Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

SALEM. Ore. (KTVZ) – With hotter, drier conditions arriving early this year, Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation is urging residents to prepare now for an active 2025 wildfire season.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, fire activity has increased gradually since May, droughts have already intensified in the Northwest, and several significant fires have broken out recently.

“We are anticipating an active fire season,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “Many people may not realize this, but more acres burned in Oregon last year than in the 2020 wildfires. Fortunately, there was not the same loss of life or structures. But it is extremely important for Oregonians do what they can to prepare their properties for this summer and fall. The weather is getting much warmer, and drier, which means the risk of wildfires is high.”

In the 2020s alone, Oregon wildfires have caused nearly $3 billion in estimated losses, which is more than the previous four decades combined.

The National Interagency Fire Center anticipates that in July, August and September, most of Oregon will be above normal in its fire activity.

What can you do to prepare? DFR has created a disaster toolkit on its website, which includes how to financially prepare for wildfire season, wildfire preparation for your home, and evacuation tips. The Oregon Department of Forestry also has good information on active wildfires in the state.

To save time, money, and stress, consider these steps before disaster strikes:

Review your insurance policies with your agent or company to ensure you are adequately protected. Many homeowners are unknowingly underinsured.

Build a home inventory. Take a video of the personal property in each room of your home and describe the items as you record. You can also use a home inventory app or a home inventory tool provided by your insurance company.

Gather copies of important documents such as titles, insurance policies, tax records, birth and marriage certificates, and Social Security cards. Store them in a password-protected cloud or with your emergency kit.

Make a list of account numbers and customer service contact information for insurance companies, banks, lenders, utilities, and landlords.

Set aside enough cash to get you and your family through the first several days after an emergency.

For more information, go to dfr.oregon.gov/preparenow.

“The more you can do before a wildfire hits your home, the better the recovery process can be,” Keen said. “When a fire strikes, there’s a lot of emotions involved, including fear, anger, and confusion, and having the right insurance policy, an inventory list and an overall plan can alleviate a lot of those fears.”

DFR also has a webpage dedicated to wildfire insurance resources. One area that often gets overlooked is how to make your home as fireproof as possible by creating defensible space by removing dry leaves, dead brush, debris, and pine needles from yards and gutters. Trim trees away from your home, barns, and sheds, and place screens over open vents on homes. These tasks reduce the fuels that enable wildfires to spread and give firefighters more time to slow the blaze.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s website has more information about defensible space.

If damaged by wildfires, DFR’s consumer advocates are available to help with any insurance questions. You can reach them at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

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Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read is reminding Oregonians that their votes can decide elections. As of Tuesday, the Secretary of State’s office has received notification that more than 25 races from the May 20th special district election are close enough to trigger an automatic hand recount. 

“I hear from a lot of people that they think their vote doesn’t matter, and here we have the undeniable proof that it does. These elections will have a major impact on Oregonians’ lives, from deciding how we manage our water to how we run schools and fight wildfires – and they’ll be decided by just a few votes,” said Secretary Read. 

“Thank you to our local elections officials and their teams who are working so hard to make sure every vote is counted accurately.” 

To find out more about recounts in your county, contact your local elections offices. 

Automatic vote recounts in the state of Oregon are required for the nomination or election of a person or to decide the outcome of a ballot measure when:  

There is a tie between candidates.

The vote margin is very close. Specifically, when the difference between the apparent winning candidate and the next is not more than 1/5th of one percent (i.e. 0.2%) or less, of the total votes for both of the candidates. 

The same margin rule (0.2% or less) also applies to ballot measures, such as initiatives or referendums, unless a ballot measure requires 50% voter turnout to be passed and turnout does not meet that threshold.

For example: If an initiative requires 50% voter turnout and only 48% of registered voters voted on it, there will not be an automatic recount, even if there is a small margin (such as 0.1%). 

All recounts in the state of Oregon must be done by a counting board, by hand. The counting board consists of a minimum of two county electors, and the electors must be registered with different political parties.  

The counting board:  

Determines the voter’s intent on each ballot.

Separates ballots into different stacks, based on the option selected on each ballot.

Counts the number of ballots in each stack. 

Both members of the counting board must count each stack individually, and both must agree on the number in each stack.  

Official observers are permitted to be present to observe the preliminary preparation and to observe the recount process but must not impede or interfere with the recount preparation or procedure. Official observers can include:  

Any and all affected candidates.

Any elector authorized in writing by an affected candidate.

An elector authorized in writing by each major or minor party.

An authorized observer designated by an official measure organization. 

“Oregon elections officials are committed to running honest, fair, and accurate elections. Controls like automatic recounts, regular audits, and the near-constant testing of elections equipment help us show the public that their votes count,” added Secretary Read. 

To date, the following counties have notified the Secretary of State’s office about recounts: 

Baker County will conduct an automatic recount for the West Eagle Valley Water Control District, At Large position on June 17, 2025. 

In Clatsop County, two recounts will be conducted on June 23, 2025 for the Seaside Rural Fire Protection district, Director, Position 2 and Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District, Commissioner, Position 2. 

Coos County started an automatic recount for two races on June 16, 2025: 

Bunker Hill Rural Fire Protection District, Position 3 

Shelley Rd-Crest Acres Water District, Position 3 

In Crook County, the automatic recount for the Juniper Canyon Water Control District, Position 4 started on June 16, 2025.  

Deschutes County plans to complete an automatic recount for Laidlaw Water District, Director, Position 3 by June 20, 2025. 

In Grant County, there is an automatic recount on June 18, 2025 for the following districts: 

Grant County Transportation District 

John Day Rural Fire District 

Monument Cemetery District 

Long Creek School District, Position 5 

In Gilliam County, automatic recounts were triggered in Rock Creek Water Control District Director Zone 2 and Rock Creek Water Control District Zone 3. That recount was already held and completed on June 11, 2025. 

Klamath County plans to complete a recount for two director positions in the Modoc Point Sanitary District by June 18, 2025. 

Lake County started recounts on June 11, 2025 for Christmas Valley Rural Fire Protection District, Director, Position 3 and Christmas Valley Park and Recreation District, Director, Position 5. 

In Lane County, four recounts will begin on June 18, 2025 in the following districts: 

Dexter Sanitary District, Director, Position 3

Dexter Sanitary District, Director, Position 5

River Road Water Control, Directors, Positions 1 – 5

South Lane School District, Director, Position 7

Linn County started recounts for the following districts on June 16, 2025: 

Denver-Conner Water Control District Position 6 

Little Muddy Creek Water Control District Position 3 

Little Muddy Creek Water Control District Position 5 

In Tillamook County, a recount for Ballot Measure 29 – 183 was started on June 11, 2025 and recounts for the following districts began the next day on June 12, 2025:  

Nedonna Rural Fire Protection District – Director, Position 4 

Beaver Water District – Commissioner, Position 4 

Twin Rocks Water District – Commissioner, Position 4 

Cloverdale Sanitary District – Director, Position 3 

All recounts in Tillamook County are now complete. 

Umatilla County will be conducting a recount on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 for two tied write-in races: 

McKay Dam Fire, Position 5 

Milton-Freewater Valley Ambulance District, Position 5 

Wasco County started a recount for the Tygh Valley Rural Fire Protection District, Position 1 on June 16, 2025. 

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KTVZ

(Update: Apartments opened)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new apartment complex has opened its doors right next to the Box Factory, right by the Old Mill. The mixed-use complex will feature businesses on the first floor and more than 300 apartments for rent.

Businesses moving in the ground floor include: Sisters Coffee Company, Drybar and a collaboration between Bend Brewing Co. and Sister’s Smokehouse Meats.

Above them, a variety of single, double and triple bedroom apartments will be for rent. The complex features co-working spaces, a community lounge and dinning room and manicured rooftop gardens.

Parking for 540 cars was discreetly built into the interior of the complex.

Pricing for units can vary greatly, but tenants are already buying units. Move0in day is scheduled for this Friday.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) June 17– Killian Pacific, a Pacific Northwest real estate developer and placemaker, has attracted and secured two long-term retail leases – Sisters-based Sisters Coffee Company and California-based Drybar – at Jackstraw, a 313-unit mixed-use residential and retail project nearing completion.

Here’s the rest of the full announcement from Killian Pacific:

Centrally located between downtown Bend and the Old Mill District and spanning a 4.7-acre site at Industrial Way and Lava Road, Jackstraw is adjacent to Bend’s Box Factory retail center. As Jackstraw nears completion, residential pre-leasing begins in July and move-in availability is October. Once complete, Jackstraw will serve as a vibrant new hub for retail, living, and community connection.

Sisters Coffee will open its second Bend location, a 2,230-square-foot café on Jackstraw’s ground floor. It will offer an expansive food menu and a curated selection of specialty coffee drinks, merchandise and pastries to building residents and the Bend community.

The Sisters Coffee flagship café was founded in 1989 in Sisters and operates three award-winning cafes throughout the state: in Sisters, in Bend’s Old Mill District, and in Portland’s Pearl District, plus a new Roastery in Sisters.

“The opportunity to bring a second location of Sisters Coffee, a beloved, local, premium coffee purveyor to Jackstraw is an incredibly exciting opportunity for our residents and for the broader Bend community. This family-run, nationally recognized coffee business, which is deeply rooted in the communities it serves, aligns perfectly with our goal to create a hub where culture, community, and local lifestyle converge,” said Killian Pacific Director of Development Cassidy Bolger.

“We are thrilled to partner with Killian Pacific, at Jackstraw, on a community-driven project that creates a destination gathering space for everyone to enjoy. We’re incredibly grateful for how supportive the Bend area has been of our brand for many years, and excited to continue pursuing our mission of creating an authentic coffee experience built on a deep love of our craft and a heartfelt kindness for the people we serve,” said Jared Durham, Sisters Coffee Company co-owner with siblings Justin Durham and Jesse Durham. 

Jackstraw will link with the Box Factory through a plaza-like street shared by pedestrians, bicyclists and low-speed vehicles, now called “Lava Pass.” This private street design will present the ability to close a section of Lava Road between the two properties for events, concerts, markets, and more. Sisters Coffee will be open in late 2025 or early 2026, and it will be located in the heart of Lava Pass.

Drybar, a California-based chain of salons that provide a hair styling service known as blowouts, will open a 1,879-square-foot salon on Jackstraw’s ground floor. Co-founded in 2010 by Alli Webb, a New York Times bestselling author, Drybar is now a multi-million-dollar company with more than 150 salons across the United States. The franchisees of this Drybar location at Jackstraw are two women based in Eugene, Oregon.

“Drybar is a nationally recognized, highly sought-after lifestyle brand with numerous national awards from publications including Inc. Magazine, Fast Company and Marie Claire. We are thrilled to bring this salon to Jackstraw, and we’re pleased to support its first location in Bend. Drybar is hyper-focused on service, providing a premier experience to every single client, and this approach to first-class customer service is a retail asset to our residential community and to the greater Bend area,” said Bolger.

Drybar will open its first salon in Bend in early 2026 and will be located on Industrial Way. Drybar has two other locations in Oregon, in Eugene and Happy Valley.

“We are thrilled to open our second Drybar location in Bend! Bend has won a piece of our hearts and we look forward to expanding from our hometown in Eugene, to now being a part of the beautiful Bend community. We think Drybar Bend is going to be a huge success and we could not be happier securing this unrivaled location at Jackstraw,” said Drybar Owner Lori Harrison Andersen.

Locally owned and based in Bend, Compass Commercial Real Estate Services provides retail brokerage and property management services for Jackstraw and the Box Factory.

Jackstraw has been under construction since Spring 2023 and is now 80 percent finished. It has a mix of apartments and townhomes, offering plenty of room and ample storage for everything from bikes to oversized fishing kayaks, modern design, parking for residents, interior courtyards, and refined spaces.

Jackstraw strives to bring new life to the neighborhood with seven stories of apartment homes and resident amenities, including a fitness center and a rooftop lounge looking toward the Cascade Range, a terrace overlooking Lava Road and the Box Factory, landscaped gardens, a resident lounge, and multiple co-working areas. The ground floor will feature 18,000 square feet of retail space, providing a vibrant mix of local shops, restaurants, and services – designed to bring new energy to the Southern Crossing neighborhood.

For more information about Jackstraw, please visit https://www.jackstrawbend.com/

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Barney Lerten

KTVZ, a supporter of the event, will be streaming the show, as well as Redmond’s display

UPDATE: Adding video

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Community members will have limited access to Pilot Butte State Park in Bend from Tuesday through Saturday, July 1-5, as preparations are made for the July 4 public fireworks display.

KTVZ is a supporter of this year’s fireworks show and will be streaming the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, as well as Redmond’s show, on KTVZ+ starting at 9:45 p.m. and on KTVZ News at 10:00 p.m. on Fox.

Bend Fire & Rescue, in collaboration with the Oregon State Parks Department, asks that the community observe the restrictions in place for everyone’s safety:

The summit and the access road to the summit will close to all visitors beginning at 10 p.m. on July 1 through the afternoon of July 5, following clean-up operations.

All trails and roadways except for the summit will be accessible to pedestrians only, beginning at 10 p.m. on July 1 through July 3.

Full closure of all trails and roadways begins July 4 through the afternoon of July 5, following clean-up operations.

The main parking area at the base of Pilot Butte, off Linea Drive, will be open during the fireworks show. Please do not block emergency access roads or public and private streets, as this can delay a response to an emergency.

Pets are not permitted in the park during the show.

Signs, barricades and security will be placed at the closure points on the butte. For the safety of all, please respect the closed areas and do not attempt entry.

The July 4 public fireworks display will commence at 10 p.m. on Friday. The display is presented each year as a gift to the community from Subaru of Bend and their partners.

Bend Fire and Oregon State Parks would like to recognize and thank the local Boy Scout Troops that help clean the butte each year after the display. Also, a huge thank you to the local fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry for assisting with the fire safety on the butte during the display. Without their support each year, this show would not be possible.

For more information about the display and butte preparations, please contact Oregon State Parks at (541) 388-6055 or Bend Fire at (541) 322-6386.

Bend Fire also reminds the community that the use and sale of fireworks is not allowed in Bend. The July 4 public display at Pilot Butte is permitted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and managed by professionals. For information on fireworks laws, permitting and reporting, please visit bendoregon.gov/fireworks.

“I want to give a huge thank you to Bend Fire & Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service & Oregon Department of Forestry for assisting with the fire safety on the butte during the show. Without their support each year, this show would not be possible,” said Park Manager Brian Vaughan.

For more information, contact Oregon State Parks at (541) 388-6055 or Bend Fire & Rescue at (541) 322-6386..

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College’s 2025 commencement ceremony, held on Saturday with more than 300 graduates in attendance, included the naming of four student award recipients: Brad Bennett, Betsy Green, Kaia Hagenbach and Nasadia Voltz.

In full, 759 degrees and certificates are being awarded this academic year at COCC: 598 degrees and 161 certificates.

Kaia Hagenbach, of Bend, received the Walter G. Coombs Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes the student who maintains the highest scholastic average among those receiving a certificate of completion. Hagenbach earned certificates in graphic design and illustration while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Betsy Green, of Bend, merited the COCC Distinguished Student Service Award, an honor presented to the student who exhibits a strong contribution to the campus though innovative initiatives, volunteerism, leadership and academic excellence. Green has held leadership roles in student government and in student clubs such as the Q+ and Umbrella Clubs, and also served as an admissions ambassador. She earned an associate of arts Oregon transfer degree and is planning a career in higher education.

Nasadia Voltz, of Bend, received the Avon F. Mayfield Award, presented to a student who displays progress in scholarship, quality of leadership, contribution to student welfare, progress toward useful and active citizenship and outstanding service. Voltz, a first-generation college student, received an associate of applied science degree in addiction counseling and behavioral health. She has been an advocate for others, pushing for change in addiction recovery and highlighting harm reduction.

Brad Bennett, of Bend, received the Helen Leicester Honorary Scholastic Award, a COCC award that honors the student who receives an associate degree while maintaining the highest GPA with the highest number of credits. While earning an associate of applied science in paramedicine, Bennett maintained a straight 4.0 GPA with 94 credits earned. He is currently a state-certified paramedic and working as a firefighter-paramedic with Crook County Fire & Rescue.

The commencement ceremony featured student speaker Irving Daniel of Bend who earned his GED through COCC and went on to receive certification training as a peer support specialist and a certificate in community health, leading to a job as a residential counselor in behavioral health. Daniel led a campus-wide binge-drinking awareness campaign. He plans to pursue an associate of arts Oregon transfer degree in public health and then transfer to a university.

Central Oregon Community College is celebrating 75 years of opportunity. Founded in 1949, COCC — Oregon’s first community college — marks a major milestone this academic year (2024-25) of bringing higher learning, connection and enrichment to the region.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Police are asking the public for information after finding a seriously injured woman during a welfare check at a home in a southeast Bend neighborhood.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a request for a welfare check in the 61000 block of Alstrup Road, Bend Police Community Relations Manager Jessica Rich said Tuesday. 

When officers arrived, they found a woman with serious injuries inside a home. Bend Fire and Rescue transported the woman, a 37-year-old Bend resident, to St. Charles Bend for treatment.

“Detectives are investigating the case, and additional information will be provided when it becomes available,” Rich said in the news release.

Anyone with information about this event is asked to contact Deschutes County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 541-693-6911.

Rich told KTVZ News that due to the active investigation, she’s “unable to share additional information, including more detailed information about her injuries or the circumstances around the request for the welfare check.”

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video, comments)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Pet Evacuation Team said late Tuesday it is now caring for 175 animals evacuated from the Alder Springs Fire at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond – and thanks to the community, they are “all set” with donated food for them.

“We have horses, goats, dogs, cats and a rabbit,” a PET official told KTVZ News earlier in the day.

“At this time, we do not need any more dog or cat food,” the representative said. “A generous donor brought in grass hay last night. Volunteers are working four-hour shifts.”

Later Tuesday, we were told: “This community is awesome!  We have received SO MANY donations!  We’re all set for now.”

 Obviously they help people get their pets out of harm’s way, but they also keep pets at a safe location while you’re evacuated. They’re fed, cared for, and the dogs even get taken for walks. It might seem like a difficult task to evacuate your pet, but the team here has some tips to make it easier.

“Prepare, prepare, prepare,” Vikki Sheerer said. “It’s not a matter of if, but we live in a wildfire zone, and someday the fire is going to get close to your neighborhood. So we encourage people to have a crate for their dogs that has food, water, their favorite bedding, all their veterinary medication, and have it ready in the garage.”

You can get your pet used to going into a crate by feeding them in the crate routinely before evacuations ever happen.

Everyone who uses the Pet Evacuation Team;s services gets documentation and a wristband linked to their pet’s ID. You can even visit your pet any time at the shelter, feed them yourself and spend time with them.

PET is an all-volunteer organization that relies on donations. To learn more, visit their website at petevacuationteam.com.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BOTHELL, Wash. (KTVZ) —  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Alder Springs Fire burning in Jefferson County, Oregon. 

The state of Oregon’s request for a declaration under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 10:27 p.m. PT. He determined that the Alder Springs Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.

This is the second FMAG declaration in 2025 to help fight Oregon wildfires. 

At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Crooked River Ranch and Redmond.

FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.

These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire, the agency said.

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Isabella Warren

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) – Officials said Tuesday was a day of good progress on the lines of the day-old Alder Springs Fire, newly mapped at over 3,400 acres.

Officials also announced on the Alder Springs Fire Facebook page that a community meeting will be held Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Terrebonne Community School, located at 1199 B Avenue, to provide the latest fire updates to the community.

Fire officials said late Tuesday: “Firefighters have made good progress today. Air resources provided water & retardant drops, stopping fire progress in many areas around the fire.

“Crews are actively working in the hard-to-access canyons, mopping up & securing perimeters,” they added.

According to the Northwest Coordination Center, the Alder Springs Fire has been determined to be “human-caused” and is estimated to be contained by July 1st.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 350 structures, including homes, have been threatened; while 140 firefighters are working to contain the fire.

Earlier story:

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters and other resources from across the state were on scene or heading to Jefferson County on Tuesday to help regional crews battling the fast-moving Alder Springs Fire, which grew to 2,500 acres in a matter of hours Monday and prompted evacuations and warnings at Crooked River Ranch and Lake Billy Chinook.

A fire camp was set up at the Sisters Rodeo grounds, with the Oregon State Fire Marshal sending in crews and engines from Southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley and elsewhere to protect homes from the flames.

Officials advised the public Thursday afternoon that a large smoke plume on the south side of the blaze was from a firing operation crews were conducting to tie bulldozer lines to the main fire.

“This will bring the fire perimeter to a place that has been reinforced with fire retardant, where firefighters can secure the perimeter,” they added.

An Alder Springs Fire Facebook page has been created to share official information.

“OSFM Red Incident Management Team briefed this morning and is now in unified command with the Central Oregon Type 3 Team,” a posting there stated Tuesday morning. “Two structural task forces arrived last night, and six more arrived this morning and are currently in the Crooked River Ranch community for structure protection.

“Wildland firefighters are working hard on creating fire lines in an attempt to stop and slow down the fire’s progress,” the update said.

Evacuated Crooked River Ranch resident Susan Strange was among the many who are worried that such a large, early fire means a very troublesome summer ahead.

“I’m no expert, but that seems unusual,” Strange told us Monday evening.

Tuesday’s general map of the Alder Springs Fire; officials say they’ll have a more detailed map later

—

Here’s the full Tuesday morning update from Central Oregon fire officials:

Firefighters, dozers and engines worked into the night on the Alder Springs Fire burning in steep and rugged terrain on the Crooked River National Grassland, Prineville District BLM-managed lands, and private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Lower Bridge Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA).

The Alder Springs Fire is estimated to be 2,500 acres and is 0% contained. 

Fire activity moderated with lower temperatures and higher relative humidities last night and crews staying engaged with structure protection through the night, with no damages to homes or outbuildings. Today, firefighters will be working to secure the perimeter where accessible and safe to engage. The highest priority will be accessing Carcass Canyon to prevent additional spotting to the east, across the Deschutes River. Firefighters will work, along with the support of aerial resources, to secure the fire east of the Deschutes River that is threatening Crooked River Ranch.

The Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team has taken command of the fire alongside resources that have been engaged since yesterday to contain the blaze. The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team under the command of Ian Yocum has been mobilized and will join the two task forces of structure protection resources in place and the six more coming in today. They will be in unified command of the incident alongside the Central Oregon Type 3 team as of 9:00 a.m. today.

Weather conditions will be similar to yesterday, creating challenging conditions for firefighters with hot, dry weather with westerly winds pushing the fire towards values at risk. Crews, engines, dozers, skidgen and structure protection task forces will be actively working to suppress the fire and secure the perimeter with continued help from air tankers, helicopters and single-engine scoopers to cool hot spots and slow the spread of the fire from the air.

All evacuations issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office remain in place today.

Evacuations: Jefferson and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have issued the following evacuations: A Level 3 (GO) evacuation order for CR06, CR07, CRR8, CR10N, CR10S, CR11, CR12, CRPL2; a Level 2 (SET) evacuation warning for zones CR02M, CR02N, CR02NW, CR02SW and CR09, as well as Deschutes Campground at Cove Palisades, along the river and campground; and a Level 1 (READY) evacuation advisory for CR02E, CR02NE, CR02SE, CR03M, CR03N, Lake Billy Chinook Public Lands 3, RED-101, RED-91, RED-92 and SIS-016. For more information on evacuation notices, visit:Deschutes County Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/DeschutesCountyEmergencyJefferson County Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/JeffersonCountyEmergencyMap

A temporary evacuation point has been established at Highland Baptist Church: 3100 SW Highland Avenue, Redmond, OR. A large animal shelter has been established at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds at 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bethlehem Inn Board of Directors announced Monday the appointment of Michael Hancock as its new executive director.

Hancock, who has served as interim executive director since February, following the retirement announcement of longtime leader Gwenn Wysling. 

“Hancock will now officially take the helm to guide Bethlehem Inn into its next chapter,” the organization said in its announcement, which continues below:

Hancock brings a rich background spanning business, education, and crisis management. He joined during a period of significant change, including the completion of the new Bend campus and the onset of a global pandemic. His leadership has been instrumental in evolving programs, enhancing staff training and development, and helping launch the Bethlehem Inn Redmond Community Housing (BIRCH) program. 

“I joined the team in 2019, a time of transition. Or as I like to think of it, a time of transformation,” Hancock shared. “We were preparing to open the new Bend campus, and just months later, found ourselves navigating the challenges of a global health crisis. I’m proud of how our team stepped up, adapted, and grew stronger together.” 

Reflecting on his journey, Hancock added, “Long before my time at Bethlehem Inn, I recognized that there were members of our community who needed help. At first, I believed it was the community’s responsibility to support those in need. Over time, I came to understand something deeper: we are not required to help, we choose to help.” 

The Board expressed confidence in Hancock’s leadership and vision.

“Michael has proven himself to be a steady, thoughtful, and compassionate leader,” said Kevin Link, president of the Bethlehem Inn Board of Directors. “He understands the mission of Bethlehem Inn and has the experience and heart to move the organization forward.” 

Bethlehem Inn is a community-supported emergency shelter that provides a safe environment for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon. 

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