Author: KTVZ

Kelsey Merison

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore.(KTVZ) — Crews from Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue responded to a reported vehicle fire Monday evening and worked quickly to extinguish the blaze and ensure the scene was safe.

The agency offered a reminder to stay alert while driving: if you notice smoke or flames coming from a vehicle, pull over to a safe location, move everyone away from the vehicle, and call 911 immediately.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kelsey Merison

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — One man died Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, after his white Volvo semi-truck and triple trailer rear-ended an overheated red Freightliner semi-truck and triple trailer on Highway 26 near milepost 31.5, close to Sandy.

The operator of the Volvo, James Glenn Fisher, 62, of Medford, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash, which occurred at approximately 10:37 p.m.

The preliminary investigation by Oregon State Police indicated that Colton Wayne Adams, 36, of Bend, was operating the Freightliner westbound on Highway 26 near East Terra Fern Drive when his vehicle overheated and stopped in the westbound travel lane. Fisher’s Volvo then collided with the rear of Adams’ stopped Freightliner.

The operator of the Freightliner, Adams, was reportedly not injured in the incident.

The crash led to the highway being impacted for approximately 5 hours while an on-scene investigation was conducted.

Oregon State Police received assistance from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas Fire District, Hoodland Fire District and the Oregon Department of Transportation during their response and investigation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — As of Monday, July 27th, firefighters are engaged in a persistent battle against the Brewer, Green Mountain, and Crosswhite West Fires, which are burning near Prineville. Today marks the 13th day of the incident, with crews making progress by halting western progression and maintaining control lines north of the city.

Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders remain in effect for areas impacted by the wildfires.

Despite the lifting of a Red Flag Warning, hot, dry, and windy conditions are still expected on the fireline. Smoke columns are anticipated to be visible today, with the inversion layer projected to lift from late morning to early afternoon.

Suppression aircraft will be deployed across all three fires today as resources become available.

Photo courtesy: Oregon Department of Forestry

On the Brewer Fire, firefighters continue to patrol and mop up the south-southwest portion of the blaze. Crews are also strengthening control lines by removing any vegetation that could potentially ignite.

Last night, Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS, were utilized to confirm that the fire remained secure within the Lofton and McKay Creek areas. To the northeast, firefighters successfully got around the majority of the fire that had crossed lines along the A-Y Road, securing those areas and improving control lines.

Intense heat over the fire last night prevented aviation resources from flying over the incident to map fire growth using infrared technology. New acreage figures for the fires will be posted when they become available.

Fire activity on the southern portion of the Green Mountain Fire has been slowly backing down the mountain toward North Mill Creek Road. Crews are actively constructing a combination of dozer and handline, which connects North Mill Creek and McKay Creek roads. These lines will continue to be strengthened as the fire advances toward them.

Photo courtesy: Oregon Department of Forestry

For the Crosswhite West Fire, crews are performing structure protection on homes located in the Marks Creek area. They are also constructing indirect line to prevent the fire from crossing the highway.

Last night, resources from Crosswhite West provided assistance to Crosswhite East, where they secured several spot fires that had crossed highway 26.

On the northern portion of the fire, crews are conducting prep work on indirect line north of Stephenson Mountain. Evacuation orders, including Level 1, 2, and 3 designations, are currently in place. These orders are issued by county sheriff’s offices. The most current evacuation information can be accessed through the Crook County Sheriff’s and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Facebook pages.

Smoke generated by the Brewer, Green Mountain, and Crosswhite West fires may be visible in Prineville and its surrounding areas. This smoke can reduce visibility and affect air quality in nearby communities. Smoke conditions are subject to change throughout the day as wind shifts occur. Individuals who are sensitive to smoke are advised to take appropriate precautions.

For current air quality information and smoke forecasts, residents can visit fire.airnow.gov.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have both issued closures for lands within and near the fire areas. Information regarding these closures and restrictions is available on the respective BLM and USFS websites.

Photo courtesy: Oregon Department of Forestry

A Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, is active for the fire area 24 hours a day until further notice. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire is prohibited by law. Such activity compromises the safety of both pilots and firefighters and interferes with ongoing firefighting efforts. Any illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today they secured $488,500 in federal funding for key veteran health care programs in rural parts of eastern and southern Oregon. This funding will support no-cost transportation services for veterans traveling to medical facilities.

The funding is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) highly rural transportation grants program. Oregon is one of only 12 states nationwide to receive this grant, which expands the capacity of veteran service organizations and state veterans service agencies in providing free transportation for veterans to VA or VA-authorized health care facilities.

Thanks to this funding, the Oregon counties of Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Wallowa and Wheeler will continue to provide free rides to and from VA-authorized health appointments.

U.S. Sen. Wyden emphasized the importance of accessible care for veterans. “It’s unacceptable for any veteran to forgo the care they need due to transportation barriers,” Wyden said. “Oregon’s veterans have spent their lives serving our country and they shouldn’t need to jump through hoops to get a ride to the hospital for the care they need.”

Transportation barriers currently result in thousands of missed VA-authorized health appointments, preventing veterans, particularly aging veterans, from getting necessary care. In 2024, nearly 260,000 veterans resided in Oregon, with 138,066 enrolled in the VA Health care System, according to the Virginia

U.S. Sen. Merkley highlighted the challenges faced by veterans in rural areas. “Our veterans face tremendous hurdles, including access to medical care when they live in rural areas,” Merkley said. He thanked the VA for recognizing this need and the Veteran Service Organizations and Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs for providing transportation. “It is our obligation to fight for the brave servicemen and women who have sacrificed to fight for us.”

The grant funding will help connect Oregon veterans to the state’s three inpatient care facilities, five veteran centers and 21 outpatient care sites.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Revenue will temporarily close its Salem office and all contact centers for one hour tomorrow, July 28. The closure, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., is for an all-staff event.

This temporary disruption will affect customers seeking in-person services at the Salem office, located at 955 Center Street NE and those needing phone support. However, the department’s five regional offices in Bend, Eugene, Gresham, Medford and Portland will continue to operate during the one-hour closure.

Customers still have options for conducting business during the temporary closure. The Salem office drop box will remain accessible for clearly labeled payments, excluding cash and for tax forms that are deposited in sealed envelopes.

Additionally, the department’s website and Revenue Online platform will experience no service disruption. Individuals who anticipate needing contact center support or in-person services at the Salem office on the afternoon of July 28 are advised to plan accordingly for the temporary closure.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two separate fires kept Bend emergency crews busy today, including a brush fire behind the Red Lion Hotel on Butler Market Road and a residential fire on Starling Drive. The brush fire, believed to have originated from an abandoned fire in a houseless encampment, burned slightly over one acre. The residential fire, caused by food left on a stove, resulted in an estimated $100,000 in damages.

The incidents occurred this afternoon, with emergency personnel responding to the brush fire at 1:46 p.m. and the house fire reported at 2:49 p.m.

Bend Fire & Rescue, with assistance from Bend Police and the US Forest Service, quickly contained the brush fire. The Red Lion Hotel was evacuated as a precaution, but occupants were allowed back inside within an hour. While crews managed the brush fire, a second call came in for a house fire on Bend’s east side.

The house fire on Starling Drive was initially dispatched to Redmond Fire because all Bend fire engines were occupied with the brush fire. First arriving crews found smoke coming from the house and confirmed no one was home. The fire and smoke caused damage throughout the entire home before being extinguished.

The residential fire was caused by the occupants accidentally leaving food on the stove. The owners had returned home earlier in the day and then left again, forgetting the food. Red Cross is assisting the homeowners with housing until their homeowner’s insurance can provide further help.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracee Tuesday

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Jefferson County School District has canceled all summer programming for Monday, July 27, citing rapidly changing wildfire conditions and ongoing evacuations in the area.

The closure affects all sites across the district, including Madras Elementary, Bridges High School and Madras High School. Summer meal services will also be unavailable for the day.

District leaders said the decision comes after the Bench and Beachcomb fires showed unpredictable behavior and significant growth overnight, impacting families throughout the region.

Many residents remain in evacuation zones, prompting concerns about safety and accessibility for students and staff.

School officials acknowledged the disruption for families and expressed appreciation for the community’s flexibility during the situation. They also shared support for those affected by the fires and gratitude for firefighters working to contain them.

The district plans to provide an update on Monday regarding the status of summer programs for the remainder of the week.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire crews are battling multiple wildfires across Central Oregon, with the Brewer Fire continuing to burn near Prineville and threatening hundreds of homes.

The Brewer, Green Mountain, and Crosswhite fires are burning across a mix of terrain and land ownership, stretching resources across Crook, Jefferson, and Wheeler counties. The response includes coordination between local, state, and federal agencies.

Officials say the fires are impacting land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Department of Forestry. Resources from the Oregon State Fire Marshal have also been deployed as flames threaten nearby homes and structures.

“We work in unified command to protect communities and to try to suppress the wildfires,” said Derek Gasperini, a public information officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Firefighters are using aircraft to drop water and slow fire activity, allowing crews on the ground to build containment lines. However, steep and remote terrain is making access difficult in some areas.

Strong winds are also increasing the danger, carrying embers beyond containment lines and sparking new spot fires.

“With extreme fire behavior, we go as direct as possible,” Gasperini said. “Sometimes spot fires jump over that line. We have to fall back and start new indirect line.”

Structural protection teams are working ahead of the flames, clearing brush and setting up water systems around homes in the fire’s projected path.

Officials say at least 556 primary residences are currently threatened by the Brewer Fire, with additional homes at risk from the Crosswhite Fire.

“It’s a very dynamic fire, a lot of movement, and we’re trying to get every structure that could be in the predictive path prepped,” said Toni Brimmer with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Authorities say hot, dry, and windy conditions — combined with drought-stressed vegetation — are fueling extreme fire behavior across the region.

Evacuation levels are changing rapidly, and residents are urged to stay informed through their county sheriff’s office and be ready to act.

“It’s a very dynamic situation,” Gasperini said. “Be prepared, watch those evacuation levels, and be ready to act accordingly.”

Fire officials also remind the public to avoid activities that could spark new fires, as crews remain focused on containing the blazes already burning.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

CONDON, Ore. (KTVZ) — Yesterday, on Saturday, strong winds during a Red Flag Warning caused significant growth on the Little Buck Fire, part of the Hay Creek Complex, pushing the fire south across Oregon Highway 218 near Clarno.

Strong afternoon winds yesterday drove a six-mile flame front on the Little Buck Fire toward Highway 218. Crews and local ranchers had built approximately eight miles of dozer line to try to hold the fire, but it jumped a short section of the highway near Clarno and made a large run south.

County sheriffs ordered additional evacuations, including the nearby Washington Family Ranch, with ranchers working through the night with heavy equipment to build fire lines ahead of the blaze. On its east and north sides, the fire slowed as it backed into the footprint of the Porcupine Ridge Fire and last year’s Black Rock Fire scar, areas where little fuel remains to burn.

The Hay Creek Complex includes the Little Buck, Cottonwood, Hoag, Hopkin and Porcupine Ridge fires. The Hoag, Hopkin and Porcupine Ridge fires remain in patrol status after being contained. Air tankers supported ground crews yesterday, working the west edge of the Little Buck Fire for much of the day. They dropped retardant to slow the fire’s spread toward the communities of Shaniko and Antelope. Aircraft flew their maximum allowable hours.

On the Cottonwood Fire yesterday, helicopters dropped buckets of water in the morning to help crews secure a section that had crossed to the far side of the John Day River canyon on Friday. Crews successfully held control lines on this fire. Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected today, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s to around 90 degrees.

Afternoon relative humidity is forecast to be near 20%. West-to-northwest winds will intensify in the afternoon, with gusts reaching 20 to 30 mph. Gusty afternoon winds could continue to challenge firefighters over the coming days.

Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations are in place for parts of Gilliam, Wasco, Wheeler and Sherman Counties. These conditions can change quickly, especially with today’s predicted weather. Road closures may occur at any time due to rapidly changing conditions.

The Bureau of Land Management has fire restrictions and temporary closures in effect. A Temporary Flight Restriction is active over the Hay Creek Complex for the safety of firefighters and aircraft, prohibiting the use of drones.

Drivers should use caution and slow down when traveling through areas with firefighting vehicles and equipment, including along U.S. Highway 97. Wildfire smoke can quickly change air quality.

Crews will reinforce and strengthen control lines across the entire complex today. On the Little Buck Fire, firefighters will continue efforts on the west edge, supported by available aircraft and prepare structures. Fire managers will adjust the plan for the fire’s southward push across Highway 218 and identify options for contingency lines.

As the Little Buck Fire grows toward the Crosswhite Fire footprint, both incident management teams are coordinating suppression efforts. On the Cottonwood Fire, firefighters will use infrared drones to pinpoint heat and extinguish hot spots to prevent the fire from establishing on the far side of the John Day River. Crews will also continue mop up operations, cooling and removing heat near the fire’s edge, as some heat persists in the sagebrush.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

CENTRAL OREGON, Ore. (KTVZ) — As of Sunday, July 26th: Stage 2 public use fire restrictions are in effect today across all Central Oregon public lands.

The Ten Mile Fire, located 11 miles northeast of Madras, is listed at 4,809 acres and 36% contained due to improved mapping. The Jefferson and Wasco County Sheriff’s Offices have issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations.

Gusty winds, low relative humidity, and hot temperatures persist across Central Oregon today. These conditions contribute to the ongoing fire risk in the region.

The Central Oregon Type 3 team is managing the Ten Mile Fire, which is located 7 miles south of the Highways 97 and 197 junction in rugged terrain.

The team is also managing Incident #586, just north of the Ten Mile Fire, which has been mapped at 191 acres and remains in its footprint.

The North Crooked Fire, located approximately 7 miles north of Paulina near Lightning Spring, is mapped at 31 acres.

Firefighters continue to strengthen control lines around the perimeter of the Ten Mile Fire. Crews are increasing the amount of cooled ground between control lines and the interior portion of the fire, where juniper clumps continue to hold heat.

For Incident #586, firefighters continue to secure existing control lines around the perimeter.

On the North Crooked Fire, firefighters are making good progress by improving control lines and conducting mop-up operations by cooling hotspots around the perimeter.

Fires across Central Oregon are impacting roadways. Motorists should check the Oregon Department of Transportation’s tripcheck.com for current road statuses before traveling. The Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service have several closures in place for public safety during ongoing wildfire incidents.

Public drone activity occurred yesterday over the Green Mountain Fire, posing a serious safety risk to responding aircraft and firefighters and impacting their ability to effectively respond to the incident.

Air resource advisers are currently producing daily smoke forecasts that can be found on fire.airnow.gov. For wildfire updates and additional information, visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. To report a wildfire, call 911.

Click here to follow the original article.