More prescribed burns planned Friday on Sisters Ranger District, near Hole-in-the-Ground
Firefighters on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts plan to conduct prescribed burn operations on Friday.
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Fire managers from across U.S. and Canada convene in Central Oregon for prescribed fire training
Over 40 participants from various agencies, nonprofits and higher education institutions from across the United States, Tribal Nations and Canada have come to Central Oregon for a two-week prescribed fire training exchange known as TREX.
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La Pine debris burn escapes in strong, erratic winds; crews stop 1 1/2-acre brush fire, protect structures
A La Pine homeowner’s debris burn in a burn barrel escaped in strong, erratic winds Sunday afternoon, sparking a 1 ½-acre brush fire, but La Pine Rural Fire District crews were able to keep it from reaching a nearby shop and neighbors’ homes.
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Oregon Dept. of Forestry decides not to renew costly firefighting insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London
After much consideration, Oregon’s state forester said Friday he has decided to not renew the Department of Forestry’s firefighting insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London and its multi-million dollar premium for the 2023-2024 policy year.
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University of Oregon receives $800K from EPA for wildfire smoke research facility
Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced the University of Oregon has received $800,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to officially launch its Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice.
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Deschutes County offers grant funding for projects to reduce wildfire risk
Deschutes County is announcing an opportunity for communities to apply for grants that will provide funding for projects that reduce the risk of wildfire.
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Interior Secty. Deb Haaland, Merkley speak after Bend roundtable on outdoor recreation, tribal assistance
As U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland began a three-day visit to Oregon, including a Friday stop in Bend, the Department of the Interior announced nearly $50 million in new allocations from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support wildland fire management in fiscal year 2023.
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FireFree free yard debris disposal events coming up
Fire season is quickly approaching, and now is the time for Central Oregonians to plan to reduce their risk by creating defensible space and taking advantage of upcoming spring FireFree events. This spring, partners in Deschutes and Jefferson counties will host FireFree days for local residents.
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OSU study: To help Oregon’s dry forests, fire needs to be just right intensity, temperature – and repeat
– Oregon State University research into the ability of a wildfire to improve the health of a forest uncovered a “Goldilocks effect” – unless a blaze falls in a narrow severity range, neither too hot nor too cold, it isn’t very good at helping forest landscapes return to their historical, more fire-tolerant conditions.
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Wyden intros bill seeking $60 billion investment in Western forests to curb wildfire risk, restore watersheds
Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Michael Bennet, D- Colo., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., on Wednesday introduced the Protect the West Act to make a $60 billion investment in the nation’s forests to reduce wildfire risk, restore watersheds and protect communities.
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Forest Service discusses Northwest’s wildfire crisis during online community forum
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The USDA Forest Service held an online community forum recently to address the wildfire crisis facing the Pacific Northwest. Glenn Casamassa, the Forest Service’s Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest, spoke at the Feb. 16 forum and emphasized the importance of mitigating wildfire risk to communities. He explained that the wildfire
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BLM to begin 1,243-acre fuels reduction project Thursday off Highway 20, SE of Brothers
The Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management plans to begin ignitions on a 1,243-acre fuels reduction project on Thursday, south of Highway 20 off Frederick Butte Road, about 11 miles southeast of Brothers.
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Jefferson County landowners can apply for $500 defensible space grants
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, in a collaborative effort with the Jefferson County Fire Chiefs, is offering private landowners the opportunity to apply for funding in an effort to minimize fire danger as outlined in the Jefferson County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Eligible residents will be offered a flat-rate reimbursement of
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BLM crews wrap up 510-acre pile-burning operation SE of Alfalfa
BLM crews wrapped up ignitions Wednesday on 510 acres of pile burns about eight miles southeast of Alfalfa, but say they may keep burning for a few days and will be monitored until out.
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Forest Service crews complete pile-burning operations beside Highway 97 south of Bend
Firefighters on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District conducted their last pile-burning operations Friday adjacent to Highway 97 between Lava Butte north to the High Desert Museum on the west side of the highway.
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Wyden, colleagues introduce bill to boost wildfire preparedness, reduce risk
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced on Tuesday the Wildfire Emergency Act, a bipartisan bill to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the West.
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Grants support 2020 wildfire recovery in Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon continues to recover from the devastating wildfires of 2020, and grants are helping residents in the region.
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Revised version of controversial Oregon wildfire risk map delayed, as lawmakers consider changes
The Oregon Legislature will consider a number of recommendations for changes related to the controversial, statewide wildfire risk map during this year’s session, some of which would substantively change the map itself. So the release of a revised version has been delayed, officials said Tuesday.
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Deschutes National Forest to receive over $40 million in next 5 years to expand wildfire risk reduction work
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Friday that the US Department of Agriculture is providing over $40 million in new funding in Fiscal Year 2023 for key high-risk landscapes in Oregon — including $4.5 million for the Mount Hood National Forest, $35.4 million for the Klamath River Basin, and additional
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Pile burning planned next week along Geneva Road on Crooked River National Grassland
If conditions remain favorable early next week, firefighters will begin pile burning on the Crooked River National Grassland in the area of the Grandview Fire Roadside Danger Tree Removal project.
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