Fire Archives

Forest Service warns of more human-caused fires due to bigger crowds in the woods

July 9, 2020 1:44 pm Rhea Panela

The Deschutes National Forest says the warmer weather plus drought conditions, paired with human error and more activity in the woods, could be a…

Finley Fire SE of La Pine quickly burns 45 acres before crews encircle it

July 8, 2020 3:49 pm KTVZ News Team

A wildfire that broke out Wednesday afternoon southeast of La Pine quickly grew to 45 acres before firefighters from numerous agencies in a ground…

Lightning sparks new blazes; largest burns nearly 80 acres in Wheeler County

July 7, 2020 9:48 pm KTVZ news sources

A storm that passed through Central Oregon Monday night blanketed the area with about 100 lightning strikes, sparking at least five new wildfires,…

Paulina Lake Fire reaches 30% containment

July 5, 2020 2:24 pm Barney Lerten

A new wildfire broke out and quickly put up a billowing smoke column Sunday afternoon near Paulina Lake Road in the La Pine area, burning nearly 50…

Deschutes County imposes public use restrictions to curb wildfire danger

July 6, 2020 1:57 pm KTVZ news sources

Deschutes County commissioners voted Monday to impose public use restrictions on unprotected lands within the county and on all county-owned land, to…

US Forest Services urges self-policing of campgrounds to help catch, prevent wildfires

July 6, 2020 12:56 pm Arielle Brumfield

Just a few weeks into summer, Central Oregon has already seen a more aggressive fire season than in some past years. The U.S. Forest Service is…

SW Bend residents help douse small brush fire

July 5, 2020 9:52 pm KTVZ news sources

Southwest Bend residents used, water, extinguishers and rakes to tackle a small brushfire off Brookswood Boulevard Sunday morning before police and…

Prineville Fourth of July fire damages home, outbuilding

July 5, 2020 9:24 pm KTVZ news sources

A fire burned intensely near Meadow Lakes Golf Course Saturday night, damaging a home, outbuilding and power pole, at a time when the city’s Fourth…

Cigarette butts spark 2-acre wildfire east of Bend, investigators say

July 5, 2020 9:05 pm KTVZ news sources

A wind-fanned brush fire off Highway 20 east of Bend late Sunday afternoon, stopped at about two acres by firefighters from several agencies, was…

C.O. fires on the Fourth stopped small; one burns 94 acres in N. Central Oregon

July 4, 2020 4:13 pm Barney Lerten

Central Oregon firefighters spent much of the holiday checking on and putting out abandoned campfires or other small blazes, while one to the north…

BLM expands target shooting restrictions to curb fire danger

July 2, 2020 11:26 am KTVZ news sources

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials have updated the 2020 prohibitions regarding the use of fire-causing materials on…

New wildfire breaks out near Bessie Butte, south of Bend

July 1, 2020 5:43 pm Barney Lerten

A new wildfire broke out late Wednesday afternoon near Bessie Butte, south of Bend, and drew a quick attack in blustery winds, Central Oregon fire…

ODF’s Central Oregon District enters regulated-use closure on Wednesday

June 30, 2020 3:56 pm KTVZ news sources

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will enter Regulated-Use Closure beginning at 12:01 a.m.…

Fire near Columbia Gorge burns 15 acres, prompts Level 1 evacuation notice

June 29, 2020 12:23 am Barney Lerten

A wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon near the Columbia River Gorge town of Rowena prompted a Level 1 pre-evacuation notice and closed a highway…

Hwy. 97 driver swerves to avoid deer, crashes, sparks brush fire, power outage

June 28, 2020 12:40 pm Barney Lerten

A driver who swerved to avoid a deer crossing U.S. Highway 97 in southern Bend crashed and sparked a brushfire Sunday morning that closed the highway…