Wildfires

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is scheduled to visit Oregon this weekend.  Senator Jeff Merkley said he’s asked the Secretary for some time to come to the state and talk about important investments in tourism.   “To discuss public recreation on public lands, which, we have these extraordinary lands that are in our collective ownership.  And we want to make sure...

Wildfires took center stage during a Senate Budget Committee hearing in Washington D.C. Wednesday.  Oregon’s senior Senator stressed that more must be done on the federal level to prevent wildfires and improve the workforce tasked with battle these blazes when they start.   “These...

Four western senators introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the region.  The Wildfire Emergency Act, introduced by Oregon’s Ron Wyden, California senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla as well as Montana’s Steve Daines would allow the Forest Service to leverage private financing to accelerate forest restoration projects and create a program

Unfortunately, it’s a familiar theme at many fairgrounds across the state of Washington; rundown facilities that have seen better days.  But the state Department of Agriculture is trying to help address some of those needs.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the State Legislature recognize the importance of Washington’s fairgrounds, especially to the rural, more remote locations a

With the wet and cooler weather, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is planning a prescribed burn for 240 acres of state land located about seven miles north of Deer Park.  DNR hopes to start that burn Monday.   The prescribed fires will help control the amount of fuel available for wildfires, improve the health of older trees and support new and current wildlife habitats.  A rec

Restrictions were extended into Oct. 15, due to ongoing dry conditions and lack of rain.

On Monday afternoon, higher winds are forecasted to blow some of this smoke out of the region.

The Northwest Coordination Center reports more than 2,000 lightning strikes hit the state overnight Tuesday morning, but they were mostly accompanied by rain showers.

Areas in Wenatchee have seen the most improvement in smoke levels.

Last week a group of western lawmakers asked the Department of Agriculture and Interior Department for additional wildfire fighting resources.  Oregon’s Peter DeFazio joined 24 other lawmakers, primarily from California, asking the federal government to assist in continuing to fight fires aggressively, communicate clearly and take administrative steps now to prepare additional personnel for when t