Oregon Department of Forestry - News in the Grove

Local fire season to end Friday

Fire season in the northwest corner of the state will end Friday, Oct. 10 an Oregon Department of Forestry official said.

By Chas Hundley

/ 8 Oct 2025

Gales Creek brush fire draws fire, hazmat response to Cox Road

A 2-alarm brush fire, which also burned a shipping container and a junk pile, drew a multiagency response to the Gales Creek Valley on Monday afternoon, including a hazmat team, law enforcement and state fire resources Monday afternoon.

By Chas Hundley and Jordan Donegan

/ 11 Aug 2025

Gales Creek brush fire draws fire, hazmat response to Cox Road

Five firearm-related fires in forest has Forest Grove forestry officials urging fire safety

People are shooting exploding targets and firing hot lead into dry vegetation in the Tillamook State Forest with predictable results: Five wildfires since May. “These fires are all preventable,” said Stephanie Beall, acting District Forester for ODF's Forest Grove District.

By Chas Hundley

/ 25 Jul 2025

Five firearm-related fires in forest has Forest Grove forestry officials urging fire safety

Gov. Kotek declares statewide emergency over wildfires

On Wednesday, July 16, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency over the wildfires at the request of the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Forest Grove firefighters are once again aiding at statewide wildfires.

By Chas Hundley

/ 16 Jul 2025

Gov. Kotek declares statewide emergency over wildfires

Oregon's emerald ash borer infestation was first discovered in Forest Grove. Now they're back.

A pest that has destroyed over 10 million ash trees across the eastern United States is expected to reach its peak emergence in Oregon this month. First discovered in Oregon in trees growing at Joseph Gale Elementary, the insects are expected to devastate Oregon's ash trees.

By Jordan Donegan

/ 11 Jul 2025

Oregon's emerald ash borer infestation was first discovered in Forest Grove. Now they're back.

Fire danger to rise to 'High' Monday

The Oregon Department of Forestry is raising fire danger from moderate to high Monday in NW-02 and NW-03, the eastern and central portions of the Tillamook Forest and surrounding areas, including regions just outside of Forest Grove.

By Chas Hundley

/ 11 Jul 2025

Fire danger to rise to 'Moderate' Thursday

In advance of Independence Day, the Oregon Department of Forestry is raising fire danger from low to moderate in areas in and around the Tillamook Forest and near Forest Grove.

By Chas Hundley

/ 2 Jul 2025

Fire danger to rise to 'Moderate' Thursday

ODF crews sent to Alberta, three states to fight wildfires

The Oregon Department of Forestry deployed 22 firefighters Friday to Canada and three states in what the agency said would be their "last big out-of-state resource push" until rains return this fall.

By Chas Hundley

/ 30 May 2025

Forest Grove firefighter among ODF crews sent to Alberta, three states to fight wildfires

The Oregon Department of Forestry deployed 22 firefighters Friday to Canada and three states in what the agency said would be their "last big out-of-state resource push" until rains return this fall. One firefighter was out of the Forest Grove District.

By Chas Hundley

/ 30 May 2025

Forest Grove firefighter among ODF crews sent to Alberta, three states to fight wildfires

State forestry officials face backlash over Astoria timber sales, board member resigns in wake

A vague letter about a timber sale near Astoria started a year-long series of communication breakdowns that resulted in blowups at board of forestry meetings, an $8,000 mediator's bill and one board member—a Forest Grove resident and former Pacific University professor—quitting.

By Alex Baumhardt

/ 15 May 2025

State forestry officials face backlash over Astoria timber sales, board member resigns in wake

Forest Grove District firefighters return from North Carolina

Firefighters deployed from Oregon to North Carolina to help fight wildfires have mostly returned, the Oregon Department of Forestry said.

By Chas Hundley

/ 9 Apr 2025

Forest Grove District firefighters return from North Carolina

Oregon Department of Forestry sends firefighters to aid North Carolina in wildfire fight

Ten of the 26 Oregon firefighters deployed this weekend to assist with wildfires in North Carolina are from the Northwest Oregon Area, headquartered in Forest Grove.

By Chas Hundley

/ 24 Mar 2025

Oregon Department of Forestry sends firefighters to aid North Carolina in wildfire fight