heatherroberts

Firefighters continue to battle more than a dozen large fires across Oregon, as this extended fire season continues.  And it should come as no surprise, much of that fire activity is primarily east of the Cascades.  Kaitlyn Webb, with the Deschutes National Forest, said vegetation is still very dry.   “We really...

Following this year's record fire season in Oregon, legislators are looking ahead to what's next.  Statewide, 1.9 million acres burned in 2024.  State Senator Lynn Findley recently praised a new effort by the State Fire Marshal to send task forces to protect buildings.   "One of th...

This has been a record setting year for wildfires in Oregon, and fire officials say it's the new norm.  Kyle Williams, director of forest protection for the Oregon Department of Forestry, said he thought this was going to be an average year for wildfires, until the heat wave.   ...

Like many other inputs, electricity and natural gas prices have increased over recent years, making it more expensive to run your farm operation.  Now, Oregon legislators are reviewing the way rates for investor-owned public utilities are set.  And whi...

Deer and elk hunters in Oregon have an incentive to get their animals tested for Chronic Wasting Disease.  They can have it for years without showing symptoms, which is why the state tests for it.  Now, Oregon is encouraging outdoor lovers to test their deer and elk for this fatal disease.  Michelle Dennehy,...

Oregon State University is extending a partnership with the USDA to study potential future uses of hemp.  OSU’s Global Hemp Innovation Center is getting $5.5 million over five-years from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, to build a scientific foundation for the future of hemp.    “We’ve gone...

Emerald Ash Borer was recently found in additional Oregon counties, and could devastate the state’s native ash trees.  Stefanie Knowlton, with Oregon State Parks, says campers can help slow the spread of the invasive species; by not transporting firewood.   “On it...

A PEMCO insurance poll found 82% of people in the Northwest are concerned about wildfire smoke, but only a quarter do anything about it in their homes.  PEMCO's Jennifer Hawton said it's human nature to procrastinate.   "There's still a hesitancy to take some action, although the actions have increased since the last time we did a study in 2022."   Buyi...

The state of Oregon recently launched a new “Be Two Weeks Ready” toolkit as part of Preparedness Month, to encourage people to be ready for any disaster.  Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s Kayla Thompson acknowledges it’s scary to consider needing to shelter in place, or evacuate.   “I want people to feel e...

Fire season continues in the Pacific Northwest.  But Carol Connolly, with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, says conditions are improving.   “We just took five large fires off the board over the last 24 hours. Four of those were ...