oregon department of forestry

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.   ...

Given Oregon’s multiple years of drought, trees on your property likely need human intervention to get through the summer.   “Deep soaking once a month for established trees helps get them over that increasingly long period of drought.”   Jim Ge...

Oregon Department of Forestry officials have lowered the fire danger in the northeast corner of the state from Extreme to High.  While weather conditions have moderated, fire managers say forest fuels remain critically dry and public use restrictions are still in place.  In Cent...

Oregon could be in for extended summer weather, if Department of Forestry predictions hold true.  ODF Meteorologist Pete Parsons said much of Oregon will see average temperatures next month.   “About a half a degree above normal to a degree and a half above normal for around the state is the forecast for September. Precipitation: We’r...

The Emerald Ash Borer appears to be gaining a foothold in Oregon.   “This is really a difficult, a really difficult invasive pest to control, even under the best of circumstances.”    Oregon Department of Forestry’s Lilah Gonen said in the past month, the beetle was found in Yamhill and Marion counties, with confirmation pending on a detection in Clackamas County.  Gonen believes the Yamhill Cou..

The Oregon Department of Forestry was scheduled to release the next draft of the controversial Wildfire Risk Map in March, but that has been put on hold, thanks to action by state lawmakers.  Under 2021’s Senate Bill 762, ODF was charged with the creation of the map, but the first draft that was released in August proved so unpopular statewide, the Department pumped the breaks for another six mont

A delay in the state’s wildfire risk map may have put a portion of Senate Bill 762 on hold.  But another part of that legislation that looks to mitigate wildfires is enjoying some success.   SB762 set aside $20 million in grants for nonprofits, local governments, conservation districts, private landowners and federal partners to make their landscapes more resistant to wildfire.  Grant Coordinator

A non-native bug is damaging “white oak” trees around Oregon.  State Department of Forestry’s Christine Buhl said the oak lace bug has been here since 2015, but this year, things are looking especially bad.   “It is an aesthetic pest that can make oaks look pretty bad, and so that’s a concern for the typical homeowner, even though it’s not killing the trees. But, the larger concern is always that

Much of the Northwest has seen some precipitation and cooler temperatures over that past week.  And become of that, the Oregon Department of Forestry announced that Fire Season officially comes to an end on Saturday.  ODF’s Jessica Prakke said despite predictions, the 2022 fire season turned out fairly tame.   "Our detection s...

Oregon’s Department of Forestry has revised its timeline for re-releasing its Wildfire Risk Map.  ODF’s Derek Gasperini said a new draft is now due March 1st, following more public engagement and outreach.   “It would be easy for us to just make a few adjustments to the map and issue it again. But, we want to be able to make...