By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed off on giving federal wildland firefighters a hefty raise for the next two fiscal years, a move that affects more than 16,000 firefighters and comes as much of the West braces for a difficult wildfire season. Pay raises for the federal firefighters
Continue ReadingBy Michelle Watson and Susannah Cullinane, CNN A wildfire in southern New Jersey grew to at least 12,000 acres in size on Monday and is 70% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Firefighters are battling the blaze at Wharton State Forest that is “fueled by dry and breezy conditions,” the service said
Continue ReadingKGUN, KITT PEAK OBSERVATORY, CNN By Michelle Watson and Susannah Cullinane, CNN The Contreras Fire burning in southern Arizona has grown to 20,360 acres, prompting possible evacuations for nearby residents, officials said. While an evacuation hasn’t been mandated, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release early Monday that residents of the Hay
Continue ReadingTUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Four non-scientific buildings at the Kitt Peak National Observatory southwest of Tucson have been lost in a wildfire, but early indications show other buildings on the property don’t appear to be damaged. Buell T. Jannuzi, who leads the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona, said the fire didn’t appear
Continue Reading
By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. is adding $103 million this year for wildfire risk reduction and burned-area rehabilitation throughout the country as well as establishing an interagency wildland firefighter health and well-being program, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Friday. Haaland made the announcement following a briefing on this year’s
Continue Reading
Oregon is experiencing increasingly extreme fire seasons, with devastating impacts. Keeping fires small is critical to protecting Oregonians, their communities and the state’s natural resources from wildfire and mitigating those impacts. The sooner a new fire is spotted, the faster resources can be sent out to fight it.
Continue ReadingBy Joe Sutton, CNN As Arizona’s Pipeline Fire has scorched nearly 23,000 acres, officials are discussing the possibility of closing the Coconino National Forest to the public, citing concerns over the fire threat, current weather patterns and prolonged drought conditions, an incident management spokesperson says. The Pipeline Fire, which reportedly began burning about six miles
Continue ReadingBy Joe Sutton and Susannah Cullinane, CNN Mandatory evacuations are in place after a wildfire expanded steadily in Southern California’s Angeles National Forest on Sunday. The Sheep Fire grew from 35 acres Sunday morning to 775 acres that afternoon, according to InciWeb. As of Monday, the fire has scorched 990 acres with around 27% containment,
Continue Reading
The Prineville-Sisters Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will enter fire season at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 13, officials said Thursday.
Continue Reading
The State Fire Marshal’s Office has resources available to help keep fire away the summer.
Continue Reading PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two wildfires reported Wednesday within the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Prineville-Sisters Unit were related to uncontrolled debris burns, officials said. Burning of debris and other vegetation on lands protected by ODF require a permit and debris burning in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties closed on May 31st for lands within many
Continue Reading
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As weather transitions to summer, Pacific Power is encouraging customers to prepare for wildfire season. Fire-weather conditions, such as severe drought combined with summer windstorms or active wildfires, could lead to safety-related power outages. “We’re building our system to be more resilient long term – for all seasons and weather conditions –
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — To close out Wildfire Awareness Month, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management is offering simple actions and resources Oregonians can take to stay safe during wildfire season. This includes evacuation best practices and encouraging everyone to know Oregon’s three-level evacuation system: BE READY. BE SET. GO NOW! “With impacts ranging from the
Continue ReadingBy Ella Nilsen, CNN Officials in Las Vegas, New Mexico, had barely finished battling the massive Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak wildfire earlier this month before they had to point their defenses toward another threat: the ash-filled erosion that could pollute their water. The fire-scarred land along the banks of the Gallinas River is on the forefront
Continue ReadingBy MORGAN LEE and CEDAR ATTANACIO Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in New Mexico history have both been traced to planned burns set by U.S. forest managers as preventative measures, federal investigators announced Friday. The findings shift responsibility more squarely toward the U.S. Forest
Continue Reading
(Update: Redmond also closing open debris burning) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Fire Department, in conjunction with the Central Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, announced the date for closing of open debris burning. Starting Wednesday, June 1, debris burning will be closed for fire season. Outdoor debris burning in the city limits of Bend is closed
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — While Central Oregon experienced a cool spring with significant moisture, fire officials would like to remind recreationists to practice responsible fire use and prevention methods this Memorial Day weekend and moving into the summer recreation season. Despite the late-season precipitation, Central Oregon continues to see the effects of persistent drought. As
Continue Reading
As the High Desert moves into wildfire season, local, state and federal fire agencies have raised Central Oregon’s fire risk level to “moderate.”
Continue Reading
Annual campfire restrictions will go into effect on Wednesday, June 1 on portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day and White rivers, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.
Continue ReadingFire restrictions, including a ban on fireworks use, will go into effect on Friday for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington, the agency announced Monday.
Continue Reading