Central Oregon lightning strikes tracked on maps, and with cameras
An Oregon Department of Forestry staff member uses a live map to track lightning strikes around the region, and a network of cameras to watch for new…
Continue ReadingFire Alert
Longtime Forest Service employee killed in California blaze
KLAMATH RIVER, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters battling the McKinney Fire in Northern California on Monday remembered long-time U.S. Forest Service…
Continue ReadingCedar Creek Fire near Waldo Lake nearly doubles in size, tops 3,200 acres; more heat, storms due
The Cedar Creek Fire that has closed the Waldo Creek Wilderness Area surged and nearly doubled in size on Sunday, topping 3,200 acres as the National…
Continue Reading
Cedar Creek Fire near Waldo Lake tops 1,800 acres, still zero containment; more progress on other blazes
While firefighters continued making progress Sunday on several mostly lightning-sparked wildfires around the region, officials on the still-growing…
Continue Reading
‘No new starts’: Welcome words while crews work to contain the region’s largest wildfires
A break in the extreme heat (which is set to return) and in the recent thunderstorms have allowed thousands of Northwest firefighters to build lines…
Continue ReadingTribe: California wildfire near Oregon causes fish deaths
By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press A wildfire burning in a remote area just south of the Oregon border appears to have caused the deaths of tens of…
Continue ReadingScientists expand study on air quality impact on health
By SHERAZ SADIQ Oregon Public Broadcasting Scientists at the Oregon Institute of Technology were recently awarded a $1 million grant from the federal…
Continue Reading
Wildfires update: Quieter times on Central Oregon fire lines; closure order on 149-acre Potter Fire
While larger wildfires were battled elsewhere in Oregon, fire activity was relatively quiet Thursday around Central Oregon, allowing firefighters to…
Continue Reading
Oregon’s wildfire risk map emerges as new climate flashpoint
By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A new map in Oregon that rated the wildfire risk of every tax lot in the state —…
Continue Reading
Firefighters keep wildfire out of evacuated Washington town
LIND, Wash. (AP) — A small town in Washington state that was evacuated due to a fast-moving fire was largely spared Friday, while in California…
Continue Reading
Fire restrictions go into effect Friday on Willamette National Forest
Fire restrictions will go into effect on the Willamette National Forest beginning Friday. Except in designated campgrounds, all campfires, charcoal…
Continue Reading
Big, new firefighting bucket being tested in Bend
New wildfire-fighting equipment is being tested in Bend. Kawak Aviation is developing a new high-tech helicopter bucket. Their Cascade bucket will be…
Continue Reading
Owners of 33,000-acre Bull Springs/Skyline Forest west of Bend to close access due to high fire danger
The private owners of the 33,000-acre Bull Springs/Skyline Forest west of Bend – a tree farm bigger than the city itself — said Thursday they will…
Continue Reading
Wildfires update: Cedar Creek Fire reaches 1,200 acres; Fly Creek Fire evacuation levels lifted
The Cedar Creek Fire near Waldo Lake that sent smoke streaming into Central Oregon on Wednesday has more than doubled in size, to about 1,200 acres,…
Continue Reading
Under fire: State forester withdraws controversial wildfire risk map for revisions to improve accuracy
Oregon State Forester and Oregon Department of Forestry Director Cal Mukumoto announced Thursday that a controversial wildfire risk map released to…
Continue ReadingWashington town told to leave due to wildfire, homes lost
LIND, Wash. (AP) — An entire eastern Washington town was evacuated Thursday because of a growing wildfire south of town that was burning homes,…
Continue Reading
New fire on Green Butte SE of La Pine grows to 30 acres as 2 nearby fires push smoke into Bend area
As firefighting crews across Oregon work to stop wildfires large and small, many ignited by recent lightning, a new fire on Green Butte southeast of…
Continue Reading
As wildfires burn around state, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture lifts animal import requirements for evacuees
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to the ongoing threat of wildfires in Oregon and neighboring states, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is providing an…
Continue Reading
Wind-whipped fire leaves Northern California hamlet in ashes
By HAVEN DALEY and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press KLAMATH RIVER, Calif. (AP) — A week ago, the scenic Northern California hamlet of Klamath…
Continue Reading
New wildfire on Willamette National Forest grows fast to 500 acres, sends smoke into C. Oregon
A fast-growing new wildfire in rugged, hard-to-access terrain on the Willamette National Forest 18 miles east of Oakridge was growing fast — 500…
Continue Reading