PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A weather pattern bringing an easterly flow of winds is forecast over much of the fire-stricken Pacific Northwest this weekend. With warming temperatures and dropping humidity, conditions are primed for growth on existing wildfires fires and the potential for new starts, the U.S. Forest Service warned Thursday. Here’s the rest of
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Hundreds of firefighters working to build lines, protect structures and stop or slow the spread of several lightning-sparked wildfires across the region are reporting good progress but also face a return of hotter weather in coming days.
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A wind-fanned wildfire reported Sunday afternoon southeast of Chiloquin grew to over 3,600 acres by Tuesday but was fully lined by Tuesday night after prompting area evacuations, damaging several homes and other structures.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a break of clear skies for several days, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Wednesday due to smoke from wildfires in Oregon, Idaho and California, expecting it to be in place until at least Friday. The following areas are affected: Crook County Deschutes County Grant
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Several new lightning-sparked wildfires the blew up in hot, windy and stormy weather around the region on Labor Day, two jumping the Lower Deschutes and John Day rivers, kept growing fast Tuesday, racing across thousands of acres and prompting more evacuations.
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Ryan Jones Stanley shared this video of a firefighting plane scooping water from the Prineville Reservoir on Tuesday to drop on the still-growing Wiley Flat Fire.
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DENVER (KTVZ) — For many years, Western governors have worked together to develop and implement bipartisan policy that helps mitigate uncharacteristic wildfire. On August 28, in correspondence with Congressional leadership, the 20 Governors represented in the Western Governors’ Association expressed their bipartisan support for several recommendations in the final report of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management
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LAKEVIEW, Ore. (KTVZ) – The nearly month-old Warner Peak Fire is now 100% contained, but over 82,000 acres of the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge will remain closed through June 15, 2025, due to the extensive wildfire damage and the potential threat of invasive species, officials said late last week. On Aug. 5, a lightning strike
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A new wildfire reported Saturday on the Ochoco National Forest east of the nearly 87,000-acre Crazy Creek Fire is not a spot fire from that over month-old blaze but a new start that officials confirmed Sunday was caused by lightning.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek visited the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland on Thursday for a briefing on the busy wildfire season, and afterward joined representatives from the Pacific Northwest Coordinating Group for an update on the still-high danger and urging caution this Labor Day weekend. “I would like to thank
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A ground and air attack stopped and contained a new lightning-sparked wildfire spotted Thursday on the Deschutes National Forest south of Highway 20 and east of Hoodoo Ski area, which grew to about two acres.
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IZEE, Ore. (KGW/KTVZ) — A pilot helping fight the Falls wildfire in eastern Oregon turned into an area with “visibility concerns” before his fatal crash, according to a preliminary investigation report from the National Transportation Safety Board, KGW reports. The report doesn’t identify why the pilot’s plane veered toward an area with “Temporary Flight Restrictions,” crashing into
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches amid a late-summer warmup, Central Oregon fire officials reminded the public Wednesday that wildfire danger is still high and Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions remain in effect across public lands in the region. Here’s Central Oregon Fire Management Service’s full announcement: Despite recent
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The recent cooler, wetter weather has been helping Oregon firefighters tackle several larger wildfires, many over a month old. But the threat of new wildfires remains high, as another warmup is due in coming days. As of Sunday morning, there were still about 250 firefighters battling the remaining lightning-sparked wildfire on
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With some cooler weather and various levels of precipitation across Central Oregon, the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests, Crooked River National Grassland and the Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District will reduce the Industrial Fire Precaution Level to Level III (Partial Shutdown) effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
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REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – An RV was destroyed Thursday morning in a fire traced to a charging vape pen that spread to about a half-acre of brush and trees off Highway 126 on Redmond’s east side before crews were able to stop and contain it. The resident, who was not in the motor home at
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Firefighters reached 40% containment Monday on a wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon east of Highway 97 and Culver on the Crooked River National Grassland, burning 590 acres, and officials said threatened Bonneville Power Administration power lines were protected.
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DAYS CREEK, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hawaii, the most recent state to join the Northwest Compact, hit the ground running by sending personnel to Oregon on their first fire assignments under the compact. This past April, Hawaii became the eleventh member of the Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement. The purpose of the NW Compact is to
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PAULINA, Ore. (KTVZ) — Winds gusted up to 50 mph Saturday on the nearly month-old Crazy Creek Fire, but containment lines held and crews reached 93% containment, allowing Crook County emergency managers to reduce some evacuation levels, officials said Sunday. Here’s the full update on that and the more than month-old, 730-acre Red Fire burning
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Three wildfires that merged in strong winds on Saturday night burned along seven miles of Interstate 84 near Arlington, forcing closure for a time of a 22-mile stretch of the freeway in both directions. Crews from numerous agencies, including Central Oregon resources, tackled the blaze.
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