July 12, 2026

Fire & Smoke

Fire & Smoke

Almeda Fire, Five Years After: What was that day like for one evacuee and his family?

Ryan Pfeil: On my eldest daughter’s first day of kindergarten, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, the day after Labor Day, a column of smoke that seems to reach 10,000 feet high dances on the horizon with an imprecise cruelty. I watch it as I shovel clothes and important documents — whatever the hell you’re supposed to grab first if a fire is bearing down on your home — into my truck.

September 6, 2025

Fire & Smoke

‘Abundant lightning’ on dry fuels triggers red flag warning

A red flag warning is in effect until 11 p.m. this evening as “abundant lightning on dry fuels is expected along with winds up to 35 mph.

September 6, 2025

Fire & Smoke

Firewise landscapes can help protect properties from wildfire

To ensure embers don’t find a flammable landing spot on your home, business or landscape, Hendrix said it’s critical to create “defensible space” — a buffer between a property and the grass, trees, shrubs and surrounding wildland.

September 6, 2025

Events

Almeda Fire, Five Years After: Talent Maker City to host events to commemorate anniversary

As Talent and Phoenix mark five years since the devastating Almeda Fire, Talent Maker City, a local nonprofit, will host several events, including workshops to preserve dozens of murals around Talent and an event on pet preparedness.

September 5, 2025

Fire & Smoke

Almeda Fire, Five Years After: Recovery efforts continue in Phoenix, Talent

Nearly five years after the Almeda Fire, the communities of Phoenix and Talent are steadily rebuilding. From new housing and city infrastructure to maintaining school enrollment, signs of resilience are everywhere. Local leaders say the recovery is ongoing — but progress is undeniable.

September 5, 2025

City Government

What’s Your Plan?: A wildfire evacuation plan can help an organization protect its people

The Ashland Family YMCA has always had an internal safety plan, says Heidi Hill, chief executive of the organization. But not until last fall did the nonprofit have a specific plan for a wildfire evacuation on the books. It is the first local organization to ask Ashland Emergency Management Coordinator Kelly Burns how to make such a plan.

September 5, 2025

Fire & Smoke

Early morning crash sparked house fire, evacuations in Ashland neighborhood

A late-night crash in north Ashland sparked a house fire and forced the evacuation of nearby homes just after midnight on Thursday, Aug. 28, after a driver rolled his car into an embankment, which ignited and set fire to a home.

August 29, 2025

Environment

How the rapid spread of misinformation pushed Oregon lawmakers to kill the state’s wildfire risk map

Here is how misinformation drove the repeal of Oregon’s wildfire risk map.

August 28, 2025

Fire & Smoke

Smoke from regional blazes a concern as lightning sparks fires in nearby forests

The evacuation notice for the McDonald Fire burning south of Ashland has been lifted thanks to “successful firefighting efforts,” according to the Jackson County Sheriff.

August 27, 2025

Fire & Smoke

Safety measures triggered power outages on the south end of Ashland

Earlier this summer people living on the south end of Ashland experienced power outages due to safety settings on equipment owned by Pacific Power.

August 26, 2025

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Ashland City Council Backs Emergency Shelter Upgrades Wildfire Plan

November 11, 2025

Test

November 7, 2025

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Ask Strider: Advice for big brothers

October 1, 2025

Ask Strider: A worried older brother asks our advice columnist’s advice. And a dog’s guardian wants to know if there is any hope getting their hat-hating dog to calm down. As always, Strider tries to give words that help!

‘Finding community in cause’: Ashland actor/director seeks to address climate change through ‘community theater with an impact’

September 26, 2025

After a successful production of “The Vagina Monologues” and raising more than $2,000 for Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, Ashland actor and director Lia Dugal intends for “The Climate Monologues” to premiere in Oregon in late 2025 or early 2026 at the Bellview Grange in Ashland.

‘Murder for Two’ – a fast-paced musical murder mystery

September 26, 2025

It’s complicated.

Relocations: Can a grassroots movement end global violence?

September 26, 2025

Herbert Rothschild: Whether visualization and intention by themselves can effect broad social change is impossible to determine, but the question merits sustained consideration.

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