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.
wildfire
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.
Local, state fire officials urge caution as temperatures spike into triple digits
With temperatures expected to soar into the triple digits Thursday and a Red Flag Warning starting 9 a.m., local fire officials are urging the public to use caution and avoid anything that could spark a fire.
Vegetation fire north of Mountaindale extinguished
Fire crews with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Banks Fire District 13, and Hillsboro Fire & Rescue extinguished a vegetation fire burning in a cut wheat field Tuesday afternoon north of Mountaindale, TVF&R said in a social media post.
Banks Fire halts small brush fire north of Banks
The Banks Fire District stopped a small brush fire north of Banks Thursday evening. Hundreds in the Banks area are without power.
Fire danger to rise to ‘High’ Thursday
Fire danger, which dropped to moderate on August 19, will rise back to high on Thursday, August 29, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
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