SALEM, Ore. – A quick, wind-driven fire in Umatilla County prompted the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize four task forces and an incident management team. The Cold Springs Fire was reported on Wednesday afternoon and raced to more than 1,000 acres as of late afternoon, according to Umatilla County Fire District 1. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office has issued levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices for those living near the fire.  

The Oregon State Fire Marshal initially sent help through immediate response on Wednesday afternoon, with two structural task forces from Clackamas and Washington counties and air support through agreements with the Oregon Department of Forestry. To provide additional help, the agency is mobilizing its Green Incident Management Team and two more task forces.  

The OSFM Green Incident Management Team will take command of the fire Thursday at 9 a.m.  

“The latest wildfire forecast for July and August is extremely concerning,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Over the last 48 hours, we saw thousands of lightning strikes across the state, and Red Flag Warnings issued for critical fire danger. I’m calling on everyone to pay attention to the conditions and take the necessary steps to prevent sparking a human-caused fire.” 

For fire updates until the Green Incident Management Team takes command, please follow the Umatilla County Fire District 1. For evacuation information, please follow the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office. 

This is the third time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2025, and the third immediate response for the Oregon State Fire Marshal.  

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 - In less than an hour, a model home in Salem was reduced to ashes by fire on Wednesday, while the one next door saw minimal damage. The difference? The surviving home was built to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)’s Wildfire Prepared Home standard using defensible space best practices and non-flammable materials. During the live demonstration, hosted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, IBHS showed the research-based actions Oregonians can take to better protect their homes and properties. 

This event comes at a critical moment. Fire season is here and projected to be above average for the entire state. It follows on the heels of the historic season last summer. From 2020 to 2024, wildfire seasons have grown increasingly complex with larger and more frequent fires moving farther north and west into communities not historically affected. Last year alone, Oregon saw a record-breaking 1.9 million acres burned. 

“Wildfire is no longer a rural issue or something that affects just one region of the state; it’s a growing threat for all Oregonians,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Today’s demonstration makes that reality personal. Seeing the way bark mulch, shrubs and building materials burn helps people connect the dots between small, affordable changes and real protection.” 

According to IBHS, embers are the leading cause of home ignition from wildfires. 

“Research should guide us in finding effective solutions,” IBHS CEO Roy Wright said. “We know that maintaining a five-foot noncombustible zone around your home helps to ensure embers landing in that area just fizzle out. Fortunately, you don’t have to compromise curb appeal at the expense of safety – there are smart, attractive ways to have both.” 

Oregon homeowners now have the opportunity to earn IBHS’s Wildfire Prepared Home designation, based on the latest wildfire research, after they follow the standard’s system of actions addressing the three most vulnerable areas of a home, including having a Class A roof, installing exterior features such as ember-resistant vents, and maintaining a noncombustible 0–5-foot zone.  

“The good news is that most homes in Oregon already have a Class A roof,” Wright said. “The other actions can be low-cost and often done as DIY projects. And perhaps the best part – the actions that make a home survivable also make it insurable.” 

About the Oregon State Fire Marshal 

The mission of the Oregon State Fire Marshal is to protect people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. As the leading authority on fire safety and emergency response in Oregon, the Oregon State Fire Marshal collaborates closely with local fire agencies, government agencies, community organizations, and our fellow Oregonians to promote fire prevention, provide training and resources, and coordinate emergency response efforts. 

About the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation 

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

About the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) 

The IBHS mission is to conduct objective scientific research to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses, and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss. Learn more at ibhs.org. 

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing two structural task forces from Lane and Marion counties through Immediate Response to the Upper Applegate Fire in Jackson County. The fire was reported on Wednesday off Upper Applegate Road south of the town of Ruch.  

Firefighters and resources from the Applegate Fire District, other Rogue Valley fire agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Oregon Department of Forestry are on scene working to stop the fire. As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was estimated to be 120 acres in size and growing. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, several air resources have been ordered including several helicopters and two large air tankers. 

These two task forces being mobilized will be added capacity for the Applegate Fire District to provide added structural protection. 

“This is our third mobilization this month, a clear signal that wildfire season is here,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We need to do everything we can as Oregonians to be wildfire aware. This fire season has been devastating already with the tragic loss of homes in the Gorge and a second conflagration earlier this week in Jefferson County. Please help our firefighters by following local restrictions.” 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has issued levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices for those living near the fire. Evacuation information can be found here.   

The Oregon State Fire Marshal can send resources through Immediate Response without having the Emergency Conflagration Act invoked. The goal of this response tool is to surge resources to prevent costly wildfires.  

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. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has made the final deliveries of new fire engines under its Engine Program, marking a major milestone in the agency’s commitment to modernize equipment and enhancing wildfire response capabilities within the Oregon structural fire service. 

The delivery of the last type 3 engines on Monday completes the agency’s distribution of 76 new firefighting vehicles to local fire agencies. The program, part of Response Ready Oregon, was funded through Senate Bill 762, Oregon’s wildfire omnibus bill signed into law in 2021. 

"This is a landmark achievement for our agency, the Oregon fire service, and the communities we serve," State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. "Through this program, we’re making a lasting investment in Oregon’s firefighting capacity and preparedness at a time when the threat of wildfire continues to grow." 

The OSFM Engine Program provided: 

The apparatus were awarded to 76 local structural fire agencies across Oregon following a thorough review process in partnership with fire service associations and an advisory committee. All units are fully equipped to meet the state’s fire service mobilization standards and tailored for response in wildland-urban interface environments. 

“From the first engine delivered to Central Cascades Fire & EMS to the final engines of Klamath County Fire District 1 and Keno Fire Department, each apparatus brings stronger protection for our communities,” OSFM Chief Deputy Travis Medema said. “We are incredibly proud of the collaboration and commitment that made this program a success.” 

The OSFM's Response Ready Oregon program's goal is to keep wildfires small and prevent them from reaching communities, ultimately reducing the frequency and cost of large-scale fires. For a list of awarded agencies, photos of apparatus deliveries, and more information, visit the OSFM Engine Program webpage. 

SALEM, Ore – A quick-moving wildfire in Jefferson County that led to level 3 evacuations Monday afternoon prompted the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize an incident management team and several structural protection task forces.  

The agency is mobilizing resources to the Alder Springs Fire burning west of Crooked River Ranch in Jefferson County. The fire sparked midday Monday on the Crooked River National Grasslands and grew rapidly to 1,500 acres by 5 p.m. Throughout Monday afternoon, wildland firefighters worked to slow the fire on the ground and in the air with several large air tankers and smoke jumpers. 

On Monday night, the state fire marshal mobilized two structural task forces through Immediate Response. On Tuesday morning, the OSFM’s Red Incident Management Team and six more structural task forces will arrive in Central Oregon.  

“This is the second time our agency has mobilized resources in the last week because of a wildfire,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The conditions we are seeing across Oregon are extremely concerning, especially in early June. It only takes a spark to cause a disaster, so be wildfire aware.” 

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices for homes and properties near the fire. You can find the latest on evacuations here. The Deschutes County Sheriff also issued level 1 evacuations.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says a shelter is set up at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond and Ranch Chapel. Animals can be taken to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds or Over the Edge Taphouse (with your own corral). 

The OSFM Red Incident Management Team will be briefed Tuesday at 9 a.m. and take unified command with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 Team. For updates on the fire, please follow Central Oregon Fire. 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes resources through the Emergency Conflagration Act when invoked by the Governor. The Alder Springs Fire is the second conflagration of 2025. 

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. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing structural firefighters and an incident management team to fight the Rowena Fire burning in Wasco County. The fire was first reported on Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread, prompting level three, Go Now, evacuations by the Wasco County Sheriff. The fire prompted the closure of I-84 between Mosier and The Dalles as firefighters work to stop the fast-moving flames.  

At 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, which allows the state fire marshal to mobilize resources. The agency is currently mobilizing its Green Incident Management Team and six structural task forces. Three task forces will be responding tonight and three more will be arriving early Thursday morning. The Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Team will be working in unified command with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 team. 

“This early season conflagration should come as a reminder to Oregonians to be ready for wildfire,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The predictions for this summer are extremely concerning. I am asking everyone to take that extra minute to mindful of the conditions and remember it takes a single spark to ignite a disaster.” 

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is posting the latest evacuation information here. The agency says The Dalles Middle School (1100 E 12th St, The Dalles, OR 97058) is open as a temporary shelter and the Wasco County Fairgrounds (81849 Fairgrounds Rd, Tygh Valley, OR 97063) is open for livestock and horses. 

For information about the I-84 closure, please monitor www.tripcheck.com. 

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 agency works in partnership 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.