wildfire

Unfortunately, 2024 was one for the record books in Oregon, for all of the wrong reasons.  The wildfire season was one of the worst, acreage wise, with nearly two million acres of the state burning last year.  And Matt McElligott, President of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association said the industry is still feeling the economic impact.   “People are tryi...

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...

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.   ...

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A controversial law involving Oregon’s Wildfire Risk Map would be repealed, under a bill in the Legislature.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 ...

Do you support the shutoff of power to save power equipment?

The Trump Administration says it's reviewing federal spending, in an effort to cut waste, and that has some Oregon lawmakers concerned about what MIGHT be deemed wasteful.  With the ongoing threat of cuts to federal programs and funding, Oregon stands to lose millions in anticipated payments.  U....

If you take a look back at the top 10 weather stories for 2024, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippy said the wildfire season that blackened so many acres across the Northwest and California would easily make that list.  And while we saw many acres burn here in the west, he pointed out that the southern plains saw a host of wildfires in 2024 as well.  When lo...

New research conducted in Eastern Oregon shows strategically grazing cattle could reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.  Oregon State University Extension’s Sergio Arispe has spent a lot of time studying invasive weeds in Malheur County.   “Invas...