Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 9/3 – Wildfire Updates, Southern Oregon Veterans Stand Down Today in Grants Pass & Other Local and Statewide News Stories

PLEASE Help Prevent Human-Caused Wildfires

9/3 – 3 am FIRE UPDATES

3 FIRES in EVALUATION MODE:25 Oregon Wildfires – many are silent fires between 1 to 3 acres. These silent fires can quickly turn into dangerous fires. Please stay alert and ready.#crookcounty – Marks Creek Fire (0944) – 1651 ACRES – EVAC 3 GO NOW, and LEVEL 2 ( Be Ready)0% containment #unioncountyMarley Fire  – 75 ACRES – 0% containment – LEVEL 3 – EVAC 3 -GO NOW , Level 2 and Level 1 Evacuations #JeffersonCountyFLAT FIRE #deschutescounty 81% containment – Evacuation LEVELS 1 still in effect- 23,346 ACRES -Silent Fires and Evacuations can change very quickly, so please stay alert  and safe. WILDFIRE MAP: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/portfolio/index.html…

Emigrant Fire Update

CURRENT STATUS: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Emigrant Fire vicinity this afternoon through 9 p.m. Wednesday. The forecast calls for possible thunderstorms and an unstable atmosphere. Any thunderstorm development may create wind gusts up to 40 mph, influencing areas within ten miles of the storm cell. The dry and unstable air may contribute to development of pyrocumulus clouds. These conditions may result in rapid fire growth where slopes and winds align. Similar hot, dry, unstable weather is anticipated to last at least through Thursday, before a cooling trend begins.

In advance of this increased fire danger, fire personnel have prepared most of the planned primary control lines, including Forest Service Roads 21, 2136, 2137, 2143, and 2154. The work includes using dozers to push open old control lines from previous fires, cutting brush and small trees by hand or using a masticator, cutting dead trees that could ignite and send embers past control lines, and setting up hoses and sprinklers.

While primary control line preparation is being completed, firefighters are also establishing secondary lines that can be used if the Emigrant Fire pushes past the primary lines.

Fire personnel assigned to the south end of the Emigrant Fire are working out of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) near Diamond Lake. Working from the FOB reduces travel time and hazards of driving to the fireline and increases the effective work period each day. The FOB provides all support functions for firefighters.

WEATHER: The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning, dry fuels, and unstable conditions, in effect from 2 p.m. today to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to reach the lower to mid-90s today, with humidity dropping into the low teens and gusting winds.

SAFETY: More than 850 people are assigned to Emigrant Fire, working out of fire camp near Oakridge and the FOB near Diamond Lake. Please watch for increased traffic on all roads near the camps and accessing the fire.

Flat Fire Update (September 3, 2025)

The Flat Fire, approximately two miles northeast of Sisters, Oregon, is estimated at 23,346 acres and is 67% contained. Despite ongoing critical fire weather—including hot, dry conditions and a chance of thunderstorms—established fire lines continue to hold, and suppression repair work is progressing steadily across the incident area.

Crews will continue patrolling the fire perimeter to identify and extinguish any remaining heat and smoke. Suppression repair efforts to support recovery are also underway. These include repairing dozer lines and installing water bars to reduce erosion. Resources assigned to the Flat Fire remain ready to support the local district with initial attack response if new fires emerge. Firefighters are making consistent progress toward full containment. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT) is preparing to turn the Flat Fire back to the local district. Suppression efforts will continue with a smaller incident management organization.

Tentative transfer of command is 7 a.m. Thursday, September 4. Firefighter Safety: Today marks the first day of school in the area. Expect increased traffic in the morning and afternoon. Please adhere to posted speed limits, stay alert for children and school buses, and exercise caution near schools and bus stops. We also remind the public to be aware of fire crews and equipment operating in and around the fire area. Please give crews the space they need to work safely.

Wildfire Prevention: Hot temperatures and low humidity persist in the area, increasing fire risk and contributing to potential fire growth; Fire danger remains high. If you’re spending time outdoors, be vigilant and help prevent new fires by following all local regulations:

In either direction, be aware of the traffic impact from wildfires and recovery efforts. 

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page.

An Oregon Republican and Democrat are teaming up to push a law enforcement accountability bill

Cyrus Javadi, a Tillamook Republican, and Tom Andersen, a Salem Democrat, hope to get fellow state lawmakers to refer a proposed constitutional amendment to next year’s ballot that would ban what the lawmakers describe as “secret police.”

Their proposal would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings and would require them to wear “official uniforms” with badge numbers and names.

It would not apply to SWAT teams or undercover police officers as they currently operate. Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/…/a-democrat-and-a…

Transportation funding package clears Oregon House, moves to Senate

Governor Kotek’s proposal to raise billions for road maintenance and public transit in the coming decade advanced by the barest of margins Monday.

The Oregon House passed House Bill 3991 by a vote of 36-12, the minimum number of yes votes required to approve the suite of tax increases the governor has put forward.

The vote means that a special session Kotek called in order to avert laying off hundreds of state employees is a step closer to completion, after initially being plagued by delay and gridlock. That movement wouldn’t have been possible Monday without Republican help.

State Rep. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook, crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats on the package, rescuing the bill from what would have been an ignominious defeat. Javadi, a moderate maverick who sided with Democrats on a number of contentious issues during the regular session this year, acknowledged he might be torpedoing his political career.

“I’ve received a lot of phone calls — sometimes at 10 o’clock at night — from people I have never met in my life asking me to vote no and threatening me that I will lose my job,” said Javadi, who argued new revenue was necessary to ensure state roads are passable. “To them I say: I think my job’s worth the handful of jobs it’s going to save in Astoria if it comes to that. Or the hundreds more it’s going to save across the state.”

HB 3991 now moves to the Senate, where margins may be similarly tight.

Kotek’s funding bill is a far cry from the more ambitious funding package Democrats attempted to pass earlier this year. But the bill contains some big revenue drivers. Following concessions made to Republicans on Sunday, it’s expected to raise about $4.3 billion in its first decade.

Among it’s provisions, HB 3991 would:

• Raise the state’s 40-cent-per-gallon gas tax to 46 cents beginning in January. That change is expected to raise around $90 million per year.
• Hike vehicle title and registration fees Oregon motorists pay. Registration fees would increase by $42 and titling fees by $139. Electric vehicles, which do not pay gas taxes, would be required to pay an additional $30 on top of existing fees.
• Double the payroll tax that currently takes 0.1% out of workers’ paychecks to support public transit. The increase was initially expected to be ongoing, but Democrats agreed to limit it to two years under pressure from Republicans.
• Require drivers of electric vehicles and hybrids to enroll in the state’s OReGo program, which charges drivers for miles driven. Such a shift is considered necessary for funding road projects as EVs continue to gain popularity and gas tax revenue is expected to decline.
• Require more frequent auditing of the Oregon Department of Transportation so lawmakers have better insight into the progress and cost of major road projects. Those accountability measures are a response to backlash over huge cost increases of ODOT projects.
• Eliminate existing statutory language requiring tolling for some highway projects. That language has caused heartburn for some lawmakers, even though Kotek paused tolling plans last year.

(SOURCE)

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) commends a substantial investment aimed at assisting more low-income households in managing their utility expenses. In June, legislators approved House Bill 3792, which increased funding for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) from $20 million to $40 million.

Governor Tina Kotek enacted the bill, along with additional energy affordability legislation, into law yesterday. ”  OEAP offers energy assistance to eligible customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, determined by household size and annual income.

Since its inception in 1999, OEAP has aided over 85,000 customers, with 92% of participants successfully avoiding energy shutoffs. In light of the federal administration’s announcement regarding possible reductions and the elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Oregon lawmakers took action to protect residents from this uncertainty by broadening the state-funded OEAP.

LIHEAP, which delivers grants and energy efficiency services to millions across the nation, has become a crucial support system for families.

The federal government has reached a settlement with 23 states regarding a lawsuit concerning education funding.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasizes that students, teachers, and families are entitled to certainty as they approach the new school year.

The Trump Administration ceased funding for six educational programs, which encompass support for migrant children and English learners, classroom instruction, school conditions, technology, and community learning centers. The complete disbursement of funds is required to occur by October 3rd. Stay tuned.

A Medford Attorney is currently facing numerous charges of invasion of privacy along with a single charge of unlawful use of a GPS device.

NewsWatch 12 in MEdford has acquired court documents that allege local Attorney Zachary Light is facing 19 criminal charges, as police claim he violated the personal privacy of a woman in 2023. Zachary Light practices as a criminal defense and civil plaintiff attorney in Medford. The allegations detailed in the court documents include recording a woman during private moments and also involve a misdemeanor charge for unlawfully placing a GPS device on her vehicle.

District Attorney Patrick Green remarked, “He was arrested yesterday afternoon. He was arraigned on Friday morning.”

Following an investigation, NewsWatch 12 found that Light was previously convicted in 2014 of a misdemeanor for installing a camera in his stepdaughter’s bedroom without her consent.

The Oregon State Bar subsequently suspended his license for a period of 7 months, and he was placed on probation for 3 years. DA Patrick Green stated, “We recommended a bail amount of $100,000 due to the number of charges and his prior conviction.”

Man Arrested On Attempted Murder Charges in Grants Pass

On Sunday, August 31, Grants Pass Police Officers responded to a call on SW Foundry for an an assault between residents on the same property.  The officers discovered a neighbor providing emergency care to the victim, a 38-year-old female with a serious cut to her neck.

Law enforcement officers continued lifesaving efforts until Grants Pass Fire/Rescue and AMR arrived on-scene.  The victim was initially treated at Three Rivers Medical Center and transferred to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford.

The male suspect, Jeremy Johnson, age 46, was taken into custody for the attack.  Grants Pass Police Department detectives took over the investigation at that point.  As a result, Johnson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Murder, Assault 1, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

As this is an on-going investigation, additional details are not being given at this time.  Anyone with information is requested to contact the Grants Pass Major Crimes Unit and refer to case 2025-30171.

The Grants Pass Police Department would like to thank our partners at the Oregon State Police and Josephine County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.

Rare Aedes Mosquitoes Found in Jackson County

Aedes aegypti (Ae. Aegypti) mosquitoes have been discovered again in Jackson County, a year after Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the county announced the species had been found for the first time in the state.

OHA, Jackson County Vector Control and Jackson County Public Health confirmed the identification of Ae. aegypti as part of routine mosquito surveillance.

Emilio DeBess, D.V.M., state public health veterinarian in OHA’s Public Health Division, said the repeat appearance of Ae. aegypti in Oregon is a concern because the species has been more common in much warmer climates of the United States, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands.

“These mosquitoes have been known carry and transmit diseases that are more typical to warmer climates, such as Zika virus, chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever,” DeBess said. These viruses spread to humans through the bite of an infected Ae. aegypti mosquito, he said.

The mosquitoes become infected when they bite and feed on someone who is infected with the virus. They primarily feed in the daytime and prefer to feed on humans.

However, DeBess emphasized that the risk of these infections to local residents is low. “Acquiring these diseases depends on the presence or arrival of someone who is currently infected with one of the diseases after infection outside the United States,” DeBess said. “As was the case when Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were first found in Oregon in 2024, there have been no reports of anyone having acquired viruses associated with Ae. aegypti from within the state.”

Routine mosquito surveillance monitors different mosquito populations in the county and tests for diseases such as West Nile virus and Western equine encephalitis that are common to the Culex mosquito genus. It also gives Jackson County Vector Control the ability to determine human risk and implement strategies to control these insects and prevent disease spread.

Adult Ae. aegypti mosquitoes are relatively small and have a black-and-white pattern due to the presence of white/silver scale patches against a black background on the legs and other parts of the body. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes most likely originated in Africa. Since then, the species has been transported globally throughout tropical and subtropical regions, and parts of the temperate world, through global trade and shipping activities.

Ae. aegypti cannot fly far—only about 500 feet. These mosquitoes prefer warm and wet weather, and to live in or near homes or in neighboring woods. Changes in climate are allowing Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to expand their range to the western United States.

ASTORIA, Oregon — ASTORIA, Oregon — The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will convene Sept. 16-17 in Astoria, Oregon.  

On Sept. 16, commissioners will tour Fort Stevens in the morning and conduct a work session 1 to 3 p.m. about the Reimagine State Parks strategic initiative and a rate review.

On Sept. 17, commissioners will convene an executive session at 8:30 a.m. at the Astoria Elks Lodge #180, 453 11^th St. in Astoria to discuss real estate and legal issues. Executive sessions are closed to the public. A business meeting will begin at 9:45 a.m. and will be open to the public.

Anyone may attend or listen to the business meeting. To watch the business meeting, go to the livestream on the OPRD Director’s Office YouTube channel.

The business meeting also includes time for informal public comments related to any items not on the agenda. Registration is required to speak at the meeting if attending online, and is available online at https://bit.ly/registersep2025commission

The deadline for registering to speak at the meeting virtually is 5 p.m., Sept. 12. No advance registration is required to speak in person at the meeting. Time per speaker is limited to three minutes. Please submit written public comments by 5 p.m. Sept. 12 to OPRC.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov 

The full agenda and supporting documents are posted on this webpage and will be posted on the commission web page.  

Notable requests: 

• Request to adopt recommended grants for 2025 Local Government Grant Program (LGGP):
• Large Grants totaling $15,707,853
• Small Grants totaling $1,101,673
• Planning Grants totaling $450,000
• Request to adopt ATV sound and equipment rules after rulemaking responsibility was transferred from Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).
• Request to adopt Public Contract and Procurement Rules to outline OPRD’s public contracting and procurement requirements. Senate Bill 838 exempts OPRD from the Public Contracting Code except for surplus property and information technology related procurement.
• Request to adopt rules about Special Assessment for Historic Property in response to House Bill 3190, which reauthorizes the program as a 10-year benefit for commercial, income-producing historic properties.

Anyone needing special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Denise Warburton, commission assistant, at least three days in advance: denise.warburton@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-779-9729.