Wildfires

More than a dozen wildfires are burning in the National Forestlands of Central Washington after a dry lightning storm moved over the region on Sunday night.

It is hot and windy to start the week across much of the Northwest. The National Weather Service has an Extreme Heat Warning in place for western Oregon through Tuesday.

Oregon has improved its ability to fight wildfires by acquiring two air attack teams.

August and September are often some of the most active months for wildfires here in the Pacific Northwest.

They said the legislation would provide dedicated federal support to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in Oregon and across the West, while also empowering communities to prepare for wildfires.

A huge explosion at a California fireworks warehouse caused a wildfire, too.

Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters were sent out of state Friday, to help other regions battling wildfires.  ODF's Jessica Neujahr said the state has various two-way agreements.   "Both of these types of agreements are great because they basically create a reciprocal cache of resources and create a larger, more comprehensive fire management system."   ODF ...

Right now, my yard looks like the Garden of Eden—if Eden had dandelions and a cranky sprinkler system. But while I’m soaking in the lushness, I can’t help but remember those summers when smoke turned our skies into something out of a sci-fi movie and the air smelled like burnt toast. It’s all beautiful... until it isn’t."

What might weather look like where you are at at this month and the summer months? USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey offers an outlook, including:   “We are watching the western and central U.S. for the possibility of drought expansion or intensification. We do exp...

The Oregon Legislature is looking at how homeowners can maintain their insurance in high fire risk areas.  Kenton Brine, with the Northwest Insurance Council, said disaster losses have skyrocketed for insurance companies.   "Losses related to natural disasters, just natural disasters, were $168 billion in 2023 and $182 billion in 2024."   In C...