Jefferson County Archives

Prison inmates from across Oregon brought to Deer Ridge to help ‘defend in place’ efforts from nearby Cram Fire

July 18, 2025 3:16 pm Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — About 70 state prison inmates were brought in from around Oregon to perform field work to help “defend in place” Deer Ridge…

‘4,000 to 5,000 calories every day’: How crews stay fueled on the front lines of the Cram Fire

July 17, 2025 10:24 pm Jillian Fortner

ASHWOOD, Ore. (KTVZ) – Battling wildfire takes strength, stamina, and a lot of calories. Wildland firefighters need between 4,000 to 5,000 calories…

DEQ issues air quality advisory for Jefferson, Klamath counties due to wildfire smoke; rest of local area also affected

July 16, 2025 12:33 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Wednesday for Klamath and Jefferson…

Isabella Warren reports live on KTVZ+ from Cram Fire’s fire camp

July 16, 2025 3:16 pm KTVZ

ASHWOOD, Ore. (KTVZ) — Isabella Warren gave us the latest updates on the fast-growing Cram Fire during a KTVZ+ livestream Wednesday afternoon from…

Isabella Warren gives us a LIVE update on KTVZ+ from the lines of the fast-growing Cram Fire

July 15, 2025 2:42 pm Barney Lerten

ASHWOOD, Ore. (KTVZ) — The firefight intensified Tuesday as the fast-growing Cram Fire prompted Highway 97’s closure and expanded evacuation alerts…

Scooper frefighting plane draws water from Lake Billy Chinook

Vital role: Scooper planes, helicopters draw water from Lake Billy Chinook to help fight the Cram Fire

July 14, 2025 4:48 pm Barney Lerten

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — Large retardant planes get much of the focus of wildfire-fighting attention, but the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office pointed…

Recreational use advisory lifted for Lake Billy Chinook as toxin level drops; dog owners urged to keep them away

July 1, 2025 2:17 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Oregon Health Authority announced Tuesday it has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Lake Billy…

Air and ground crews have 624-acre Grizzly Flat Fire SE of Madras 65% contained, evacuations lifted

July 2, 2025 1:13 pm Barney Lerten

Numerous firefighters on the ground and in the air stopped the spread of a new grass fire that burned about 500 acres southeast of Madras near the…

Jefferson County Fire & EMS station expansion and remodel

Jefferson County Fire & EMS thanks lawmakers for $1.9 million to complete station expansion, remodel

July 2, 2025 5:52 pm Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County Fire & EMS has been awarded $1.9 million from the Oregon Legislature to assist with the ongoing expansion…

Guatemalan national, Culver man living illegally in U.S. arrested on federal charges of enticing, abusing minor

July 2, 2025 4:16 pm Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video) EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A suspected child abuser living illegally in Culver has been arrested on federal charges, accused of…

Five years later, a fuels reduction project in Crooked River Ranch passed the test posed by the Alder Springs Fire

June 19, 2025 6:38 pm Barney Lerten

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — One of the key reasons firefighters were able to stop the spread of the fast-moving Alder Springs Fire this week…

Crooked River Ranch residents feel anxious optimism as Alder Springs Fire is tamed, evacuation levels drop

June 19, 2025 10:16 am KTVZ

According to Central Oregon Fire Management, crews made substantial progress Wednesday on the more than 3,200-acre Alder Springs Fire near Crooked…

Drones have become an increasingly useful tool to help fight blazes like the Alder Springs Fire

June 19, 2025 5:04 pm Barney Lerten

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters have a relatively new and increasingly useful tool – drones – to use in various ways to help fight…

‘I’m tired, I want my house back’: Residents recall Alder Springs Fire evacuations

June 18, 2025 11:50 pm Tracee Tuesday

TERREBONNE, Ore. [KTVZ] — Wildfires continue to challenge communities in central Oregon as the Alder Springs Fire approached Crooked River Ranch on…

Oregon Health Authority issues recreational use advisory for Lake Billy Chinook due to high levels of cyanotoxins

June 18, 2025 3:20 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use health advisory Wednesday for Lake Billy Chinook in Jefferson County…

Officials report ‘good progress’ on human-caused, 3,441-acre Alder Springs Fire; community meeting planned

June 17, 2025 11:11 am KTVZ, Barney Lerten

Officials said Tuesday was a day of good progress on the lines of the day-old Alder Springs Fire, newly mapped at over 3,400…

Alder Creek Fire via Central OR Fire Info on X

No homes lost overnight in Alder Springs Fire, more than 2,500 acres burned; evacuation orders in place for parts of Jefferson and Deschutes counties

June 16, 2025 11:54 am Barney Lerten

Helicopters, tankers, smokejumpers and rappellers joined forces with ground crews to tackle a fire that broke out Monday morning and grew fast to…

Two small brushfires tackled in SE Madras, where Level 1 pre-evacuation alert is now lifted, and Crooked River Ranch

May 29, 2025 12:33 pm Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two small brushfires broke out at midday Thursday in Madras and Crooked River Ranch and were quickly being tackled by fire…

Madras Pioneer awards Yashira Chavero 2025’s ‘Amazing Kid’ honor for Jefferson County

May 27, 2025 5:26 pm Harley Coldiron

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Madras High Senior known for her leadership and tenacity, has won the 2025 Amazing Kid for Jefferson County. Her photo and…

75% of staff will be laid off after Madras Aquatic Center permanent levy fails to pass – again

May 21, 2025 10:52 am KTVZ

Just over 50 percent of Jefferson County voters who took part in Tuesday’s Special Election voted for the Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District…