman Journal
·2 min read
Maggy Johnston, ARCHES outreach coordinator, hands water to Rose Cherry in her car at Geer Park during a heat wave in Salem on July 26.
Maggy Johnston, ARCHES outreach coordinator, hands water to Rose Cherry in her car at Geer Park during a heat wave in Salem on July 26.

Four heat-related deaths in Marion County were reported by state officials on Monday as last week's heat wave swept the Willamette Valley.

As of Monday, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has reported 14 suspected heat-related deaths since the beginning of the heat advisory, which ended on Sunday. Temperatures in Oregon last week reached triple digits.

The state Medical Examiner's Office said in an email the deaths in Marion County occured on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.

The state reported two suspected heat deaths in Clackamas County, seven in Multnomah County and one in Umatilla County in addition to the four in Marion. The report is based on a preliminary investigation. Hyperthermia has not yet been confirmed as the cause of death in the cases.

Last year's heat dome in June killed 96 Oregonians, including six in Marion and Polk counties.

The high temperatures last week broke records across Oregon. Portland broke its record for most days above 95 degrees for a seven-day stretch, and Salem had its second longest streak above 95 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The average temperature in Salem last week was 99.5 degrees, said Lisa Kriederman, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. This week's average high is expected to be around 89 degrees.

One water rescue was reported last week as people attempted to cool off. On Wednesday, a group of people were stuck on a log on the Santiam River, north of the Jefferson Boat Ramp, according to Sgt. Jeremy Landers of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. No injuries were reported.

The air quality was good overall in the state last week, Kriederman said. Due to wildfires in the region, the National Weather Service is expecting the air quality to be impacted this week because of smoke.

"It's mainly just aloft, especially over near Salem," Kriederman said. "Maybe further down to Eugene, you may find some smoke a little bit lower. The smoke will be in Salem a little bit tomorrow but by Wednesday, it should be cleared out."

Dejania Oliver is the breaking news reporter for the Statesman Journal. Contact her at DAOliver@salem.gannett.com or follow on Twitter @DejaniaO.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon heat wave: 4 heat-related deaths in Marion County