Oregon
Cram Fire in Oregon rages as it nears megafire status
Oregon governor declares emergency over wildfire outbreak
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declare a state of emergency over the Cram Fire, which has burned over 77,000 acres in the state and is continuing to spread.
Firefighters in central Oregon made progress in their battle against a blaze that triggered evacuations and a state of emergency as it tore across swaths of rugged land, destroying four homes and threatening hundreds of other buildings.
The Cram Fire, which has become the nation’s largest wildfire this year, has charred 150 square miles of land, an area larger than the size of Las Vegas. The blaze broke out on July 13 and burned for several days before undergoing explosive growth fueled by strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity. It was at 49% containment as of Sunday, July 20.
The fire ignited near Willowdale, a sparsely populated area about 133 miles southeast of Portland, and swept through grasslands and rangeland in the region, fire officials said. The cause of the blaze is unclear and remains under investigation, officials said.
If the Cram Fire grows by more than 4,200 acres, it will reach what’s known as megafire status, meaning it will have burned more than 100,000 acres of land.
Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place across at least three counties, including Jefferson, Wasco and Crook County, according to Central Oregon Fire Information. In a statement on July 20, fire officials said they anticipate cooler weather, possible rain and higher humidity to “moderate fire behavior.”
Some personnel at Cram Fire to be released, officials say
Firefighters in Oregon have been aided by increasingly cooler and humid weather, which is expected to continue for the next few days.
More than 930 fire personnel responded to the blaze and worked to stop its rapid spread. On July 20, crews traversed rugged terrain as they used dozers to carve containment lines. They recently focused on the southern edge of the blaze, thinning juniper trees along the fire lines to reduce potential fuels.
Some personnel who were brought in to protect homes, businesses and other structures will be released as containment grows and cooler weather lingers, according to the Central Oregon Fire Information. “Remaining personnel will continue working around structures to extinguish hot spots and ensure any lingering threats to homes are addressed,” the fire agency said.
Wildfires burn across the West
While the Cram Fire was the largest wildfire in the nation, it was far from the only blaze scorching wide swaths of land.
In northern Arizona, a pair of wildfires burning at or near the Grand Canyon North Rim have charred over 70,000 acres of wildland. The White Fire, which devastated a section of the park, consuming a historic cabin and dozens of other buildings, was at 12,645 acres and 8% containment as of July 20.
In western Colorado, crews working a series of wildfires made gains over the weekend, setting up fire lines and increasing containment percentages. The largest of the wildfires, the Deer Creek Fire, has consumed 16,340 acres of land in Colorado and Utah and was at 22% containment.
Oregonians will have fewer options for health insurance plans in 2027, and the plans that remain are seeking to raise prices at a rate with no recent precedent.
That’s according to data released Monday by Oregon regulators, showing that insurers of individual and small group health plans are seeking to raise premiums in the state by a whopping 17% average in 2027.
The requests, which make rate increases of 6% to 10% in recent years pale in comparison, are subject to public input and are not yet finalized. But in recent years, the state has generally ended up letting health insurers raise rates to something close to the increases they sought.
If history repeats, it would mean Oregon households and small businesses that get their insurance through the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace would be on the hook to pay several hundred dollars per year more per person on health insurance, which is already for many a crushing expense.
This is not just an Oregon phenomenon. Health care costs, already a huge chunk of national spending, have been increasing far faster than inflation in recent years, drawing further from the coffers of governments, businesses, and households alike. Experts debate the causes, but generally cite an aging population and rising drug, labor and equipment costs.
Another factor in rising insurance prices may be that some people are not getting plans at all. Oregon regulators say that Congress’s decision to eliminate enhanced subsidies on Affordable Care Act-regulated plans has contributed to an exodus from that market. In Oregon from 2025 to 2026, the number of enrollees in ACA-regulated plans shrunk from 303,000 to 274,000. This in turn, means a worse risk pool for insurers, causing them to raise prices even more for those who remain.
Whatever the cause, a WW review of recent rate hikes shows that Oregon prices industrywide have risen in recent years at an astounding clip. Between 2021 and 2026, the cheapest individual Silver plan in the Portland area jumped from $425 to $518 per month.
If the requested rates are approved, the cheapest such plan, from Kaiser, would in 2027 cost $581 monthly.
The same goes for small group plans. In 2021, the cheapest such Silver-rated plan in the Portland area jumped from $321 to $450 per month.
In 2027, that cheapest such plan could cost $509.
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, which announced the rate increase, described an array of justifications it heard from insurance companies for raising prices. These ranged from “generalized federal policy uncertainties” to tariffs, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, as well as general inflation.
At the same time, the DFR is touting the Oregon Reinsurance Program as a force of market stabilization. Under the program, the state is among those that operate as “essentially insurance for insurance companies,”according to Healthinsurance.org, helping insurers to pay high cost claims. Oregon regulators say rates are 10% lower than they would be if not for the program.
Still, as hospitals and other providers demand more, the health insurance market is evidently getting tougher, and for some companies, the state support and prior rate increases have not been enough. Providence Health Plan, once a stalwart of the Oregon health insurance market, is shutting down nearly entirely at the end of the year. And another local insurer, PacificSource, will stop offering health plans on the individual health insurance market.
“Oregon consumers are facing challenging times with expiring premium tax credits, rising health insurance rates across the country, and two carriers leaving the Oregon market,” said TK Keen, Oregon’s insurance commissioner. “With the losses of Providence and PacificSource in the individual market, there are fewer options, but there are still three options in every Oregon county to choose from.”
Residents of Multnomah County, for their part, will have access to four individual ACA plans in 2027: offered by BridgeSpan, Kaiser, Moda and Regence. Of these, Moda is seeking the largest rate increase—25%.
Meanwhile in the ACA small group market, the company seeking the largest rate increase—28%—is the behemoth UnitedHealthcare. Last year, that company reported a profit of $12.2 billion.
Willamette Week’s reporting has real-life impact that changes laws, forces action by civic leaders, and drives compromised politicians from public office.
Support WW.
REEDSPORT, Ore. — A water main break near 1281 Oregon Coast Highway is interrupting service for some Reedsport residents and businesses as city crews work to make repairs, the City of Reedsport said Monday morning.
The City of Reedsport Water Department said it is responding to the break near Aztlan. Water service in the surrounding area will be interrupted until the repair is complete.
Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact Reedsport City Hall at 541-271-3603.
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 7 drawing
1PM: 8-1-4-9
4PM: 7-1-2-5
7PM: 9-0-5-8
10PM: 8-4-9-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
-
News11 minutes agoMaine’s Senate race and much more. Here are the primary contests to watch today
-
New York1 hour agoVideo: Spurs Beat Knicks, Quieting New York City Crowds
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoIn-N-Out Burger opens new flagship location on Las Vegas Strip
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoMan arrested for concealing gun in baby stroller
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoFatal stabbing leads to fines at SF hospital
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoAdditional Mosquito Samples in Dallas, Carrollton Test Positive for West Nile Virus
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoA Greg Dulcich breakout – The Splash Zone 6/9/26
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoOfficials investigating death of child in South End – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
