Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s North Cascade District enters fire season
The North Cascade District of the Oregon Department of Forestry entered fire season at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.
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Response Ready Oregon aims to improve how state fights wildfires, boosting coordination and collaboration
Communities across Oregon are still recovering from devastating wildfires in recent years. Alison Green, public affairs director of the Office of State Fire Marshal says fire knows no boundaries.
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28 years ago, Colorado’s Storm King Mtn. tragedy claimed 14 firefighters, including 9 Prineville Hotshots
It’s been 28 years since 14 firefighters, including nine Prineville Hotshots, were killed when fire swept over Colorado’s Storm King Mountain. Firefighters clean weeds and brush each anniversary at the Wildland Firefighters Monument in Prineville’s Ochoco Park.
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Wildfires pop up across Central Oregon after recent lightning strikes; crews keep them small
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Central Oregon firefighters responded to 22 small wildfire starts — most sparked by lightning — and thankfully were able to keep them small.
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C.O. firefighters stop new lightning-sparked blazes after thunderstorms move through region
Dozens of Central Oregon firefighters spent part of their holiday weekend responding to more than a dozen small fires since intense thunderstorms rolled through the region on Saturday, and officials said Sunday they will be watching for more “sleeper” or holdover fires in coming days and weeks.
Continue ReadingNew evacuations for communities near California forest fire
JACKSON, Calif. (AP) — Evacuation orders were expanded Tuesday for remote California communities near a wildfire that may have been sparked by fireworks or a barbecue on the Fourth of July in a mountainous region that’s a top tourism destination. The Electra Fire in Sierra Nevada Gold Country broke out Monday afternoon and tripled in
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US testing new fire retardant; critics push other methods
By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. officials are testing a new wildfire retardant after two decades of buying millions of gallons annually from one supplier, but watchdogs say the expensive strategy is overly fixated on aerial attacks at the expense of hiring more fire-line digging ground crews. The Forest Service used
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Don’t spark a fire this holiday: FEMA urges you to celebrate the holiday safely
BOTHELL, Wash. – This fire season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging caution with any Fourth of July celebrations that include fireworks, campfires, or grilling and is encouraging residents to be mindful of rising temperatures heading into the summer season. While fireworks and outdoor gatherings go hand-in-hand with the holiday and summer months, they
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New Oregon mapping tool lets you look up the level of wildfire risk where you live, down to the street address
The Oregon Fire Chiefs Association on Thursday welcomed the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State University College of Forestry’s rollout of the Oregon Explorer Wildfire Risk Map.
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OSU receives $265,000 from National Science Foundation for research on ways to limit wildfires’ spread
Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Thursday that Oregon State University has earned $265,000 in federal funds to improve models used by fire managers to help them contain wildfires and employ prescribed burns as a tool to reduce the risk of wildfires in Oregon and nationwide.
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40,000-acre Willowcreek Fire near Vale holding at 75 percent containment
Containment lines are holding well, and Vale Bureau of Land Management fire officials expect to wrap up direct attack suppression work Friday, officials said.
Continue ReadingRecord-breaking wildfires in Alaska are being fueled by a hot and dry start to summer
By Payton Major and Judson Jones, CNN It’s been a concerning hot and dry start to summer in southern Alaska. Anchorage is experiencing its second-warmest June, according to climate scientist Brian Brettschneider. And with only 0.07 inches of rain this month in Anchorage, southern Alaska’s parched wilderness has become fuel for wildfires. The year is
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Deschutes County imposes public use restrictions on unprotected and county-owned land to curb wildfire threat
Deschutes County commissioners voted Wednesday to impose public use restrictions on unprotected lands within the county and on all county-owned land to help prevent human-caused wildfires.
Continue ReadingInterstate 84 closed in eastern Oregon due to wildfire smoke
ONTARIO, Ore. (AP) — Transportation officials said Tuesday evening that Interstate 84 is closed near the border of Oregon and Idaho because of wildfire smoke. The Oregon Department of Transportation said the interstate was closed westbound in Ontario and eastbound in Baker City because of smoke from a wildfire. Officials said fire crews were responding
Continue ReadingWA wildfire prompts evacuations for people in 50 homes
SOAP LAKE, Wash. (AP) — People in about 50 homes near a wildfire in central Washington were told by law enforcement to leave their homes immediately on Tuesday afternoon. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said at about 2:45 p.m. that people living on certain streets east of Soap Lake should leave their homes without delay
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Oregon’s new wildland-urban interface, statewide wildfire risk map to be available Thursday
The wildland-urban interface and statewide wildfire risk map will be available through the Oregon Explorer online tool on Thursday, as required by Senate Bill 762, passed in 2021. The map is a tool to help inform decision-making and planning related to mitigating wildfire risk for communities throughout Oregon.
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Independence Day is for freedom, fun – not forest fires; Forest Service has some reminders
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Independence Day should be a holiday marked by freedom and fun – not forest fires, the U.S. Forest Service reminded Monday. Forest Service officials in the Pacific Northwest are asking everyone to celebrate safely and make fire safety a part of your weekend’s festivities. Fireworks – Don’t use them near anything flammable, including
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Warm Springs welcomes disaster response team’s help to reduce fire risk near museum, casino, Hwy. 26
Team Rubicon crews at the Museum at Warm Springs were cutting down trees, trimming branches, clearing brush and doing overall fuel reduction and fire mitigation on Friday
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Oregon Dept. of Forestry says other areas of Central Oregon District will enter fire season next Monday
More restrictions take effect July 1 PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Dalles and John Day units of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will enter fire season at 12:01 a.m. next Monday. This declaration includes private and non-federal public lands in Hood River, Wasco, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam, Harney, and Morrow counties protected by
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Labor shortage compounds federal firefighters’ staffing woes
By SAM METZ Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Firefighter groups are applauding the Biden administration’s steps to raise pay but warn that the temporary wage hikes won’t be enough to combat staffing problems, as federal agencies compete with local fire departments and big box stores in a tight labor market. “It’s an effort
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