By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — Experts are warning that the unprecedented heat wave that has roasted the West during the past two weeks has also set the stage for a potentially perilous wildfire season. The relentless heat, which has shattered monthly high temperature records, has caused the mountain snowpack to virtually vanish from California’s
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(Update: adding press release and photos from Sisters Fire) SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A fifth-wheel RV was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon at the Sisters RV Park, with flames spreading to nearby trees and grass. Emergency crews were dispatched to the park at 1100 E. Highway 20 at approximately 3:03 p.m. on March 25, 2026.
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to what it calls “unfavorable conditions, the Deschutes National Forest canceled Thursday’s planned prescribed burning operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters ranger districts”Firefighters cancelled prescribed burning today upon receiving updated weather forecasts showing low relative humidity and elevated winds,” Forest Service Public Affairs Specialist Jaimie Olle told KTVZ News.
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UPDATE: As a result of the Riverview fire which burnt 12 acres, the La Pine Rural Fire District has decided to close debris burning. The fire district also cited ‘unseasonably warm’ weather as a factor in the increased wildfire risk. UPDATE: Fire crews contained a 12-acre wildfire in La Pine on Tuesday afternoon after the
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The owner of a property east of Bend had a valid burn permit, but Monday’s work burning ditches got away from them, sparking a fire that covered almost seven acres before it was stopped. Bend Fire & Rescue crews were called around 3:40 p.m. to the escaped burn off the Powell
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 2-day-old burn pile that was believed to be out rekindled in Wednesday’s strong winds northeast of Sisters, burning nearly two acres before crews stopped its spread. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews were dispatched around 1:25 p.m. to a wildland fire reported to be spreading into brush and trees. It was
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — As of Friday, all Oregon Department of Forestry districts have terminated fire restrictions, marking the end of the 2025 Oregon fire season declaration. “Through aggressive initial attack and the dedication of our firefighters, we had a season with significantly fewer acres burned compared to last year, even with more fire starts,”
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Fire season ends Friday on more than 2.3 million acres protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the agency announced Thursday. Here’s the full news release: Prineville, Ore. – Effective 12:01 a.m. on October 17, 2025, the Central Oregon District (COD) of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will officially end
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(Update: Ignitions complete, smoke to remain visible) PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire managers with the Ochoco National Forest said more than 400 acres of prescribed burning took place Wednesday on the Paulina Ranger District. The HEJ 9 unit encompassed about 418 acres on the northwest side of Big Summit Prairie, east of Forest Service Road
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County provided new details Friday about how it will use a newly awarded $3.4 million USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant for its La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project over the next five years. “The project is a collaborative effort to reduce fire fuels, educate the public, increase wildfire preparedness,
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McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) — More than 360 firefighters continue to battle the lightning-sparked Foley Ridge Fire on the Willamette National Forest east of McKenzie Bridge, bringing the blaze to 40% containment. Evacuation notices have been reduced to Level 1 (Be Ready), but Oregon Highway 242 remains closed. Here’s Tuesday morning’s update on the Foley
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, no active large fires are burning on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected land, but three are burning statewide, according to the agency. So far this year, 2,867 fires have burned statewide, 1,060 fires of them on ODF-protected land.. In total, more than 322,000 acres have burned this year across the state. That’s
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McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The nearly 2-week-old, lightning-sparked Foley Ridge Fire on the Willamette National Forest has grown to nearly 500 acres and is still at zero containment, officials said Friday, but some weather improvements have eased fire activity. Here’s the full Friday morning update on the fire: Start Date: 09/06/2025 Percent Containment: 0%
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(Update: Adding video) McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Foley Ridge Fire on the Willamette National Forest has grown to 468 acres, bringing the continued closure of state Highway 242 and an expanded forest closure area that includes several trailheads and campgrounds. Here is the Thursday morning update from Foley Ridge Fire officials: Start Date:
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McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) — More than 350 firefighters continued Tuesday to battle the 437-acre Foley Ridge Fire on the Willamette National Forest east of McKenzie Bridge. A 21-mile stretch of Highway 242 remained closed and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 2 (BE SET) evacuation alerts in the area. Here is Tuesday’s
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McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Foley Ridge Fire that broke out 10 days ago on the Willamette National Forest east of McKenzie Bridge has burned nearly 450 acres and prompted the closure Tuesday of a 21-mile stretch of state Highway 242, at fire officials’ request. The Oregon Department of Transportation said the highway was
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OREGON (KTVZ) — Right now, one active large fire is burning on ODF-protected land, and seven others are burning statewide, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. So far this year, 1,026 fires have burned on ODF-protected land and another 3,466 statewide. In total this fire season, over 320,000 acres have burned. That’s compared to nearly 2-million acres
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OREGON (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry shared an update on the state’s active wildland fires. Right now, two active large fires are burning on ODF-protected land and eight others are burning statewide. So far this year, 945 fires have burned on ODF-protected land and another 2,464 statewide. The department is reminding Oregonians that despite precipitation
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire risk remains high in Central Oregon despite recent rainfall. According to Central Oregon Fire Info, recent weather systems across the area brought abundant lightning, strong winds, and some much-needed rain. But fuels such as grass, brush, and timber remain extremely dry, keeping wildfire risk high. So far this month, wildland
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(September 7th Update: several new fires started around the fire area) PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Marks Creek Fire is 18% contained and has burned 1,718 acres. Thunderstorms were active over the fire area Saturday evening. While the precipitation has provided some relief, it also triggered several new starts around the fire area, requiring immediate response and diverting
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