Month: May 2026

Harley Coldiron

(Update: adding information from Fire Marshal Tom Mooney about the cause and property damage.)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A failed power transformer along Highway 97 was the cause of a vegetation fire that broke out Monday afternoon on SW 1st Street in Redmond, according to Fire Marshal Tom Mooney.

Multiple fire crews responded to the blaze, which has been contained to approximately one-quarter of an acre with no property damage.

According to the app Pulse Point, the fire’s forward progression had been stopped by 3:45 p.m. The small but intense flames threw up large plumes of smoke that were visible from Highway 97.

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Harley Coldiron

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon is going to be a tinderbox this wildfire season. With counties across the state already declaring drought emergencies, we are heading into what will be one of the driest seasons in more than a decade. As a result, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is asking you to get ready now: 

Pack your go-bags 

Know your evacuation routes – have a plan 

Sign up for emergency alerts 

Be prepared if cell service goes down 

Know the evacuation levels 

Make sure you have enough wildfire insurance – have a recovery plan 

Pack Your Go-bags 

A go-bag contains essential items you may need to take with you in a hurry. Each household member (human and animal) should have an easy-to-carry emergency bag:  

In an easy-to-pack tote: 

Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation) 

Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation) 

In individual backpacks: 

Large bottle of water 

Non-perishable snacks or meals ready to eat (MREs) 

7-day supply of medications (if possible) 

A basic first aid kit

Flashlight (hand-cranked or with extra batteries)  

Back-up power cell (for charging your phone and electronics) 

Extra charging cables 

Battery-powered or hand-crank radio(NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) 

Extra clothing and personal items 

Digital or printed copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.) 

Multi-purpose tool 

Sanitation and personal hygiene items 

Printed copy of family and emergency contact information 

If possible, extra cash 

Emergency blanket

Printed map(s) of the area (make sure everyone knows how to read them) 

Know Your Evacuation Routes – Have a Plan 

Create an evacuation plan and make sure everyone in the family knows what it is. Visit OEM’s Be2WeeksReady page to find tips on how to prepare for evacuation or shelter in place. OEM also offers a wildfire evacuation checklist at wildfire.oregon.gov/prepare. 

Your plan should include: 

A list of emergency contacts (printed and in every go-bag) 

A safe meeting place in case family members get separated 

Multiple evacuation routes from home, work, or school can help with this, but everyone should also know how to read a paper map and how to get to safety. 

Transportation arrangements, including pets and livestock. 

A discussion with loved ones, friends and neighbors to ensure everyone understands the plan. 

Individuals with disabilities should plan ahead for transportation, equipment and service animal needs. Visit the Red Cross for tailored resources. If you have special medical needs, make sheltering arrangements at a place that can accommodate your needs, because not all standard shelters can. 

For pet and livestock evacuation planning, visit Ready.gov/pets. Prepare a pet emergency kit with essentials like food, water, medications, identification and medical records. Livestock owners should arrange transportation and shelter options in advance—resources are available at the Oregon Department of Agriculture. 

Sign up for Emergency Alerts   

Visit ORAlert.gov to sign up to receive alerts based on your zip code. If you’re already registered, take a moment to log in and update your contact information. Also, check your phone settings to ensure wireless emergency alerts are enabled. 

Know where to find local emergency information, such as your county’s emergency management website and TripCheck.com. Follow local emergency services on social media, including the sheriff’s office, fire agencies and city or county pages. 

Be Prepared If Cell Service Goes Down  

Have a backup plan for how you will communicate if cell towers burn in your area. Developing a family PACE plan (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) is key to staying connected during a disaster. Many cell providers offer a Starlink add-on for a nominal fee, which allows your cell phone to access the internet and make web-based phone calls and texts, or send Facebook and WhatsApp messages, even if you can’t connect to a cell tower.   

An example of a PACE plan for individuals: 

Primary: Cell Phones 

Alternate: Starlink service on your cell phone. 

Contingency: Satellite communicators, separate from the satellite function on your phone (which prioritizes first-responder traffic) 

Emergency: Short-range communication radios for talking to family, and a hand-cranked NOAA weather radio to receive alerts. 

Know the Evacuation Levels in Oregon 

Oregon uses a three-level evacuation system to keep residents informed and safe. Be familiar with “Be Ready, Be Set, Go Now!” notifications: 

Level One – BE READY (Green): Stay aware of the wildfire threat and get prepared. Pack your go-kit, check emergency contacts, and ensure those in vulnerable situations (older adults, children, individuals with disabilities, and livestock owners) are ready to evacuate if needed. 

Level Two – BE SET (Yellow): Be prepared to leave at any moment. This indicates significant wildfire danger. Voluntary evacuation is encouraged—especially for those needing extra time to relocate safely. 

Level Three – GO NOW! (Red): Evacuate immediately! This means extreme danger is present, and it is unsafe to remain in place. Emergency responders may not be able to assist further. Leave immediately without gathering belongings and check TripCheck.com or call 511 for evacuation routes. 

After evacuating, do not return until officials declare it safe. You can find additional wildfire preparedness resources at wildfire.oregon.gov. 

Make Sure You’re Insured – Have a Recovery Plan 

Finally, whether you rent or own, now is the time to make sure you have wildfire insurance and enough coverage to replace your house. If the worst happens, you will need to rely on insurance, savings, loans and donations to replace what was lost. Have a plan for how you will recover. Your standard renter’s or homeowners’ policy doesn’t cover floods, landslides or wildfires. Talk to your agent to make sure you have the right kind and amount of insurance. 

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety – Wildfire Ready

Division of Financial Regulation – Wildfires Insurance Resources

Filing a homeowner’s claim after a fire(English) 

Filing a homeowner’s claim after a fire(Spanish) 

Division of Financial Regulation – Wildfires Messaging Toolkit

Additional Wildfire Preparedness Resources 

OEM’s Wildfire Alert Graphics

OEM’s Evacuation Level Graphics

How to Talk About Wildfires

Prevent Wildfires

Stay Safe While Driving During Smoky Conditions

Vehicles can cause wildfires, so make sure yours doesn’t 

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Claire Elmer

(update: adding comments from Bend Fire, Red Cross)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A string of residential fires across Central Oregon this month is serving as a reminder for residents to check for hazards inside and outside their homes — and to make sure their families know what to do if a fire breaks out.

In Bend, a historic mill house was left uninhabitable. Another fire in a garage caused more than half a million dollars in damage. Two northeast Bend homes were damaged or destroyed. And in Tumalo, a house was completely taken down by flames.

No two fires were exactly the same, but Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said the conditions surrounding them are worth paying attention to.

“We’re months ahead of schedule when it comes to how dry we are,” Derlacki said. “We’re seeing heavy winds. So looking at all those possibilities outside the house as much as inside your house and trying to prevent them.”

Derlacki said some fire risks can come from common household or home improvement items, including hot tools, dry mulch, and materials used for home improvement projects. And small warnings inside your home matter, especially when it comes to electrical.

“We’re getting in the season where everyone’s starting to fix up decks and fences and stuff like that,” Derlacki said. “Have a fire extinguisher over there, have the hose ready just in case. Anything that’s mechanically or electrically going wrong, get it fixed. Don’t wait. Get it fixed.”

When a fire does force people out of their homes, the American Red Cross can be contacted by fire departments or directly by those impacted.

“No one expects a home fire,” said Isabel Anderson, communications manager for the Red Cross Cascades Region. “And it’s actually the number one disaster that we respond to at the Red Cross.”

Anderson said Red Cross responders first work to make sure people’s basic needs are met, including food, water, and a safe place to stay for the night. But support can also go beyond temporary lodging or supplies.

“Probably the worst day in your life, experiencing a home fire like this. It can be really devastating,” Anderson said. “Our responders are trained in psychological first aid. We have partners who can help your pets as well.”

Both Bend Fire & Rescue and the Red Cross say now is the time to make sure smoke alarms are working and everyone in the home knows how to get out.

“Check your smoke alarms,” Anderson said.

“Make sure everyone knows what the noise means,” Derlacki said. “You know how to get out of your home. That’s the biggest thing with house fires is just be able to get out.”

While residents cannot always predict when a fire will happen, officials say prevention and preparation can help lead to the best possible outcome.

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