BOTHELL, Wash. (KTVZ) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Mile Marker 132 Fire burning in Deschutes County, Oregon. The state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Friday
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Pacific Power says it has had to shut power off in times of serious weather and wildfire dangers, in an effort to prevent more blazes.
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A group of young people returning from a day boating on Lake Simtustus Sunday evening were caught by surprise and trapped by the fast-growing, lightning-sparked Elk Lane Fire west of Madras as they were leaving the resort, prompting a harrowing road trip, narrow escape and rescue by fire crews.
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A Prineville woman who allegedly sped east on Highway 126 Friday evening, dragging a tire and driving on a wheel rim that threw sparks and caused a destructive 10-acre wildfire, refused to appear in court from jail Monday to face one felony and a dozen misdemeanor charges.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregonians who lost food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the recent wildfires are encouraged to request replacement benefits from the Oregon Department of Human Services. Households who receive SNAP and live in the following counties now have until Aug. 16 to request replacement SNAP benefits for
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the eighth time of the fire season last Thursday evening in response to the now-52,000-acre Telephone Fire in Harney County, because. The resources necessary for protecting life and property from the fire are beyond local capabilities. Harney County Judge Hart requested assistance
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The nearly 2-week-old Crazy Creek Fire in Crook and Wheeler counties has continued to grow dramatically in recent hot, dry weather to now cover more than 64,000 acres, and on Sunday prompted a Level 2 BE SET pre-evacuation alert to the town of Paulina and nearby areas.
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Crews battling Eastern Oregon’s Durkee Fire, the largest in the state so far this season, have reached 86% containment as mop-up and monitoring work continues for the more than 400 firefighters on the lines and in support roles.
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Two days after a fast-moving brush fire on Bend’s northern outskirts sent up thick, billowing smoke and brought a major ground and air attack that stopped its advance, the widespread impacts were easing Sunday as authorities reduced evacuation levels and repair crews restored TV and Internet service to the north, in Redmond.
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Here are some of the many much-appreciated videos and photos NewsChannel 21 viewers have shared with us, thanks so much! Feel free to use the Share tab to send us yours.
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NewsChannel 21’s Isabella Warren spoke live with two of the many people forced to leave their homes or help family members flee the fast-growing Mile Marker 132 Fire north of Bend.
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Oregon’s entire congressional delegation — Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Cliff Bentz — sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a disaster declaration for Oregon counties facing devastating wildfires. The lawmakers also
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NewsChannel 21’s Dylan Anderman was live at the fight to stop the Mile Marker 132 Fire north of Bend, where a resident put out a sprinkler right where the fire was stopped near their home./
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The Battle Mountain Complex is a coordinated effort to stop the Monkey Creek, Snake and Boneyard fires in Eastern Oregon, just one group of fires among the more than 100 major blazes that broke out around the state during the fiery month of July.
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SALEM, Ore. – With more hot temperatures, Red Flag Warnings in place and lightning in the forecast, the Oregon State Fire Marshal said Friday she is pre-positioning two structural task forces in Central Oregon, to help in case new wildfires erupt. The task forces are from Lincoln and Polk counties and have 26 firefighters, eight
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The impact of this year’s wildfire season continues to reverberate throughout the state as the number of acres burned reaches 1.2 million. At this time, the number of acres burned is four times the average, when compared to the same point in past seasons. As many as 1,261 fires have burned
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SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing four structural task forces and its green incident management team to the Telephone Fire burning in Harney County, 12 miles northeast of Burns. The lightning-caused fire started on July 22 and is now threatening homes and structures. As of Thursday morning, the fire was estimated at
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bureau of Land Management law enforcement rangers recently caught an arsonist who ignited a small wildfire earlier this month, the agency said Wednesday. On Saturday, July 6, the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to reports that a helicopter had located a column of smoke near the Willamette National Forest. They put
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Here is the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire situation report for Wednesday, July 31st: ODF Incident Management Teams Team 2 is in command of the Winding Water Complex west of Wallowa (Northeast Oregon District). Updates available on the District’s Facebook page. Team 1 is in command of the Battle Mountain Complex –
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A lot of time, money and attention has been spent for years on helping homeowners and communities create “defensible space” around their properties, so a wildfire doesn’t have as much fuel to spread and cause even more danger and destruction. Much the same has taken place on national forests and in
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