Date: July 20, 2026

Case #: 2026-00039399

Incident: Pedestrian fatally struck by train near Reed Market Rd.

Location: 1100 block of SE Reed Market Rd.

At approximately 4:38 a.m. on Monday, July 20, Bend Police received a call that a BNSF train conductor reported a pedestrian was struck by a train near the intersection with Reed Market Rd.

When officers arrived the northbound train was stopped, blocking both directions of Reed Market Rd. Officers found an unconscious man on the west side of the railroad tracks and immediately began CPR. The man was transported by Bend Fire to St. Charles where he later died from his injuries.

Reed Market Rd. was closed in both directions for approximately two hours during an investigation by Bend Police and BNSF Railway. This is an ongoing investigation, and the name of the man is being withheld until his family is notified.

UPDATE: SE Reed Market Rd. has reopened in both directions. The closure lasted approximately two hours.

Reed Market Road eastbound and westbound are currently blocked by a train at the railroad crossing for approximatley 1 hour. Use alternate route if planning to travel through the area. 

EVACUATION LEVEL UPDATE AS OF 8:00 P.M., TUESDAY, JULY 21

The following area that was previously under a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice has been upgraded to a Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation Notice:

• Private property on the north of Indian Ford Creek to the Forest Boundary. This area has been upgraded to a Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation Notice. 

Deschutes County, Ore. -- As of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have added new evacuation areas for the Akawa Butte Fire. Weather conditions continued to shift the fire to the Southwest throughout the day. The changes to evacuation levels include Forest Service land and private property north of the City of Sisters and generally in the area of Indian Ford Road, Camp Polk Road, and Wilt Road.  

These are current as of Tuesday, July 21^st / 5 PM:

New Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notices:

• Forest lands (USFS and private) east of FS Road 2050, approximately 4 miles to the National Forest Boundary. Commonly referred to as the northern portion of Sage Flat and the southern portion of Stevens Canyon.

New Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notices:

• Forest land (USFS and private) east of Stevens Canyon Road and south of a line from Stevens Canyon Road and FS 2050/390 spur, east approximately 4 miles to the National Forest Boundary, and South to Wilt Rd. Commonly referred to as the southern portion of Sage Flat.
• Private property on the north of Indian Ford Creek Road to the Forest Boundary.

New Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notices:

• Areas between Indian Ford Creek and Camp Polk Road and Indian Ford Road from the 69600 Block of Camp Polk Road north to Hwy 20.

EXISTING EVACUATION NOTICES

Level 3 (Go Now)

The following area is now at Level 3 (Go Now):

• Northern part of Stevens Canyon Road between Forest Road 2050 and west of Wilt Road north of Big Buck Road.
• Forest lands (USFS and private) east of FS Road 2050, approximately 4 miles to the National Forest Boundary. Commonly referred to as the northern portion of Sage Flat and the southern portion of Stevens Canyon

Level 3 means GO NOW! Residents in this area should leave immediately. Do not take time to gather belongings or attempt to protect property. Drive carefully, use headlights, and follow traffic safety instructions. Do not return until officials announce it is safe.

Level 2 (Be Set)

The following area is now at Level 2 (Be Set):

• Addresses on the east side of Wilt Road, north of Big Buck Road to the county line.
• Forest land (USFS and private) east of Stevens Canyon Road and south of a line from Stevens Canyon Road and FS 2050/390 spur east approximately 4 miles to the National Forest Boundary and South to Wilt Rd. Commonly referred to as the southern portion of Sage Flat.
• Forest Service lands west of FS 2052 to the FS 11 and north of private property off Indian Ford Rd.

Level 2 BE SET means residents should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Conditions may change quickly, and residents should stay alert and keep essential items ready.

Level 1 (Be Ready)

Previously Issued and Still in Effect. Existing Level 1 areas include:

• Wilt Road north of Buffalo Drive to Big Buck Rd.
• Northern single lane section of Mountain View Road
• Pine Ridge Rd and Fox Ridge Circle off of Indian Ford Road
• Areas between Indian Ford Creek and Camp Polk Road and Indian Ford Road from the 69600 Block of Camp Polk Road north to Hwy 20.
• Private property on the north of Indian Ford Road to the Forest Boundary.

Level 1 BE READY means residents should remain aware of the fire situation and be prepared if evacuation levels increase.

Akawa Fire information can be found at https://facebook.com/akawabuttefire

Additional Resources:

• The Red Cross continues to support evacuees with a shelter at Sisters High School: 1700 W. McKinney Butte Rd.
• The Pet Evacuation Team is available to support animal-related evacuation needs. They can be reached at 541-610-6628.
• Community members are encouraged to sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive timely emergency notifications: https://deschutesalerts.org
• For a live map of evacuation areas, visit deschutes.org/emergency or protect.genasys.com
• For additional fire information and regional updates, visit: https://centraloregonfire.org

Deschutes County, Ore. -- Fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have added new Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation areas for the Akawa Butte Fire as fire activity continues to shift to the Southwest. The expanded zone is primarily on Forest Service land, and no structures exist in that area.   

New Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notices as of Tuesday, July 21^st:  

• Forest Service lands east of FS Road 2052 and west of FS Road 2050 (Garrison Butte area).

EXISTING EVACUATION NOTICES

Level 3 (Go Now)

The following area is now at Level 3 (Go Now):

• Northern part of Stevens Canyon Road between Forest Road 2050 and west of Wilt Road north of Big Buck Road.

Level 3 means GO NOW! Residents in this area should leave immediately. Do not take time to gather belongings or attempt to protect property. Drive carefully, use headlights, and follow traffic safety instructions. Do not return until officials announce it is safe.

Level 2 (Be Set)

The following area is now at Level 2 (Be Set):

• Addresses on the east side of Wilt Road, north of Big Buck Road to the county line.

Level 2 BE SET means residents should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Conditions may change quickly, and residents should stay alert and keep essential items ready.

Level 1 (Be Ready)

Previously Issued and Still in Effect. Existing Level 1 areas include:

• Wilt Road north of Buffalo Drive to Big Buck Rd.
• Northern single-lane section of Mountain View Road
• Forest Service lands west of FS 2052 to the FS 11 and north of private property off Indian Ford Rd.

Level 1 BE READY means residents should remain aware of the fire situation and be prepared if evacuation levels increase.

Akawa Fire information can be found at https://facebook.com/akawabuttefire

Additional Resources:

• The Red Cross continues to support evacuees with a shelter at Sisters High School: 1700 W. McKinney Butte Rd.
• The Pet Evacuation Team is available to support animal-related evacuation needs. They can be reached at 541-610-6628.
• Community members are encouraged to sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive timely emergency notifications: https://deschutesalerts.org
• For a live map of evacuation areas, visit deschutes.org/emergency or protect.genasys.com
• For additional fire information and regional updates, visit: https://centraloregonfire.org

###

Deschutes County, Ore. -- Fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have added new evacuation levels for the Akawa Butte Fire as fire activity continues to shift and threaten nearby areas.

New Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notices as of Monday, July 20th:

• Forest Service lands east of the 11 road (Green Ridge Rd) and North of Indian Ford Rd to Garrison Butte
• North side of Indian Ford Road east to Camp Polk Road including Fox Ridge Circle and Pine Ridge Road.
• North side of Wilt Rd from Camp Polk to Big Buck.

EXISTING EVACUATION NOTICES

Level 3 (Go Now)

The following area is now at Level 3 (Go Now):

• Northern part of Stevens Canyon Road between Forest Road 2050 and west of Wilt Road north of Big Buck Road.

Level 3 means GO NOW! Residents in this area should leave immediately. Do not take time to gather belongings or attempt to protect property. Drive carefully, use headlights, and follow traffic safety instructions. Do not return until officials announce it is safe.

Level 2 (Be Set)

The following area is now at Level 2 (Be Set):

• Addresses on the east side of Wilt Road, north of Big Buck Road to the county line.

Level 2 BE SET means residents should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Conditions may change quickly, and residents should stay alert and keep essential items ready.

Level 1 (Be Ready)

Previously Issued and Still in Effect. Existing Level 1 areas include:

• Wilt Road
• North of Wilt and Big Buck Road
• Northern single lane section of Mountain View Road
• Deschutes County portion of Stevens Canyon Road west to Garrison Butte

Level 1 BE READY means residents should remain aware of the fire situation and be prepared if evacuation levels increase.

Akawa Fire information can be found at https://facebook.com/akawabuttefire

Additional Resources:

• A full shelter has been set up at Sisters High School located at 1700 W McKinney Butte Road, Sisters, OR, 97759
• Community members are encouraged to sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive timely emergency notifications: https://deschutesalerts.org
• For a live map of evacuation areas, visit deschutes.org/emergency or protect.genasys.com
• For additional fire information and regional updates, visit: https://centraloregonfire.org

SHELTER LOCATION UPDATE
 

Sisters High School is now the shelter location for those needing assistance due to evacuations from the Akawa Butte Fire. 

Deschutes County, Ore. -- Fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have updated evacuation levels for the Akawa Butte Fire as fire activity continues to shift and threaten nearby areas.

Level 3 (Go Now)

The following area is now at Level 3 (Go Now):

Northern part of Stevens Canyon Road between Forest Road 2050 and west of Wilt Road north of Big Buck Road.

Residents in this area should leave immediately. Do not take time to gather belongings or attempt to protect property. Drive carefully, use headlights, and follow traffic safety instructions. Do not return until officials announce it is safe.

Level 2 (Be Set)

The following area is now at Level 2 (Be Set):

Addresses on the east side of Wilt Road, north of Big Buck Road to the county line.

Level 2 means residents should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Conditions may change quickly, and residents should stay alert and keep essential items ready.

Level 1 (Be Ready)

Previously Issued and Still in Effect. Existing Level 1 areas include:

• Wilt Road

• North of Wilt and Big Buck Road

• Northern single‑lane section of Mountain View Road

• Deschutes County portion of Stevens Canyon Road west to Garrison Butte

Level 1 means residents should remain aware of the fire situation and be prepared if evacuation levels increase.

A full shelter has been set up at Sisters High School. 

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive timely emergency notifications:

https://deschutesalerts.org

For additional fire information and regional updates, visit:

https://centraloregonfire.org

Redmond, Ore. -- All evacuation levels associated with the Oak Fire west of Redmond have now been lifted, and it is safe for residents to return home.

Forward progress on the fire has been stopped. The fire is estimated at approximately 5 acres. Firefighters will continue patrolling and conducting mop-up operations throughout the area. No structure losses have been reported.

All temporary shelters established for this incident are being closed.

###
 

Deschutes County, Ore. -- Fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office are updating evacuation levels for the Akawa Butte Fire, which continues to burn in Jefferson County near the Deschutes County line. 

Additional Level 1 (Be Ready) zones are being added west of the existing Level 1 areas added Friday, July 17.

New Level 1 Area (Added Sunday, July 19)

The Level 1 (Be Ready) zone is being expanded to include: The Deschutes County portion of Stevens Canyon Road extending west to Garrison Butte.

This expansion provides residents in the area with early notice and additional time to prepare should conditions worsen.

Existing Level 1 Areas (Issued Friday, July 17)

The following Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation areas remain in effect:

• Wilt Road

• North of Wilt and Big Buck Road

• Northern single‑lane section of Mountain View Road

What Level 1 Means

Level 1 (Be Ready) means residents should remain aware of the fire situation, monitor official updates, and prepare for possible evacuation. While evacuation is not required at this level, households should:

• Review their evacuation plan

• Gather essential items

• Be ready to leave quickly if conditions change

The Akawa Butte Fire continues to challenge firefighting efforts due to shifting winds and limited resources across the region. Fire officials will update evacuation levels as conditions evolve.

Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive timely emergency notifications:

https://deschutesalerts.org

For additional fire information and regional updates, visit:

https://centraloregonfire.org

###
 

Redmond, Ore. — Crews have made progress on the Oak Fire west of Redmond, allowing fire officials to lift evacuation notices for several areas. However, locations closest to the fire remain under Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation status and residents must continue to evacuate or stay out of the area.

Level 3 – (GO NOW) remains in place for the following areas:
• Kingwood Drive
• Maple Lane
• Oak Lane west of 101st

Residents in these areas should not return until officials determine it is safe.

Temporary Shelter:
Evacuated residents may go to Highland Baptist Church for temporary shelter.

---

Evacuation Notices Lifted
All other areas previously under Level 3 (GO NOW) or Level 2 (BE SET) evacuation notices are no longer under evacuation levels.

---

Stay Informed:
• Deschutes Alerts: https://www.deschutes.org/alerts
• Central Oregon Fire Info: https://centraloregonfire.org
• Local government social media channels
• TV and radio updates
• Cell phone emergency alerts
• www.deschutes.org/emergency

Only call 911 if you are experiencing an immediate life‑safety emergency.

###

UPDATED INFORMATION

The Deschutes County Fairgrounds is providing short-term horse sheltering.  The Pet Evacuation Team (PET) and Mustangs to The Rescue assisting with animal evacuation and sheltering. 

PET: https://www.petevacuationteam.com/

Mustangs to the Rescue:

https://www.mustangstotherescue.org/

Current LEVEL 3 (Go Now) and LEVEL 2 (Be Set) Evacuation Notices remain in place at this time.

Redmond, Ore. -- The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued new evacuation levels due to rapid fire growth on the Oak Fire, currently estimated at approximately 2 acres. The fire is moving quickly and burning adjacent to a residential area.

Level 3 – Go Now (Mandatory Evacuation)

Residents in the following area must evacuate immediately: North of HWY 126 to Kachina and the west end of Kingwood to 91st east.

Level 3 means Go Now:

There is extreme danger. Leave immediately. Do not take time to gather belongings or attempt to protect property. Public safety personnel may not be able to assist those who remain. Drive carefully, turn on headlights, and follow all traffic‑safety instructions. Do not return until officials announce it is safe.

Level 2 – Be Set (Be Ready to Evacuate Immediately) The following area is now at Level 2: West of 101st Street and south of HWY 126 to Eagle Crest Blvd.

Level 2 means Be Set:

Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Conditions may change quickly, and residents should have essential items ready and remain attentive to emergency updates.

After evacuating or if you are in a Level 2 area, continue to monitor local social media, television, radio, your phone, and www.deschutes.org/emergency for updated information.

Do not call 911 unless you are experiencing an immediate life‑safety emergency.

A temporary evacuation site has been set up at Highland Baptist Church by Red Cross. 
 

###
 

Elk Lake, Ore. -- On Saturday, July 18, 2026, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) responded to a call at 2:30 p.m. involving a 71‑year‑old male with a reported back injury near the Island Meadow Trailhead by Elk Lake. The male was approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead and unable to make it back on his own.

Thirteen SAR volunteers deployed to the area and located the male along the trail at 4:28 p.m. After an initial assessment, SAR volunteers utilized a single‑wheel litter—a rescue stretcher equipped with one wheel to assist with transport over uneven terrain—to safely move the patient back to the trailhead.

The male chose to self‑transport to the hospital with members of his party. No additional injuries were reported.

The Sheriff's Office extends its appreciation to the SAR volunteers for a quick and efficient response.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fatal ATV Crash During Brewer Fire Response

On July 20, 2026, at approximately 1:47 p.m., the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and Jefferson County Fire & EMS responded to a report of an ATV crash on private property at the north end of the Brewer Fire.

The investigation indicates that 58-year-old Stacy Chiddix of Madras was taking measurable efforts to protect his property from the advancing Brewer Fire when the incident occurred. While operating his personal ATV on steep terrain, Mr. Chiddix was ejected from the ATV, which subsequently overturned and pinned him beneath it.

Friends who were with Mr. Chiddix rushed to free him from underneath the ATV, began life-saving measures, and requested emergency assistance. Due to the remote location, steep terrain, and active fire conditions, emergency responders accessed the scene using off-road vehicles. Despite the immediate efforts of those on scene and responding emergency personnel, Mr. Chiddix succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Frontier 911 dispatchers played a critical role in coordinating the emergency response. Despite the remote location and difficult terrain, dispatch personnel were able to effectively communicate with those on scene, direct responding resources into the area, place Life Flight on standby, and coordinate the preparation of a nearby landing zone should air transport have been possible.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock, want residence and fire crews to know:

Stacy wasn't out recreating on his ATV. Although we encourage people to evacuate, property owners are not required to do so.   He was doing what some property owners that are impacted by the Brewer Fire have been doing, everything he could to protect the place he called home, and the memories that go along with his home. Our hearts go out to Stacy's family, his friends, and everyone affected by this tragic loss. We are also grateful to those who immediately came to his aid and to the firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and deputies who responded under extremely difficult conditions.

Active wildfire areas present many hazards beyond the fire itself. We encourage residents to leave however, if a property owner is working to protect their property to remain aware of their surroundings and use caution in these dynamic environments.

Respectfully

Jason Pollock, Sheriff

July 19, 2026-REDMOND, OR- At approximately 2:30pm this afternoon, Redmond Fire & Rescue was alerted to a reported brush fire in the 10400 block of NW Oak Ln in Redmond. Multiple callers reported trees catching fire and the fire spreading rapidly to the south. Based on this information, the incident commander upgraded the call to a third alarm and requested additional resources including air support.

As fire crews arrived on scene the fire was threatening nearby residential homes. Crews quickly deployed hand lines in an effort to protect the nearby homes. Currently no structures have been lost or damaged. The fire is currently at 5 acres in size.

Due to the rapid spread of the fire, air support was requested to respond, Two helicopters and two single air attack aircraft arrived on scene to help stop the spread of the fire.

Fire investigators determined that the property owner was shooting at an exploding target. The exploding target was impacted by the round from a .223 rifle round, when the target exploded the fire quickly began. While shooting on your private property may not be restricted, you can be held liable for any fires that start from shooting activities. 

The property owner has been cited for reckless endangering and reckless burning. 

July 17, 2026-REDMOND, OR- At approximately 4:30pm today Redmond Fire & Rescue was alerted to a brush fire in the Dry Canyon on the east side, west of NW Canyon Dr between NW Hemlock and NW Ivy.  First arriving crews reported 1/2 acre fire with a rapid rate of spread and fire spotting at the head of the fire. Due to the rapid spread of the fire up the canyon wall Redmond Police put a Level e evacuation in place for homes along NW Canyon Dr from Black Butte to Maple and a Level 2 evacuation for homes along the west side of the Dry Canyon. The Dry Canyon was closed from the Fir staircase to the Maple bridge.

Due to the rapid spread of the fire from the increased winds, the incident commander upgraded the call to a third alarm to 

bring in additional resources for structural protection.

The fire progressed into the backyards of two homes along NW Canyon Dr and damaged an out building and and ADU. One property had an excessive fuel load in the backyard and required the use of a mini excavator to remove the fuel to ensure full extinguishment.

Forward progress of the fire has been stopped at this time and fire crews will be remaining on scene extinguishing hot spots.

There were no reported injuries to homeowners or fire crews. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Redmond Fire & Rescue was assisted by Bend Fire & Rescue, Black Butte RFPD, Cloverdale RFPD, La PineFire & Rescue, Sunriver La Pine RFPD, Redmond Police, Redmond Public Works, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire,  USFS.

NAJAF TRAINING CENTER, Ore. — The elk found it first. Bedding down beneath the hazel trees on a wooded hillside here, the animals churned up ground that had rested undisturbed for generations, and when Oregon State University archaeologists walked the site, stone flakes left by Indigenous toolmakers were lying exposed in the elk beds.

"We knew that there had been sites recorded from the '90s, but nothing was recorded down in here," said Andrew Pauly, a second-year master's student in archaeology at Oregon State University helping teach the field school. "We got here, and there's a rodent burrow with a flake in it. We found dozens of flakes in the elk beds. They really did us a favor."

That chance discovery is now one of the focal points of a new archaeology field school underway at Najaf Training Center, a roughly 527-acre military training area about 10 miles north of Corvallis, Oregon. The four-week intensive course, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and Oregon State University, brings undergraduate and graduate students onto the land to learn professional archaeological methods while helping the department meet its federal cultural resources responsibilities.

On July 14, 2026, students spread across the hillside were excavating test units, screening soil and documenting artifacts on ground that has proven far richer than anyone anticipated.

"We're finding cultural materials in places that aren't sites, and as we're trying to further expand the site boundaries, it just keeps going," said Dr. Molly Carney, an assistant professor of anthropology at Oregon State University and the field school's instructor. "We can't really find the ends. The entire hillside is probably a cultural place."

The property, which is federal land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and licensed to the Oregon Military Department for military training, was first surveyed in the 1990s, when archaeologists identified 10 sites across the wooded hillside. The area holds what Carney described as a multi-component site, containing both pre-contact Indigenous materials and the historic homestead of Greenberry Smith, an early settler who claimed land there. In the field school's first month, students have recovered roughly a dozen projectile points along with ground stone tools, stone flakes and historic-era glass and ceramics.

The work directly supports the Oregon Military Department's obligations under federal historic preservation law. The department needs to thin the forest and clear invasive vegetation to make the terrain more usable for Soldier training, and before that can happen, it must determine whether the archaeological sites are significant and how they might be affected.

"Part of our federal responsibility is to determine, are these sites important, and if they are, are our actions going to impact them? And if they are going to be impacted, how do we mitigate that effect?" said Matt Diederich, environmental branch chief for the Oregon Military Department. "It all stems to forest management. That's the goal, to better manage the forest here."

Joshua Henderson, cultural resources manager for the Oregon Military Department, said the findings will eventually be evaluated for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office and the appropriate Tribes.

That consultation runs throughout the project. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, along with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, maintain ancestral connections to the Willamette Valley. Grand Ronde representatives have visited the field school weekly to share their perspective with students, including their preference for the term "belongings" rather than "artifacts" when describing recovered items.

"This isn't just a data point," said Michael Lewis, senior archaeologist for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "This is a place on a cultural landscape with memory, continuing practice on the landscape, and a connection to the past."

For Carney, that spirit of partnership defines the field school. During a recent week of geophysical survey training, she looked around at lunch and saw agency archaeologists, private-sector archaeologists, Tribal specialists and academics all working side by side.

"That's really what the field school is all about," she said. "It's about collaboration, about moving into the future while also thinking about the past, and training folks to explore different career opportunities related to cultural resource management or heritage more broadly."

For at least one student, the setting carries a personal connection. Nathan McCaslin, an undergraduate archaeology student, previously served in the Oregon Army National Guard, where he supported training operations across the state. His interest in the field was sparked in part by the cultural resources at Biak Training Center in Central Oregon, where remnants of World War II-era training still rest on the surface of the high desert landscape. He used military education benefits to pursue his degree.

"I think there's a lot of work out there to maintain the memory of those things," McCaslin said, "because we might not have them in the future."

The field school continues through the summer, with additional seasons planned in different portions of the hillside over the next two years. Wherever the students dig next, the ground beneath Najaf Training Center seems ready to keep offering up its history, with or without the elk's help.

Released B-Roll Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1015015/oregon-military-department-osu-partnership-turns-training-site-into-archaeology-classroom

Released Photos: 

260714-Z-ZJ128-1001

Oregon State University archaeology student Rebecca Chastain, left, brushes soil from a test unit as fellow student Caden Gonzales records field notes during the OSU Archaeology Field School at Najaf Training Center, Ore., July 14, 2026. The four-week field school, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and OSU, trains students in professional archaeological methods while supporting the department's cultural resources responsibilities ahead of planned forest management. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

260714-Z-ZJ128-1002

Oregon State University archaeology student Nathan McCaslin, a former Oregon Army National Guard Soldier, screens excavated soil for cultural materials during the OSU Archaeology Field School at Najaf Training Center, Ore., July 14, 2026. Students use wood-framed screens to sift soil from test units, recovering stone flakes, tools and historic-era items too small to spot during excavation. The four-week field school, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and OSU, trains students in professional archaeological methods while supporting the department's cultural resources responsibilities ahead of planned forest management. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

260714-Z-ZJ128-1003

Oregon State University Archaeology Field School students document a test unit as Andrew Pauly, standing, a graduate teaching assistant, photographs the excavation at Najaf Training Center, Ore., July 14, 2026. Students initially discovered the site while conducting a pedestrian survey of the area, spotting dozens of stone flakes exposed in nearby elk bedding areas. The four-week field school, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and OSU, trains students in professional archaeological methods while supporting the department's cultural resources responsibilities ahead of planned forest management. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

PORTLAND, Ore. – Statewide fire restrictions remain in effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington, and many local regions have additional restrictions in place. BLM leaders encourage all visitors to be aware of all active restrictions and closures as warmer weather continues across the Pacific Northwest.

As the region faces heightened fire danger, emergency managers are leveraging advanced ALERTWest AI-powered camera networks to detect new smoke ignitions in real time. These public-facing cameras scan regional landscapes using artificial intelligence to spot visual anomalies, allowing both emergency crews and community members to monitor active fire behavior and smoke plumes in real time.

“Technology is helping us detect fires sooner than ever before, but preventing human-caused fires still depends on the public,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “Following local restrictions remains one of the most effective ways people can protect their communities and public lands.”

Restrictions vary based on local fire danger, weather conditions and fuel moisture. Visitors must continue to research their destinations in advance, as local restrictions govern when visitors can use power tools, what kinds of stoves or campfires are allowed, and what type of safety equipment to have on hand. The following items remain strictly prohibited on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington:

• Fireworks and sky lanterns
• Exploding or metallic targets
• Tracer or incendiary devices
• Steel component ammunition (core or jacket)

“Our communities and public lands are much safer when we work together,” said Kim Prill, BLM Oregon/Washington Acting State Director. “Please continue to monitor local restrictions and take every precaution to prevent human-caused wildfires as we approach the peak of fire season in the Pacific Northwest.”

Officials warn that individuals responsible for starting wildfires face up to $100,000 in fines, 12 months in prison, and liability for all firefighting suppression costs.

For more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafire.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
 

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service conducts operations in close coordination with the Bureau of Land Management. As a unified federal entity under the Department of the Interior, the USWFS integrates expertise to streamline wildfire prevention, response and recovery under our shared mission to foster fire-resilient landscapes and safeguard communities across America’s public lands.

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will host its annual Veteran Benefit Expo, Oregon’s largest statewide veteran resource event, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg.

Presented by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the Veteran Benefit Expo brings together dozens of federal, state, county, Tribal, nonprofit, educational and community organizations to connect veterans, service members and their families with the benefits, services and opportunities they have earned through their service.

Participating organizations, service providers and veteran benefit and resource experts will be on hand to provide information and direct assistance across a wide range of topics, including VA health care, disability claims, housing, employment, education, long-term care, mental health, recreation, emergency assistance and more. The event will also feature a dedicated Veterans Job Fair connecting attendees with employers and workforce development partners.

“Our Veteran Benefit Expo is designed to be the one-stop shop for all veteran-related benefits and services,” said Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Whether someone recently left military service or served decades ago, we want every veteran and family member who walks through our doors to leave with awareness of veteran benefits they have earned, the resources available in their local communities, new opportunities and the knowledge that they are not alone.”

The Expo is free and open to the public.

Since its launch in 2015, the Veteran Benefit Expo has grown into ODVA’s signature outreach event, traveling to communities across Oregon to improve access to earned benefits and local resources while helping strengthen connections between veterans and the organizations that serve them.

The Oregon Lottery returns as the Expo’s presenting partner. Since Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved Measure 96 in 2016, allocating 1.5% of net Lottery proceeds to veterans’ services in the state, Lottery funding has expanded programs and services that improve the lives of Oregon veterans and their families throughout the state.

“Since voters directed a portion of our revenue to services for Oregon veterans, the Lottery has delivered more than $184 million,” noted Lottery Director Mike Wells. “Events like the Veteran Benefit Expo help connect veterans with the benefits they've earned, and we’re honored to play a role in promoting those important resources.”

Organizations interested in exhibiting at the Veteran Benefit Expo may register through Aug. 10. There is no cost to participate, though space is limited. Additional information about the event, including exhibitor registration and event details, is available at expo.oregondva.com.
 

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or Tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva. 

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SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Director Phil Castle announced today the appointment of Marcia Harnden as the agency’s next deputy director. She will assume the role in September following the departure of current Deputy Director Kathy McAlpine, who is resigning effective Aug. 14.
 

Harnden currently serves as Chief of Police in Albany, Ore., a position she has held since 2020. She is the current past president of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, is an executive board member with the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and is a founding member of the Northwest Women’s Law Enforcement Network. Prior to joining the Albany Police Department, Harnden spent 25 years with the Bellevue Police Department in Washington, where she served in multiple leadership roles before retiring as a captain.
 

“Marcia has a passion for training, a proven commitment to employee wellness, and a thoughtful and caring leadership style,” said Director Castle. “She is the ideal candidate to continue guiding DPSST’s mission, and I am thrilled to welcome her as our next deputy director.”
 

Outgoing Deputy Director Kathy McAlpine joined DPSST as director of the Professional Standards Division in January 2024 and was appointed as the agency’s deputy director in January 2025. Before joining DPSST, McAlpine served for six years as the chief of police in Tigard and spent more than 30 years with the Tacoma Police Department in Washington. She is leaving DPSST to serve as chief operating officer at South Sound 911 in Tacoma.
 

“I want to express my deepest appreciation to Kathy for being the best deputy and partner I could have asked for,” said Director Castle. “Her work ethic and dedication to our mission are second to none, and she has made a monumental impact at DPSST.”
 

Director Castle will assume the duties of the deputy director during the interim period between McAlpine’s departure and Harnden’s start.
 

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About DPSST
 

The mission of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is to pursue excellence in training and accountability for public safety professionals.
 

DPSST certifies and licenses police, corrections, and parole and probation officers, as well as regulatory specialists, emergency telecommunicators and medical dispatchers, criminal justice instructors, private security providers, private investigators, fire service professionals, and polygraph examiners in the state of Oregon.  
 

DPSST works with public and private safety agencies around the state to provide basic, leadership and specialized training at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem and regionally throughout the state.

Photo of the HOAG FIRE, courtesy of the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has activated the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) as of 8 a.m. on July 17, 2026, escalating to Level 3: Regional Response as wildfire conditions intensify across the state. At this time, the activation will be conducted in a hybrid format.

This activation allows OEM and partner agencies to increase coordination, situational awareness and resource support as wildfire danger escalates. Representatives from key state agencies will staff the ECC virtually to streamline communication and ensure timely assistance to affected communities.

Wildfire Conditions Across Oregon

Hot, dry weather and increasing winds are contributing to elevated fire danger in multiple regions. Several areas have entered Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches, with additional alerts expected as conditions worsen. Rapid fire spread, reduced visibility from smoke, and strain on local response resources remain ongoing concerns.

OEM urges people in Oregon to stay alert, take precautions to reduce wildfire risk, and be ready to act quickly should evacuation levels change.

Wildfire Safety and Preparedness

• Avoid activities that could spark a fire, such as using machinery that produces sparks or parking vehicles on dry grass.
• Create defensible space.
• Secure loose items outdoors and be mindful of wind-driven embers.
• Be aware of smoke conditions that could impact health and visibility.
• Follow all local fire restrictions and closures.
• If you see smoke or fire, report it immediately to 911.

Evacuation Readiness

Evacuations are currently happening in many communities around the state, and this emphasizes the importance of being ready at any time. Pack now to avoid a panicked rush at the last second.

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, grab and go, emergency bag. Read more about wildfire preparation here.

Understand evacuation levels

1. Be Ready – Prepare to evacuate.
2. Be Set – Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
3. GO NOW – Leave immediately; danger is imminent.

Stay Informed

• Sign up for emergency alerts at gov and ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on your mobile device.
• Monitor weather and fire updates through trusted sources such as local emergency managers, county sheriffs’ offices, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, and federal land management agencies.
• Check road conditions at com or by calling 511.
• View real-time hazard updates, maps, and fire information through OEM’s Wildfire Dashboard.
• Follow your county’s office of emergency management and OEM on social media.

Stay Connected

Visit Wildfire.oregon.gov to access wildfire preparedness resources, visit the OEM website to sign up for agency updates, and learn how to Be 2 Weeks Ready for any disaster.

Salem, Ore—The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is pleased to announce the approval and publication of the Recovery Support Function (RSF) annexes, completing the Oregon Disaster Recovery Plan (ODRP), Volume IV of the State of Oregon Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). With these annexes finalized, Oregon now has a fully comprehensive statewide recovery plan aligned with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF). This timing is critical for fire season and the upcoming October state‑level exercise, Lahar’d Times.

“The Oregon Disaster Recovery Plan strengthens our state's ability to support communities when disaster strikes,” OEM Disaster Recovery Program Manager Quinn Butler said. “With the RSF annexes now in place, Oregon has a complete, coordinated, and equitable approach to recovery that ensures communities have the resources they need to rebuild stronger and more resilient. This work could not have been accomplished without the tremendous support and collaboration of our state agency partners.”

The ODRP and its newly finalized annexes were developed under the authority of Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 401 and align with the National Disaster Recovery Framework published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The plan reflects lessons learned from recent disasters, including the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires, and incorporates best practices to support Oregon in managing recovery operations effectively.

“Across Oregon, communities are facing multiple wildfires, and moments like these remind us why preparation matters,” OEM Director Erin McMahon said. “This fully complete recovery plan reflects the collective work and dedication of numerous state agencies. This work, combined with recent legislative actions that created new state grant programs to support both public and individual assistance—programs we hope will be fully funded in the next biennium—places Oregon in the strongest position it has ever been to help Oregonians recover after disaster.”

The ODRP provides an all‑hazards, scalable outline of statewide recovery operations that can be implemented for incidents of varying size and complexity. Key components include:

Recovery Organization: Roles and responsibilities for state, local, Tribal, and federal partners and the organizational structures used during recovery.

Recovery Concept of Operations: How recovery activities are organized, coordinated, and managed at the state level, including the recovery continuum and the transition from response to recovery.

Equity Vision: A commitment to ensuring recovery efforts meet the needs of disproportionately impacted communities and promote accessible, inclusive solutions.

Recovery Support Functions (RSFs): Seven RSFs—Community Assistance, Economic Recovery, Health Services, Human Services, Disaster Housing, Infrastructure Systems, and Natural and Cultural Resources—each now supported by detailed governing annexes that outline capabilities, coordination structures, and responsibilities.

Why It Matters

Wildfires, floods, landslides, winter storms and other disasters can have long‑lasting impacts across Oregon. With the RSF annexes now approved, Oregon has a fully comprehensive recovery plan that provides clear guidance for restoring essential services, rebuilding infrastructure, and supporting economic, health, housing, social, and environmental recovery.

The plan emphasizes whole‑community collaboration across government, Tribal Nations, nonprofits, businesses and residents to ensure recovery is locally driven and state supported.

Next Steps

With the governing annexes now published, OEM will:

• Convene quarterly meetings with recovery partners to maintain alignment and readiness.
• Provide technical assistance, training, exercises, and funding opportunities to local and Tribal jurisdictions to support whole‑community recovery planning and capacity building.
• Continue developing and implementing recovery strategies to help communities strengthen resilience before and after disasters.
• Exercise the full recovery plan during the statewide exercise Lahar’d Times in October, focusing on post‑volcanic event recovery processes outlined in the ODRP and its RSF annexes.

What You Can Do

Community members can support recovery readiness by connecting with local emergency management offices, participating in local volunteer programs and ensuring personal preparedness:

• Review insurance coverage for hazards in your region.
• Use OEM’s Be2WeeksReady Toolkit to prepare your household.
• Join CERT or your county’s volunteer search and rescue team.
• Become a Search and Rescue volunteer with your local sheriff’s office.
• Do an annual insurance check-up to ensure you have adequate coverage for all hazards—remember to confirm you have flood and wildfire insurance.
• Develop a personal PACE communications plan. What is your primary contact information, what is your alternative, contingent, emergency. You and your family should have multiple ways to connect in an emergency.

Recovery is a whole‑community effort, and every action taken before a disaster strengthens Oregon’s ability to recover afterward.

The following agencies greatly assisted with the creation of the Oregon Disaster Recovery Plan and its Annexes:  Business Oregon, Bureau of Labor and Industries, Department of Administrative Services, Department of Consumer and Business Serv ices, Department of Corrections, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Department of State Lands, Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture supports, Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs, Oregon Department of Emergency Management – Statewide Interoperability Coordinator, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Medical Board, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department / State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Public Utility Commission, Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon State Police, Oregon State University Extension, Oregon Water Resources Department, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Youth Authority, Regional Solutions Team, Secretary of State and Travel Oregon. 

Training and educating Oregon workers about staying safe and healthy while on the job is vital to cultivating safe and healthy working conditions. To help expand training and education opportunities, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) offers a grant program that supports ideas to improve the safety and health of Oregon workers in high-hazard industries. And we are ready to help you bring your ideas to fruition.

The division is accepting grant applications to create innovative workplace safety or health training or education projects. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Oregon OSHA prioritizes  projects that engage workers on essential workplace safety or health topics. Projects may include an eye-catching safety publication or a time-saving training video or a multi-media package of best practices for a specific job task.

Go online to learn about how to apply or contact Theodore (Ted) Bunch at 971-375-8001 or email e.bunch@dcbs.oregon.gov">theodore.bunch@dcbs.oregon.gov. A fact sheet includes more details about the grant program.  

The grant program focuses on high-hazard industries in Oregon, including forestry, construction, and agriculture. A grant application may concentrate on a specific work process, targeting a reduction or elimination of related hazards. Nonprofit organizations, labor and employer associations, and educational institutions may apply for grants.

Grants may not be used to pay for projects that are purely for research, ongoing activities, or for activities required by law. Only new or substantially expanded projects will be considered for funding. Oregon OSHA is seeking project ideas that advance workplace safety and health training or education. We are not looking for ideas that handle concerns that have already been addressed. Materials produced by grant recipients cannot be sold for profit. All grant materials become available to the public. Depending on the type of project, some materials will be housed in the Oregon OSHA Resource Center while some will be available online.

Some examples of past grant projects include:

• Translation into Spanish of pesticide labels used in reforestation in Oregon and Washington
• Development of a series of toolbox talks addressing suicide prevention in the construction industry
• A virtual reality training for health care providers to help identify hazards related to infection control and prevention in hospitals
• Creation of safe-design guidelines for anchoring systems used as part of logging operations
• An educational program for nurses to prevent ergonomic-related injuries
• Videos and related training aids describing the most prevalent health hazards in construction: silica, lead, noise, and asbestos
• Spanish-language flip charts designed to help prevent heat illness among forest workers

The Oregon Legislature launched the Occupational Safety and Health Education and Training Grant Program in 1990. Award recommendations are made by Oregon OSHA’s Safe Employment Education and Training Advisory Committee, a group with members from business, labor, and government.

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) is reminding employers of requirements to protect workers from the hazards of extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The division offers free resources to help employers comply with requirements and to help workers understand their rights to safe and healthy workplaces.

Heat illness prevention

Under Oregon’s heat illness prevention rule, employers must implement protections, including adequate water, rest, shade, acclimatization (gradual adaptation to working in the heat), communication and training, and emergency plans. The rule applies to workplaces whenever an employee is working and the heat index equals or exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. More protective measures apply when the heat index exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heat illness prevention requirements apply across industries and where employers provide housing as a condition of employment. Here are the key requirements:

• General workplaces: English/Spanish 
• Employer-provided housing: English/Spanish

All heat illness prevention resources are available on Oregon OSHA's A-to-Z topic index page. They include a video training in English and Spanish that satisfies certain training elements of the rule.

Wildfire smoke

Oregon’s wildfire smoke rule applies to employers whose employees are or will be exposed to hazardous levels of wildfire smoke. The harmful chemicals and tiny particles in wildfire smoke can make anyone sick. The tiny particles of most concern is the particulate matter with a diameter in micrometers of 2.5 or less, commonly referred to as PM2.5.

The rule’s protective measures include assessment and monitoring of air quality where workers are exposed; provision and documentation of employee training; implementation of two-way communication; use of engineering and administrative controls, such as relocation of workers to enclosed buildings or to outdoor locations where air quality is better, and work schedule changes to reduce exposures; and use of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved filtering facepiece respirators.

The key requirements are available in English and Spanish. Go online to watch an Oregon OSHA video about how to put on and use a respirator.

All wildfire smoke resources are available on Oregon OSHA's A-to-Z topic index page. They include a video training in English and Spanish that satisfies certain training elements of the rule.

Free resources for employers

Oregon OSHA offers free resources to help improve workplace safety and health, including:

Consultation services – provides employers free and confidential help with safety and health programs, including how to control and eliminate hazards, and hands-on training. The services involve no fault, no citations, and no penalties.

• Phone (toll-free in Oregon): 800-922-2689
• Field offices
• Online
• Email: consult.web@dcbs.oregon.gov

Technical staff – helps employers understand requirements and how to apply them to their worksites

• Phone (toll-free in Oregon): 800-922-2689
• Online
• Email: tech.web@dcbs.oregon.gov

Worker safety and health rights

Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, workers have a right to a safe and healthy workplace and the right to raise concerns free of retaliation. Under the law, employers must maintain safe and healthy working conditions.

More resources
 

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, which includes Oregon OSHA as a division, maintains the Multicultural Communications Program that provides outreach to communities with limited English proficiency. That outreach encompasses information about on-the-job safety and health.
 

The Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers provides help with understanding workplace safety and health rights, and workers’ compensation rights.

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. — The Adaptive Management Program Committee will meet virtually at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28. To join, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Report from AMPC-IRST subcommittee on effectiveness monitoring strategy
• IRST Co-chairs presentation on scoping proposals on Amphibians questions 1 & 2
• Amphibians questions 1 & 2 into existing research agenda – This is a decision item

The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at ogram@odf.oregon.gov">adaptivemanagementprogram@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee The Adaptive Management Program Committee helps determine if forest practices are meeting their goals to protect natural resources through a science-based and transparent process. The committee sets the research agenda that the Independent Research and Science Team (IRST) implements. View more information on the AMPC webpage.

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is deploying its Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT) to manage the Brewer and Box Springs wildfires in the Prineville and Sisters area. This is the third and last ODF-staffed team the department has available.  The deployment is necessary due to the unusual early season “resistance to control” nature of these lightening caused fires in central Oregon.  

The Brewer fire started Wednesday and grew to estimated 14,000 acres today; on Thursday it was at 3,000 acres. It is currently managed by ODF CIMT 2, but Team 2 also has the Pilot and Akawa fires. So, ODF CIMT 3 will take over the Brewer fire and the Box Springs fire. Box Springs was only 40 acres this morning but has grown rapidly.  It is burning in timber and grass.  ODF firefighters describe some of the terrain as steep nasty canyons and draws which make it difficult to battle.  

ODF fire managers stress patience and safety as resources are stretched thin and firefighters have been putting in long days and nights.  All local resources are committed but additional air and ground firefighting resources have been ordered through partnerships with other states.  However, it may take a while to fulfill all the requests since the Northwest region has multiple large fires asking for additional resources. 

The fires managed by both ODF CIMTs in central Oregon have evacuation orders that are issued by county sheriff’s offices, to see the latest and to set up alerts from the counties go to: https://centraloregonfire.org

 The public is urged to avoid these areas due to heavy firefighting traffic and possible road closures. 

ODF CIMT 3 is scheduled for an in-brief tomorrow at noon and then take over management of the Brewer and Box Springs fires at 6 p.m.  The incident command will be in Prineville.

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will hold a special virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 22, starting at 8:30 a.m. An Executive Session is scheduled immediately following the board meeting. The focus of this special meeting is for the board to consider the adoption of the Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan. This meeting will be livestreamed on the department’s YouTube channel. 

The board’s business agenda includes:

• FTLAC comments
• Consider adoption of the Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan 

The full agenda is available on the board’s webpage.

The Executive Session will be closed to the public, except for members of the press who are permitted to attend by law. This Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection as well as pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(h) to consult with legal counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-302-6344 or by email at oardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov" target="_blank">boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov. 

The Oregon Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30 million-acre forestland base. Learn more about the board.

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is deploying its Complex Incident Management Team 2 (CIMT) to manage multiple central Oregon wildfires in the Prineville and Sisters area. The all ODF-staffed team will coordinate current and additional personnel and equipment assigned to the incidents.

The CIMT will battle the Brewer fire estimated at more than 3,000 acres, the Akawa fire at more than 3,200 acres and the Pilot fire at 100 acres.  The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 1 evacuation notice for the Brewer fire and a Level 1 and Level 2 notice for the Akawa fire.  For the Pilot fire the Cook County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 1 evacuation notice.  To see more information on the fires and to set up alerts from the counties go to: https://centraloregonfire.org

 The public is urged to avoid these areas due to heavy firefighting traffic and possible road closures.   

The team is scheduled for an in-brief tomorrow at noon and then schedule take over management of the fire at 6 p.m.  The incident command is expected to be in Sisters.

The Brewer fire started yesterday, and the Pilot and Akawa fires ignited today.  All three fires were caused by lightning.   Although there was rain in the area last night and today it was not enough to significantly impact the fires.  Dry fuels on the ground and continued warm weather will contribute to the fires’ intensity making fighting the fires challenging and the need for additional resources including the CIMT. 

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Governing Board of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will meet in a special session on Wednesday, July 22, to review and approve the Agency Request Budget. This public meeting will be conducted via teleconference from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The meeting agenda, including call-in information, is available at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/about/govboard/boardagenda_7_22_2026.pdf

The DOGAMI Governing Board sets policy, oversees general operations, and adopts a strategic plan every six years. The Board meets at least quarterly. As active members of their communities, Board members provide an important connection between Oregonians and DOGAMI’s mission of providing earth science information and regulation to make Oregon safe and prosperous.

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Media resources

Instead of conducting individual interviews for this announcement, ODHS will host a virtual media availability on Tuesday, July 21, from 2 to 2:20 p.m. Members of the media will have an opportunity to ask questions about SNAP work or activity rules, volunteering and available supports. You may join the event using this Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/216549316424242?p=6xpmIxQS2Az27JblWp

A recording of the media availability will be available after the event for media unable to attend live: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12330638

A Spanish-language video summarizing this news release is available on Vimeo. Spanish-language media may request interviews or submit questions in Spanish by contacting ODHS Bilingual Communications Officer ma.A.Taylor@odhs.oregon.gov">Adriana Taylor.
 

Salem, OR. —Helping in a community garden. Volunteering at a food pantry. Assisting in a child's classroom. Many Oregonians may already be volunteering in ways that could help them meet federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work and activity rules.

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is encouraging anyone who has questions about SNAP work or activity rules to contact the agency to discuss options. Depending on a person's circumstances, volunteer activities may help them meet work requirements while giving back to their communities, building skills and confidence that may support future employment, and strengthening local communities.

How volunteering may help

Ways people might volunteer include, but are not limited to:

• Helping in a community or school garden
• Helping in a classroom or school library
• Volunteering at a food pantry or community meal site
• Helping at an animal shelter
• Assisting at a senior center or community center
• Supporting nonprofit organizations through office, event or maintenance work
• Participating in community service projects
• Coaching youth sports or helping with after-school programs
• Organizing or staffing community events such as festivals, charity runs, or cultural celebrations
• Helping at local parks with clean‑ups, trail maintenance, or habitat restoration
• Mentoring or tutoring students

What to do if you have questions

Contact ODHS if you’re volunteering and would like to learn how your volunteer hours can count for SNAP. ODHS staff can explain how to document your hours.

You may also learn more about how volunteering counts toward SNAP work and activity rules, documenting volunteer hours and submitting proof to ODHS at  Oregon.gov/snapworkrules or Oregon.gov/snapnormastrabajo.

"Many people are already giving back to their communities and growing their skills, but don't realize those same activities may also help them meet SNAP work or activity rules," said Jessica Amaya Hoffman, ODHS SNAP Director. "Volunteering can be a meaningful way to serve your community while building skills and experience that may open doors to future employment. The most important thing people can do is contact us. We'll help them understand their options."

Every person's situation is different. Some people may qualify for an exemption from SNAP work or activity rules, while others may already be meeting the requirements through work, education, training or volunteer activities.

People who think they may qualify for an exemption or want to report volunteer hours or other work activities can complete the Report of Exemptions, Paid or Unpaid Work, or Good Cause form. The form can help identify whether someone may qualify for an exemption and report volunteer hours or other work activities to ODHS. The form is available in English and Spanish.

People may choose volunteer opportunities in their communities that fit their interests and schedule. ODHS does not match people with volunteer opportunities, but staff can explain how volunteer activities count toward SNAP work or activity rules. Many communities have websites or social media groups that collect and post local volunteer opportunities.

About SNAP work or activity rules

As of July 2025, federal changes expanded SNAP work or activity rules, increasing the number of Oregonians who need to meet these requirements to continue receiving food benefits. Adults ages 18 to 64 without a child under age 14 in their SNAP household are required to complete 80 hours of work or volunteering each month unless they qualify for an exemption or live in a waived area. (More information about exemptions and waived areas can be found at Oregon.gov/snapworkrules.) For each month these hours are not met, a counting month notice is sent out. ODHS encourages anyone who receives a SNAP counting month notice to reach out to the work or activity rules team (ABAWD Team) at 1-833-947-1694 or AWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov">SNAP.ABAWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

How ODHS can help

People who contact ODHS may:

• Review the list of exemptions and explore if any apply to them.
• Complete the Report of Exemptions, Paid or Unpaid Work, or Good Cause form to report volunteer hours, work activities or possible exemptions. This form is available in English, Spanish, and several other languages.
• Let ODHS know they are volunteering and provide proof of any volunteer activities they already participate in.
• Learn how to document volunteer hours and submit proof to ODHS. SNAP participants are responsible for submitting proof of their volunteer hours.
• Be connected with WorkSource Oregon and other employment and training resources.

Learn more

For more information about SNAP work or activity rules and exemptions:

• English: Oregon.gov/snapworkrules
• Spanish: Oregon.gov/snapnormastrabajo

ODHS ABAWD Team:

• Call: 1-833-947-1694
  • Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
  • Relay calls are accepted, and language interpreters are available.
• Email: AWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov">SNAP.ABAWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov

NOTE: This alert has been updated to include that Stella Dolton is suspected to be in the Klamath Falls or Portland areas.

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Stella Rose Dolton, age 15 who went missing from Klamath Falls on July 16, 2026. They are believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Stella Rose Dolton and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see Stella.

Stella Dolton is suspected to be in the Klamath Falls or Portland area.

Sometimes when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report suspected child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Child Legal Name: Stella Dolton

Child Preferred Name: Clay Dolton

Pronouns: she/they

Age: 15

Height: 5’2

Weight: 147 pounds

Hair color: brown hair/shoulder length

Eye color: greenish/blue

Specific Identifying Characteristics: green pants with a black shirt

Law enforcement agency name and report #: Klamath Falls Police Department  202607160050

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Report #: 2095475

Date Missing: July 16, 2026

Suspected and/or frequented location(s): Klamath Falls/Medford Area

The Oregon Department of Revenue has released the 2026 edition of its annual, Oregon Personal Income Tax Statistics report covering Tax Year 2024. Personal Income Tax is the state’s largest source of tax revenue and is forecast to provide about 84 percent of the General Fund for the 2025–27 biennium.

What is the Oregon Personal Income Tax Statistics report?

This publication tells the story of how personal income tax is calculated for individual taxpayers, provides demographic information describing who Oregon’s taxpayers are, and compares the most recent characteristics of taxpayers with data from previous years dating back to 2013. The statistics presented are based on tax year 2024 income tax returns received by the Oregon Department of Revenue in the 2025 calendar year.

Who uses the Oregon Personal Income Tax Statistics report?

The report provides information valuable to businesses, government officials, policymakers, taxpayers, the general public, and media reporting on tax and revenue issues.

Where can you get the Oregon Personal Income Tax Statistics report?

The report can be accessed online at (spell out website URL) and is presented in PDF format so that pages, sections, or the entire report can be easily printed. Detailed tables, and additional information about Oregon’s personal income tax, such as publications and forms, can be found on the Oregon Department of Revenue statistics webpage.

New program supports children experiencing homelessness

July 20, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie,  PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisories issued for Brownlee, Hells Canyon reservoirs July 20

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued recreational use health advisories today for Brownlee Reservoir and Hells Canyon Reservoir due to elevated microcystin levels.

Brownlee Reservoir is in Baker County and Hells Canyon Reservoir is in Baker and Wallowa counties. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also issued advisories for the cross-border reservoirs July 20.

People should avoid swimming and other water activities with a high risk of swallowing water or inhaling water droplets in areas of the lake where blooms are present. Ingestion or inhalation of water is the exposure route of concern. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA issued the advisories due to levels of cyanotoxin that exceed the recreational use value (RUV). OHA’s RUVs are designed to protect the most vulnerable, including children, who have a higher activity level and are more likely to swallow water while recreating.

OHA encourages people to visit Brownlee and Hells Canyon reservoirs and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing, and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source for drinking and cooking.

Symptoms for people, pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size, level of activity, and likelihood of swallowing water.

For people, exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crusts along the shore. This is regardless of whether a recreational use health advisory in place. Symptoms in dogs can include difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, and loss of appetite, and more.  If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible. OHA recommends keeping dogs on leashes, away from affected water and mat material, to help reduce the chance of exposure.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs, where toxins are more likely to build up, before cooking or freezing. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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July 17, 2026 

Media Contact: Kim Lippert, Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov

New residential treatment facility to open in Salem

SALEM, Ore. – Behavioral health professionals and local partners gathered on July 15 to celebrate the opening of Ruth Marie House, a new residential treatment facility that expands housing and treatment options for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Marion County.

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) supported development of the 10-bed facility through a $1.3 million investment from House Bill 5024, which became law in 2021. The home provides 24-hour residential treatment in a supportive setting that helps people build skills, increase independence and support long-term recovery.

“Every person deserves the opportunity to recover and thrive in their own community,” said Ebony Clarke, OHA’s Behavioral Health Division director. “Ruth Marie House expands access to community-based behavioral health services in Marion County and provides people with the support, stability and dignity they need on their recovery journey.”

Ruth Marie House is named in honor of Ruth Marie Carroll, whose leadership and advocacy helped establish residential behavioral health services in Marion County nearly 50 years ago. Alongside her husband, Donald Carroll, she helped expand care for people living with serious mental health challenges.

Ruth Marie House supports OHA's goal to expand home and community-based behavioral health services so more people can receive care where they live.

“Mental health is huge and everyone needs help and support,” said Erica Ouderkirk, administrator at Ruth Marie House. “It’s great to provide that care for people and see their accomplishments.”

Residents are expected to move in over the next few months.

The Ruth Marie House is a new residential treatment facility that expands housing and treatment options for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Marion County.

Community members and behavioral health professionals gathered at the Ruth Marie House to tour the new home for adults recovering from severe and persistent mental illness in Marion County.

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July 16, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Mosquito pool in Jackson County tests positive for West Nile virus

Disease’s detection in insects collected at Eagle Point trap is first of 2026

PORTLAND, Ore.—West Nile virus (WNv) has been detected in a mosquito pool collected July 15 in Eagle Point, marking the first time in 2026 that the virus has been detected. 

July, August and September are considered peak months for WNv activity in Jackson County.  The mosquitoes were collected by the Jackson County Vector Control District as part of a routine surveillance program and DNA testing. 

Mosquito pools are traps that hold up to 50 insects. County vector control districts around the state use the pools to collect mosquitoes so they can be tested for mosquito-borne diseases that affect humans and animals, such as birds and horses.  

Residents are urged to take basic precautions against mosquitoes since WNv is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People should consult their health care providers if they experience any flu-like symptoms, especially in people older than 50 with underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Health care providers can contact the Jackson County Health Department for information on WNv testing. 

The virus also affects wildlife and domesticated and farm animals. Horse owners should get their horses vaccinated for WNv. Horses with neurologic disease should be examined by a veterinarian. WNv testing is available at Oregon State University. 

OHA and the Jackson County Vector Control District suggest these steps to protect against mosquitoes: 

• Eliminate or treat sources of standing water around your home.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Use repellants containing DEET, oil of lemon/eucalyptus, or Picardin  (always follow label directions).
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors.
• Ensure that screen doors and windows are in good condition and fit tightly. 

West Nile virus is detected every year in Oregon, although mostly in mosquito pools. In 2023, the virus was found in 70 mosquito pools, four horses and 17 people; in 2024, there were 21 West Nile-positive mosquito pools, but no human or animal infections; in 2025, 11 mosquito pools, two horses and two people—both of the human infections were acquired outside Oregon—were infected. 

Additional information about West Nile virus: 

• OHA website: http://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/DiseasesAZ/WestNileVirus/Pages/survey.aspx
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.html

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July 16, 2026

Media Contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov 

Lower Umatilla well users urged to re-test drinking water this summer 

Concentrations of nitrate can be higher in domestic wells during warmer months, OHA officials say

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is encouraging residents of the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) to test their well water for nitrate this summer, a time of the year when concentrations of the chemical can be higher.

OHA is kicking off a summer education and testing campaign with the slogan “Ready to Well Test? Summer is best!” that reminds domestic well users in the LUBGWMA about the importance of testing between July and September. Limited nitrate data OHA has collected in the area since March 2023 show that levels of nitrate increase during summer months.

The LUBGWMA is an area spanning northern Morrow County and northwestern Umatilla County designated by the state due to high nitrate in groundwater that supplies domestic wells.

OHA and county public health staff and volunteers will go door to door in LUBGWMA communities in August and September to offer free well testing. Households with a laboratory nitrate test result above 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) can receive free water delivery. For households whose well water tests higher than 10 mg/L but below 25 mg/L, OHA will pay for installation and maintenance of one in-home reverse-osmosis system certified to reduce nitrate levels to safe for drinking (treatment systems are not certified to remove nitrate at levels above 25 mg/L).

More information about the locations, dates, and times for door-to-door canvassing in the area will be provided closer to the August canvassing period.

Nitrate in well water is a potential health hazard, and levels above 10 mg/L can be dangerous for human consumption. Pregnant people and babies face the greatest risk. Retesting households with well water close to the health action level of 10 mg/L of nitrate is especially important because nitrate levels can fluctuate during different seasons of the year.

“The goal of the OHA Domestic Well Safety Program is to determine public health risk from nitrate exposure in domestic wells, so first-time samples and seasonal re-samples of well water are best collected during the period most likely to reflect a worst-case scenario,” said Ana Piñeyro, coordinator of the Domestic Well Safety Program in OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section.

Anyone who lives in the LUBGWMA can get a free nitrate laboratory analysis of their well water by visiting the website testmywell.oregon.gov (in Spanish at pruebadepozo.oregon.gov) or emailing Domestic.Wells@odhsoha.oregon.gov. They can also call the OHA Domestic Well Safety Program at 541-952-9254.

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The Oregon State Marine Board will hold its quarterly hybrid meeting on July 30 at the Inn at Cross Keys Station, 66 NW Cedar Street, in Madras. The meeting will be held in the main conference room beginning at 8:30 am.

Agenda items include:

• Director’s Report, Informational
• Siletz River Rulemaking – Board Vote
• Aquatic Invasive Species Program Update – Informational
• Life Jacket Rules -Option to Initiate Rulemaking
• Reciprocity with Idaho Guides and Outfitters – Option to Initiate Rulemaking
• Leadership Elections for Chair and Vice Chair – Board Vote

Public comments will be accepted in writing or during the meeting’s public comment period before discussing the agenda items. The agency will not be taking any testimony pertaining to any agenda items where the comment period has already closed. To provide oral testimony on non-agenda items, register by 5 p.m., July 27, with Jennifer Cooper at .cooper@boat.oregon.gov">jennifer.cooper@boat.oregon.gov or by mail: Oregon State Marine Board, Attn: Jennifer Cooper, 435 Commercial St. NE, Suite 400, Salem, OR 97301.

Meeting materials and live stream link are available on the agency’s Public Meetings page.

Meetings are conducted via the Microsoft Teams application, and viewing may require installing the free Teams app on mobile devices.

-End-

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment Tuesday charging Jonathann Uriel Ayala Garcia, 23, with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after his involvement in a transnational criminal organization (TCO).

According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating a Beaverton-based TCO involved in trafficking methamphetamine, firearms, and cocaine. In June 2026, investigators arrested Ayala Garcia after he arrived to sell narcotics. Investigators searched his vehicle and found approximately 16.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 168.3 grams of heroin.

Ayala Garcia was arraigned in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He pleaded not guilty and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on September 15, 2026.

If convicted, Ayala Garcia faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, 5 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $10 million.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

The DEA and ATF are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Hermann is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—An Ontario, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison last week for distributing methamphetamine.

Cody Bernal Carroll, 31, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and four years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in January 2023, law enforcement learned Carroll was distributing controlled substances. On February 9, 2023, Carroll sold a half a pound of methamphetamine, and, on February 23, 2023, he sold approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine. Pursuant to a search warrant at Carroll’s residence, investigators seized multiple firearms, including machine guns.

On October 5, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Carroll with distribution of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.

On March 10, 2025, Carroll pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

ATF and FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force, Ontario Police Department, and Oregon State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa E. LeRitz prosecuted the case.

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SALEM, Ore. - Because of the rapid growth and immediate threat posed by the Hagen Fire, the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked to provide additional resources to protect nearby homes and critical infrastructure. This marks the sixth time the act has been invoked in 2026, as Oregon continues to face a challenging fire season pushed by record-low snowpack and drier-than-normal fuel conditions.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing an incident management team and two structural task forces to the fire. These state resources will enter unified command with Northwest Team 7 to prioritize the protection of homes and critical infrastructure near the fire.

“We are facing not only challenging fire conditions but also low resource availability across the country,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “It is important now more than ever that Oregonians are wildfire aware and take actions like signing up for emergency alerts and preventing any new fires.”

As of Tuesday morning, the Hagen Fire is estimated at 5,685 acres and is located approximately nine miles southwest of Tollgate, Oregon. The fire burned actively overnight, creating spot fires that forced the withdrawal of crews working on the nearby Ninemile Fire. Firefighters are being challenged by steep, inaccessible terrain and temperatures expected to climb into triple digits this week.

The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, has issued evacuation notices. For the most recent information about evacuations please follow the local sheriff’s office.

Find information about the Hagen Fire and other fires in the Paradise Complex on the InciWeb page and on the official fire information Facebook page. Oregonians can sign up for emergency alerts at oralert.gov.

About the Oregon State Fire Marshal  

The Oregon State Fire Marshal became an independent state agency in July 2023. The agency is dedicated to protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. The OSFM works with local fire agencies, communities, and other partners to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and response statewide. Please note: the Oregon State Fire Marshal is no longer an office.

SALEM, Ore. – On Saturday morning, the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked for the Akawa Butte and Brewer fires in Deschutes and Jefferson counties. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is assigning its Red Incident Management Team and several task forces to the fires to work alongside its wildland partners to protect nearby communities and critical infrastructure.

Hot, dry weather and strong, shifting winds created difficult firefighting conditions across Central Oregon Friday. The fires have grown significantly, threatening nearby communities. The Deschutes and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices have levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices in place. Those looking for evacuation information should follow their local sheriff’s office.

Conditions will continue to be hot and dry on Saturday. The wind will be light in the morning but is expected to increase in the afternoon. Fire managers expect challenging, wind-driven fire activity later in the day.

“The conditions we’re seeing across Oregon have challenged firefighters for the past week and the current forecast isn’t providing much relief,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “I’m urging every Oregonian to be wildfire aware and to sign up for their county’s emergency alerts. Know the evacuation levels and follow them if they are issued.”

The Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management Team will be in unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Team 2.

This is the fifth time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2026. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is posting updates on incidents it has resources assigned to on osfminfo.org. Oregonians can sign up for emergency alerts at oralert.gov.

About the Oregon State Fire Marshal  
The Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal became an independent state agency in July 2023. The agency is dedicated to protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. The OSFM works with local fire agencies, communities, and other partners to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and response statewide. Please note: the Oregon State Fire Marshal is no longer an office.  

SALEM, Ore. – On Friday afternoon, the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked for the Rowe Creek Complex in Wheeler County. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has assigned its Green Incident Management team and four task forces from Clackamas and Lane counties and two from the state of Washington.

The complex is made up of the Camel Hump, Crosswhite, and Redrock fires. As of Friday morning, the three fires had burned 15,018 acres; the estimated acreage is likely much higher based on fire behavior Friday afternoon.

The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office has levels 2 and 3 evacuation notices in place for communities near these fires. The agency is sharing evacuation information on their Facebook page and on their Genesys Protect dashboard.

On Thursday night, the Oregon State Fire Marshal assigned two structural task forces to Wheeler County through Immediate Response. These firefighters worked to protect homes and critical infrastructure. The region is seeing challenging fire conditions with tinder dry fuels and an unfavorable forecast with temperatures expected to climb into the upper 90s, and possibly triple digits. A Red Flag Warning is in place for parts of North Central Oregon through Friday night.

“The extreme fire conditions, the forecast, and these recent wildfires have challenged our firefighters,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We are using every tool at our disposal to protect homes and communities from these fires. I ask that every Oregonian pay close attention to these wildfires and if you are asked to evacuate to do so.”

The Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Incident Management Team will be in unified command with a federal incident management team, Northwest Team 2, which has also been assigned to the complex.

This is the fourth time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2026. It is also the fourth conflagration since July 10, 2026.

About the Oregon State Fire Marshal  
The Oregon State Fire Marshal became an independent state agency in July 2023. The agency is dedicated to protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. The OSFM works with local fire agencies, communities, and other partners to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and response statewide. Please note: the Oregon State Fire Marshal is no longer an office.

SALEM, Ore. – With Oregon’s fire protection resources heavily committed to wildfires across the state, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is bringing in five task forces from California and two task forces from Washington to focus on protecting communities and critical infrastructure as the state faces extreme fire conditions.

Earlier this week thunderstorms moved through the region, dropping thousands of lightning strikes and sparking numerous wildfires. These additional firefighters and equipment will support fires the state fire marshal has resources assigned to and will be available for any emerging incidents.

The resources were mobilized through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact in coordination with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.

“The Oregon fire service is doing extraordinary work across the state, but the number of active incidents is placing a significant demand on the system,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz‑Temple said. “Bringing in resources from other states is a common practice that supports the entire wildfire response system.”

The California resources will be assigned according to incident priorities and may support community defense, structure triage, protection of critical infrastructure, and other missions aligned with their qualifications. The task forces from Washington are working alongside Oregon crews in Wheeler County on the Rowe Creek Complex.

The Oregon Department of Forestry, tribal, and federal wildland agencies will continue managing wildland suppression operations within their respective jurisdictions. The Oregon State Fire Marshal resources, including those arriving from California and Washington, are focused on reinforcing local fire service capacity and community protection efforts.

“Oregon, California, and Washington have a long history of helping one another during emergencies,” Ruiz-Temple said. “Oregon firefighters supported California communities in 2025 during the Los Angeles wildfires, and we are grateful that our neighboring states are able to answer Oregon’s request for help.”

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has resources assigned to four conflagrations and one Immediate Response incident. For more information about the agency’s mobilizations and updates, visit https://osfminfo.org.

About the Oregon State Fire Marshal
The Oregon State Fire Marshal became an independent state agency in July 2023. The agency is dedicated to protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. The OSFM works with local fire agencies, communities, and other partners to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and response statewide. Please note: the Oregon State Fire Marshal is no longer an office.

SALEM, Ore. – On Wednesday night, the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked for the Lower Dry Creek Fire in Umatilla County. The Oregon State Fire Marshal began mobilizing structural protection task forces and its Red Incident Management Team. Local firefighters have been fighting the fast-moving fire near Milton-Freewater and Weston since it was reported Wednesday afternoon.

The fire is estimated to be more than 5,000 acres and was being pushed by gusty winds from passing thunderstorms and extremely dry conditions. The fire has prompted levels 2 and 3 evacuation notices by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office. Those seeking evacuation information can find updates on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized two structural task forces and air resources through Immediate Response. Additional structural task forces are being mobilized to boost capacity and protect property and critical infrastructure.

“Wednesday was an extremely active day for firefighters across the state as hot, dry weather coupled with thunderstorms elevated wildfire risk,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The forecast is calling for continued thunderstorms and temperatures into the mid-90s for the coming week. I’m asking every Oregonian to be aware of the wildfire threat and take steps to prevent sparking any new wildfires.”

This is the third time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2026.

About the Oregon State Fire Marshal

The Oregon State Fire Marshal became an independent state agency in July 2023. The agency is dedicated to protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. The OSFM works with local fire agencies, communities, and other partners to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and response statewide. Please note: the Oregon State Fire Marshal is no longer an office.

[Redmond, OR, July 21, 2026] – This Friday, Redmond Fire & Rescue will host a memorial blood drive in honor of a cherished colleague and friend, Michael Kienzle, who lost his battle with cancer last month.

Michael began his career in Corvallis, OR—initially as a volunteer in 2015 before becoming a professional firefighter in 2019. He joined the ranks of Redmond Fire & Rescue in 2024 and quickly became a valued member of the team. A dedicated husband and father, Michael was also passionate about mentoring young athletes in the community. Friends, family, colleagues, and community members are encouraged to donate blood in his honor on July 24.

This also comes at a time when there is an Emergency Blood Shortage.

Deputy Chief Redmond Fire & Rescue, Dustin Miller, weighed in on the upcoming event.

 “Blood donations save lives every day, and they are especially important for patients battling leukemia and other forms of cancer, who often rely on blood and platelet transfusions throughout their treatment. We see firsthand how critical these lifesaving resources can be. Hosting this blood drive is another way Redmond Fire & Rescue can honor Michael Kienzle’s service while we assist our community outside of emergency response. We encourage everyone who is able to donate and help make a meaningful difference in someone's fight."

• What: Michael Kienzle Red Cross Memorial Blood Drive
• Where: Redmond Fire & Rescue, 341 NW Dogwood Ave, Redmond, OR 97756
• When: July 24, 2026, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Media interviews between 8:30am-11:30am.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “KienzleStrong” to make an appointment.

This is important now more than ever as we are in an Emergency Blood Shortage across the country and every drop counts.  

Give blood July 13 to 31 for a Fandango Movie Reward by email to see a movie on us! Redblood.org/July

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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Today, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust published its Winter & Spring 2026 Grants Report. The report announces:

• 152 grants to Pacific Northwest nonprofits totaling $34,368,234.
• This includes $11,871,886 through 52 grants to nonprofits serving the Oregon community.
• The report can be found here. A full list of Strategic Project grants can be found here.

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a private, nonprofit foundation that has invested more than $1.5 billion in nonprofits serving the Pacific Northwest since 1975. For details, please visit our website murdocktrust.org.

July 16, 2026.   Oregon Parks Forever has joined the National Park Foundation,  the National Park Friends Alliance and 160 park philanthropic partners in a letter urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act (S.1547 / H.R.9250) to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)—a critical U.S. government fund dedicated to the stewardship and maintenance of America’s greatest treasures. The LRF is meant to address deferred maintenance backlogs affecting national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands managed by federal agencies.

Reauthorizing the LRF would increase the amount of money available to fix crumbling infrastructure, repair trails, and ensure that public lands remain safe and accessible, to between $1.9 Billion to $2.0 Billion annually and would extend the fund availability through 2033.

The letter, addressed to Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries, highlights the successes of the LRF since its creation under the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, and the urgent need for reauthorization following its expiration on September 30, 2025:

“The LRF provided $1.3 billion annually, totaling $6.5 billion over its five-year lifespan, to undertake nearly 400 priority infrastructure projects across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. This landmark investment in our national parks and public lands delivered measurable results and improvements to critical park infrastructure, including road repairs, trail and campground upgrades, restoration of historic structures, rehabilitation of utility systems, and modernization of visitor facilities."  

“These projects preserved America’s natural and historical legacy – uniquely American places that are the envy of the world. They enhanced access, improved safety, and elevated and modernized the visitor experience. In addition, the LRF’s investment delivered irrefutable economic impact, supporting more than 72,000 jobs, injecting $5 billion into the labor market nationwide, and contributing $8 billion to the nation’s GDP. These benefits have been felt most acutely by the local communities in every state and territory that surround and depend upon healthy, thriving parks.”

Oregon Parks Forever's Executive Director, Seth Miller, said "As a statewide non-profit working to enhance the visitor experience and accessibility of all parks across Oregon, Oregon Parks Forever sees the critical need for - and the impact of - catching up on deferred maintenance across all of the federally managed parks in the state."

Federal public land management agencies operating in Oregon who will benefit from the LRF include the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Of the nearly 60% of Oregon’s land that is owned by some government agency, approximately 53% of that is the federal government. The balance is owned by State and Local agencies.

Unfortunately, the LRF expired on September 30, 2025, and much work remains to keep our parks and public lands safe and accessible. While the LRF made sizable dents in the National Park Service’s (NPS) and other federal agencies maintenance needs, its reauthorization is essential if we are to sustain our national commitment to stewarding these cherished places. Renewing the LRF will allow NPS and the other public lands bureaus to expand the impact of these landmark investments to date. By leveraging and improving upon the systems already in place, with a strong emphasis on support from national park partners and nonprofits to deploy dollars where needed, new LRF funding will be utilized quickly, efficiently, and effectively for the highest-need infrastructure projects across the country