wildfire

Fire officials urge everyone across the Northwest to prepare properties now for the wildfire season ahead.  Oregon’s Office of State Fire Marshal has for years encouraged everyone to create defensible space, but Assistant Chief Deputy Chad Hawkins said seemingly minor mistakes could make a big difference this fire season.  He said peopl...

Pacific Power is ready for wildfire season.  Simon Gutierrez said they've installed equipment that can be set to quickly de-energize a line if a limb or tree falls on it.  They can also turn off the power if a fire is approaching.   "We'l...

More than 70% of Oregon’s wildfires are caused by people.  Kristin Babbs, with Keep Oregon Green, said it causes a lot of damage.   "Overall, the acres burned last year were off the charts," she noted.  "It was about 92,000 acres were attributed to human caused wildfires."   The two leading...

When it comes to possible U.S. wildfire activity now through August:   “We're probably going to get a little bit more active than we normally are across the country," said National Interagency Fire Center meteorologist Jim Wallman.  He added the ...

Last week, the Oregon House passed a bill that attempts to help homeowners in high-risk fire areas keep their insurance.  Some property owners report losing coverage.  Medford-area state Senator Jeff Golden said the bill directs the state to help communities take action to reduce wildfire risk.   "All prope...

A rural Oregon fire district has a Hollywood celebrity to thank for new safety equipment.  Southwest Polk Fire, in Dallas, just received a sizable grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation, allowing the fire district west of Salem to buy ten full sets of turnouts for firefighters.   ...

The Washington Department of Natural Resources will turn over 15 surplus wildfire engines to fire districts in wildfire-prone rural communities across the state this spring.  The agency says this is part of their annual effort to help strengthen fire response at the local level.   “...

Oregon lawmakers are trying to find a regular source of funding to pay for fighting wildfires.  Fighting wildfires across the state costs around $300 million annually.  The Legislature is trying to find a regular source to pay that bill, instead of relying only on the general fund.  State Senator Fre...

A controversial law involving Oregon’s Wildfire Risk Map would be repealed, under a bill in the Legislature.  The map would have required property owners to take steps to reduce wildfire risk on their property.  Derrick Wheeler, with the Department of Forestry, said the new bill would remove those requirements.   "It removes the ...

Republicans in Oregon’s Legislature are calling for the Wildfire Hazard Map, which shows properties in the state at high risk of wildfire, to be repealed.  House Minority Leader Christine Drazan said rural residents feel targeted.   "Orego...