The Oregon Department of Forestry dispatched a crew of 26 Oregon firefighters and two agency representatives to North Carolina to aid the state’s battle against several wildfires.
wildfire
Banks Fire District firefighters in California are returning
Most of Oregon’s fire crews sent earlier this month to California, including four Banks firefighters, are returning after two weeks. Banks sent Officer Victor Haney, Lt. Julie Kemper and firefighters Jaxon Herrman and Samantha Linz along with Engine 15 to California.
Oregon Department of Forestry sends crews to California fires, OSFM adds three strike teams
The Oregon Department of Forestry is sending six strike teams of firefighters and equipment to California, on the heels of 12, then 15, strike teams dispatched by the Oregon State Fire Marshal Wednesday morning.
Banks firefighters head to California to aid Los Angeles firefighters
Wildfires burning near Los Angeles, Calif. have burned hundreds of homes, killed at least two people, and prompted thousands of evacuations. Now, Oregon is sending twelve strike teams to help, including a four-person crew from the Banks Fire District.
Oregon Legislature approves $218 million in additional wildfire funding in emergency session
The state spent more than $350 million responding to more than 2,000 wildfires in 2024, far exceeding projected costs and leaving some contractors unpaid.
Emergency legislative session called over wildfire costs
The Oregon Legislature will meet for an emergency session in December to approve emergency spending to cover the cost of 2024’s wildfire season.
Gov. Kotek asks for second federal disaster declaration this year
Gov. Tina Kotek has appealed to the Biden administration to declare a disaster in Oregon to provide funding for ranchers, businesses and community members who suffered a historic fire season this year.
State struggles to recover more than $24 million from people responsible for wildfires
A partial list from the Oregon Department of Forestry shows it has collected $86,000 of $24 million it paid to fight several dozen wildfires that were maliciously or negligently ignited over the last two decades.
Brush fire burning near Shearer Hill Road near Hillside community
A brush fire burning near Shearer Hill Road near the Hillside community has sent a column of smoke into the sky visible as far away as Buxton
(Updates to this story will be published only to our sister site, the Gales Creek Journal).
Highway 26 shut down near Banks due to wildfire
The Oregon Department of Transportation said a wildfire had resulted in the closure of Highway 26 at the Highway 6 junction north of Banks. It’s believed two fires were sparked in the area from downed power lines and a farm vehicle mishap.
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