Wildfire Recent legislation and commentary from political figures Rep. Greg Walden appear to support more logging/thinning as a panacea for wildfire and forest health. It reminds me of the same approach that Medieval doctors took to illness. If a patient was sick, the solution was to “bleed” the “bad” blood from the individual. If the […]
wildfire
Posted inNews
A New Report Highlights a Vision For Wildfire Planning
1000 Friends of Oregon releases a report on land use and wildfires
California just witnessed the worst fire in the state’s recorded history: 86 confirmed deaths and nearly 14,000 homes destroyed in the Camp Fire in November. Last year in Oregon, the Columbia River Gorge burned as the result of a careless firework. Now, 1000 Friends of Oregon is trying to do something about catastrophic wildfires. Gov. […]
Posted inNews
Living on Lava
It’s no secret Central Oregon sits on and near volcanoes—but is having them erupt in our lifetime an actual threat?
Dr. Julie Donnelly-Nolan has been mapping Newberry Volcano for the past 20 years, as part of her work as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. She’s one of many scientists and government agents who keep their eyes on the potential for a volcanic eruption in Central Oregon. While it’s not the highest-priority threat local […]
Posted inOpinion
The View From Paradise
I am no stranger to wide ranging and complete disasters. In the late ’90s I went through a category 5 hurricane that, in a 24-hour span, turned an island I lived on upside down. The devastation was total, but it was also familiar. We grow up with storms and bad weather. Hurricanes are an unruly […]
Posted inNews
Torched Towns: Could Bend be Next?
Bend Ranks No. 8 in Pacific Northwest wildfire risk, study says
While the most destructive wildfire in California’s history rages on, the U.S. Forest Service and Pyrologix—a Montana-based wildfire analysis firm—have identified the 100 communities in the Pacific Northwest with the highest cumulative risk of wildfire. Bend ranks number 8. “The high ranking mentioned above confirms all the work that we have been doing since the […]
Posted inNews
Smoke Levels Explained
If you love the outdoors, here’s what the smoke advisory levels feel like. It’s like a sadness rainbow!
On Thursday, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for a host of counties in Oregon—including Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties here in Central Oregon. That advisory is in effect until noon Friday. Deschutes County’s air quality has hovered in the “Red” or “Orange” category this week due to a rash […]
Posted inNews
Fire Season in Full Effect
Gov. Brown activates Operation Plan Smokey after a rash of fires
It was only a matter of time before fire season went into full beast mode in Oregon—and that moment is now. Governor Kate Brown declared a statewide wildfire emergency starting today, effectively activating the Oregon National Guard to work with the Oregon Department of Forestry, including using aviation assets to help battle wildfires in the […]
Posted inNews
Business hurting after this summer’s fires? SBA announces help
Low-interest loans available for working capital
If you spent anytime in Central Oregon in August and September, then you know the word that was on the tip of everyone’s tongues: Fire. Fires including the Milli Fire, the Nash Fire and many others caused hazardous air quality and shut down many events, including the Sisters Folk Festival. With people forced to stay […]
Posted inNews
Progress made on Milli Fire containment
Evacuation notices issued for Nash Fire
Milli Fire Update Due to clear skies on Thursday, firefighters were able to fly over the Milli Fire to assess damage and figure out what to do next. “Fire behavior consists mostly of creeping and smoldering with occasional single-tree torching,” according to a recent update from fire officials. Thursday’s mission had crews patrolling the perimeter […]