The Oregon Department of Forestry declared fire season on Wednesday, June 16 for the Western Lane, South Cascade and West Oregon Districts. This includes Benton, Linn, Lincoln, Polk, Lane, the southern portion of Yamhill and the northern portion of Douglas County. In all counties, burning backyard debris is prohibited during fire season.

"With our current fuel moistures, conditions are what we typically see in early to mid-July. All signs are pointing to a busy fire season as we progress further into the year,” stated West Oregon District Forester Michael Curran. He further stressed that “The majority of our fire starts in the southern Willamette Valley are human-caused. We urge the public to be aware of Public Use Restrictions and to first check District Facebook pages and then to contact your local Oregon Department of Forestry office with any further questions.”

Local fire agencies and resources:

Learn more about wildfire safety and prevention tips you can use at home, work or play.

Benton County and Samaritan Health Services completed the final mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Reser Stadium on the Oregon State University campus on Thursday, June 10. With the completion of this clinic, almost 75,000 vaccinations were provided at Reser Stadium. Benton County has vaccinated 70% of its population 16 and older with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Across the 49 mass vaccination clinics held at Reser Stadium, more than 3,400 volunteers contributed over 53,000 hours of service. A huge thank you to our volunteers and community members for making this such a success, and to our partners at Oregon State University and Samaritan Health Services for providing impeccable service to our community.

The Benton County Agriculture and Wildlife Protection Program (AWPP) encourages the proactive use of non-lethal animal damage deterrents in an effort to foster the coexistence of agriculture, livestock and wildlife in Benton County.

The AWPP funds educational outreach and expert consultation services and a merit-based, cost-share, reimbursement grant program. Agricultural operations in Benton County that wish to prevent conflicts with wildlife may qualify for up to $5,000 in reimbursement grant funds for the purchase of proactive non-lethal wildlife deterrents to protect livestock and crops. Individuals experiencing conflicts with beavers may also qualify for grant funds for the purchase of deterrents to protect trees or prevent flooding.

Grant applications are available online, and are due July 30, 2021. Grants will be awarded September 1, 2021.