Fire

Idaho Closer To Realizing Citizen Rangeland Firefighters

Aaron Kunz — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:33:14 +0000

An Idaho legislative committee Tuesday approved a bill to encourage teams of ranchers who would volunteer to fight rangeland fires. EarthFix reporter Aaron Kunz explains.

Southeast Oregon Ranchers Still Waiting For Aid, Six Months After Massive Fire

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:25:14 +0000

Six months ago Tuesday, Jan 8, a lightning strike ignited one of the largest fires in Oregon’s history. Amelia Templeton of Earthfix reports, ranchers who lost cattle and grazing land still haven’t received federal disaster aid.

2012 Wildfires In The Northwest Have Burned Record Number Of Acres

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:22:17 +0000

The Forest Service and BLM say 2012 has been the worst fire season in the last 100 years. Oregon and Washington have reported fewer fires than average, but a record number of acres burned.

Taylor Bridge Fire Declared 100 Percent Contained

Tom Banse — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:34:53 +0000

A damaging wildfire in central Washington has been declared 100 percent contained, this more than two weeks after it ignited. Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

After a Wildfire, the Erosion Problem Begins

Courtney Flatt — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:24:54 +0000

Fire bosses say a blaze in central Washington is 90 percent contained. That’s while large fires continue to burn in Idaho and California. Getting these wildfires under control marks the beginning of a new problem: soil erosion.

Extreme heat from wildfires destroys trees and ground cover. That means plants no longer keep soil from sliding down hillsides and into streams.

Residents near the Taylor Bridge Wildfire could see more sediment on roads and in creeks. They also might notice wind kicking up extra dust.

More Good News Than Bad From Kittitas Wildfire Frontlines Today

Courtney Flatt — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:02:14 +0000

Fire bosses at the scene of a destructive wildfire in central Washington gave an upbeat progress report at a community briefing in Cle Elum Friday. Firefighters targeted full containment of the nearly 23,000 acre blaze by Sunday. Reporter Courtney Flatt is on the scene. She says the mood at the community briefing was more curious than anything else.

Longdraw Fire Grows Tenfold Since Tuesday

David Nogueras — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:50:57 +0000

Fire officials are reporting that a wildfire burning in the southeast corner of Oregon has grown to nearly 300,000 acres. That's about 10 times larger than it was Tuesday. Crews had built fire lines on three sides, only to have that work undone with a burst of erratic winds. Temperatures in the area have hovered around 100 degrees and are expected to continue through the rest of the week.

Firefighters Are Hard At Work In Eastern Oregon

David Nogueras — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:55:23 +0000

In Eastern Oregon Tuesday, fire engines, hand crews and materials continued to pour in from across the region, as fire managers worked to contain a number of blazes sparked by recent lightning storms.

First Forest Health Hazard Warning For Wash. Expected

Austin Jenkins — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:37:05 +0000

Washington’s Lands Commissioner is expected to declare the state’s first ever forest health hazard warning Monday. The formal declaration comes amid growing concern about the potential for a catastrophic fire – not unlike what we’ve seen in recent days in Colorado. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Small-Town Theater Looks To Happy Ending After Fire

Chris Lehman — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:46:47 +0000

One small-town movie theater is looking for a happy ending to what could have been a horror story earlier this year. The historic Palace Theatre in Silverton, Oregon closed its doors after an April fire. But repairs are underway at the Depression-era movie palace. Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.