Fire Alert Archives

Oregon emergency managers warn to be prepared for potential wildfire-related power outages, offer list of tips

July 27, 2024 2:35 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – As wildfires continue to burn throughout the state and extreme weather events impact communities, Oregon residents are reminded to be prepared for potential power outages and the related emergencies that can occur. Wildfires and extreme weather can cause power outages, and weather and other conditions in specific geographies may cause electric utilities

Pilot killed in crash of single-engine air tanker while working on new Eastern Oregon blaze near Falls Fire

July 26, 2024 11:12 am KTVZ News Partners, The Associated Press

A BLM-contracted single-engine air tanker helping fight a wildfire in Eastern Oregon crashed Thursday evening, killing the pilot on board, authorities said.

Central Oregon wildfire update: Progress on several fronts, no significant fire starts Thursday

July 26, 2024 2:09 pm KTVZ News Partners

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch reported no new significant fire starts Thursday, a welcome piece of good news among over 100 fires, very large to smaller, being battled across the state after a three-week heat wave with critical conditions. By Friday evening, the Crazy Creek Fire remained at 11,008 acres and still 0%

Video shows escape through flames and smoke as wildfire begins burning the outskirts of Idaho town

July 26, 2024 1:51 pm The Associated Press

Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — William Howard went to the north-central Idaho town of Juliaetta on Thursday to help a friend after a lightning-sparked wildfire began tearing through the friend’s property, using barrels of water in an effort to extinguish “hot spots” on the land. But in the 15 minutes it took to refill

A man is accused of pushing a burning car into a gully, causing a California wildfire that’s spread to over 145,000 acres

July 25, 2024 9:52 pm CNN Newsource

CNN By Dalia Faheid, CNN (CNN) — Hot and dry weather is fueling wildfire activity in the Western United States and Canada, with fires damaging homes, causing injuries and forcing evacuations. The largest active wildfire in the US has scorched more than 280,000 acres in eastern Oregon and another blaze has exploded to over 145,000

Man accused of starting California’s Park Fire is arrested as Oregon battles massive blaze

July 25, 2024 2:44 am CNN Newsource

By Dalia Faheid, Robert Shackelford, Lauren Mascarenhas and Cheri Mossburg, CNN (CNN) — The largest active wildfire in the United States has scorched almost 270,000 acres in eastern Oregon, as nearly 80 large active wildfires are burning in the US, including a California blaze that exploded in size overnight. Here’s the latest: • California battles

‘Our resources are completely spread thin’: Oregon Dept. of Forestry, C.O. agencies say mega-fires are straining state

July 25, 2024 11:28 am KTVZ

One of Oregon’s largest wildfires of recent weeks, the nearly 2-week-old Lone Rock Fire, recently reached “mega-fire” status, meaning it’s burned more than 100,000 acres of land.

Ochoco National Forest closes Paulina Ranger District due to wildfire activity; Malheur Forest took similar step earlier

July 25, 2024 4:15 pm KTVZ - News Team

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to ongoing wildfire activity, the Ochoco National Forest announced Thursday it’s implementing a closure of Paulina Ranger District, effective immediately. It’s a step the Malheur National Forest to our east took earlier this week. “This closure is necessary to ensure public safety and to allow fire personnel to effectively engage

Lightning and a burning car pushed into a gully are blamed for wildfires scorching the West

July 25, 2024 6:44 am The Associated Press

Associated Press A burning car pushed into a gully sparked California’s largest wildfire of the year, authorities said Thursday as they announced the arrest of a suspect. Meanwhile other blazes scorched the Pacific Northwest. Flames from the fire the man is accused of starting exploded into what is now the Park Fire, which has burned

Oregon fire is the largest burning in the US. Thunderstorms and high winds are exacerbating it

July 24, 2024 1:02 pm The Associated Press

Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Powerful winds and hundreds of lightning strikes from thunderstorms rattled eastern Oregon and Idaho Wednesday afternoon, cutting power and stoking fires, including one in Oregon that is already the largest active blaze in the nation. The Durkee Fire, burning near the Oregon-Idaho border about 130 miles (209 kilometers) west

‘Sunshine for your soul’: Bend artist’s latest work isn’t on a wall – it’s on a stairway in the Old Mill District

July 24, 2024 10:49 pm KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new street mural by Bend artist Evan Namkung now greets visitors to the Old Mill District from a unique perspective. Located on the steps between Francesca’s and Ben & Jerry’s in the district, just behind Regal Cinemas, you can see the mural when looking back at the stairway from below,

Central Oregon fires grow fast in hot, windy weather: Crazy Creek Fire doubles to 10,000 acres, new evacuations

July 24, 2024 1:31 pm KTVZ News Partners

Central Oregon firefighters continued in Wednesday’s hot, windy conditions to battle several large fast-moving fires burning around the region among the many being fought across the state.

Small brush fire stopped by Deschutes River in Bend; specific human cause unknown, but campers were told to move

July 24, 2024 8:02 pm Barney Lerten

Firefighters quickly put out a small brush fire along the Deschutes River Trail downstream from Bend’s First Street Rapids Wednesday afternoon. Officials said it was considered human-caused, but no specific cause was found. A park user told NewsChannel 21 it happened in an area where some homeless campers had previously been given 24 hours notice to leave.

Kotek declares Conflagration Act for Durkee, Battle Mtn. fires, deploys Oregon National Guard to help with blazes

July 24, 2024 2:22 pm KTVZ News Partners

CONDON, Ore. (KTVZ) — Here’s Wednesday’s official updates on several of the large fires burning across Oregon: Governor Kotek Invokes the Emergency Conflagration Act for Durkee and Battle Mountain Complex Fires Durkee and Battle Mountain Complex Fires burning in Baker, Malheur, Grant, Umatilla Counties Canyonville, OR — Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act

ODOT warns travelers: Expect continued E. Oregon interstate, highway closures due to fast-moving wildfires

July 23, 2024 7:46 pm KTVZ News Partners

PENDLETON, Ore. (KTVZ) — If you plan to travel across Oregon in the coming days, ODOT strongly advised Tuesday that you “make sure you carefully plan your route. I-84 and many other highways in Eastern Oregon may be closed or unreliable due to wildfires. “With a long hot summer ahead, other fires and closures throughout

Progress made on nearly 600-acre Microwave Tower Fire threatening Columbia Gorge town of Mosier

July 22, 2024 8:33 pm KTVZ News Partners

Crews worked through the night to stop or slow the Microwave Tower fire near the Columbia Gorge town of Mosier, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and higher humidity to make progress.

Wildfires threaten communities in the West as Oregon fire closes interstate, creates its own weather

July 23, 2024 4:06 pm The Associated Press

Associated Press BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Firefighters in the West are scrambling as wildfires threaten communities in Oregon, California and Washington, with at least one Oregon fire so large that it is creating its own weather. Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon was closed in both directions Tuesday between Ontario and Baker City as flames from

C.O. crews fight over 25 lightning-sparked fires; 3,000-acre Durgan Fire near Paulina brings evacuations, road closures

July 21, 2024 8:28 pm KTVZ News Partners

Thunderstorms moving across Central Oregon Sunday brought lightning that sparked more than 25 fire starts around the region that firefighters were busy responding to Monday, many stopped small but one that quickly grew to about 3,000 acres northeast of Paulina and prompted evacuations and road closures.

Evacuation notice down to Level 1 near Jackpine Fire south of La Pine

July 19, 2024 2:43 pm KTVZ News Partners

Firefighters continued Sunday to hold the 180-acre Jackpine Fire south of La Pine within its perimeter and brought the blaze to 25% containment. Meanwhile, crews also made good progress on the Wickiup and Round Mountain fires near Wickiup Reservoir.

‘General Shutdown’: Central Oregon public lands moving to top Industrial Fire Precaution Level IV Thursday

July 23, 2024 12:44 pm KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Due to continued hot weather, extremely dry vegetation and significant local fire activity, the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District Bureau of Land Management will move to Industrial Fire Precaution Level IV “General Shutdown” on Thursday. Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July