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.
Oregon secretary of state, AG say election system is safe and secure
Oregon’s secretary of state and attorney general spoke on Election Day, assuring voters that the state’s election system is secure.
Oregon’s secretary of state and attorney general said on Election Day the state’s election system remains secure and accurate.
Secretary of State Tobias Read said Oregon’s landmark vote-by-mail system remains the gold standard for election security and accessibility despite cuts to federal funding and operational changes that have affected support for elections.
“Your voice matters, your vote matters,” Read said. “I want to reassure you that Oregon’s elections are secure, Oregon’s elections are accurate, Oregon’s elections are fair and you should feel confident that our system is the gold standard for elections.”
He pointed to steps the state takes to keep elections safe, accurate and secure like tracking ballots with a unique barcode system and verifying signatures. The state’s ballot-counting machines are never connected to the internet and undergo public testing before and after elections, Read added.
Read criticized President Donald Trump and the federal administration’s actions that he said have weakened election security infrastructure. He specifically highlighted cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which Read has repeatedly expressed concerns about.
He said Oregon has worked to offset losses by forming partnerships with the Oregon Titan Fusion Center, the Oregon Military Department and county election officials to strengthen cybersecurity protections and emergency preparedness.
And Read said the state is working to add more drop boxes in the future (there are currently 321 across the state) in response to delays in mail processing.
Rayfield also spoke, saying Oregonians should remain confident in the state’s election integrity despite misinformation surrounding election administration.
“The amount of misinformation that is being spewed across our country within this state is at an all-time high,” Rayfield said. “We have attacks on the integrity and the administration of our elections from elected officials going all the way up to the President of the United States.”
Rayfield said his Department of Justice is “pushing back” and has filed multiple legal challenges in the past year to stop “unconstitutional actions” by Trump. On May 19, a panel of Ninth Circuit judges in Pasadena, California heard oral arguments in one case related to the administration’s efforts to collect voter roll information from Oregon and California.
Voters have until 8 p.m. May 19 to return their ballot. Election officials encouraged Oregonians to use drop boxes to return their ballots on time.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.comon X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 18, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 18 drawing
04-13-34-61-65, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 18 drawing
1PM: 5-2-3-7
4PM: 9-9-5-4
7PM: 1-1-6-6
10PM: 6-1-5-2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Win for Life numbers from May 18 drawing
26-50-61-74
Check Win for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks numbers from May 18 drawing
07-08-11-31-32-41
Check Megabucks 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.
KEIZER, Ore. — Marion County officials are alerting the public about a registered sex offender living in Keizer, saying the notification is intended to support public awareness and safety.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said it is releasing the information pursuant to ORS 163A.215, which authorizes Community Corrections to inform the public when the release of such information will enhance public safety and protection.
The sheriff’s office said Julian Ivan Herrera has been convicted of a sex offense requiring registration with the Oregon State Police and, based on his criminal history, has been classified at a level indicating a potential to re-offend.
Herrera’s listed residence is 699 Lost Ln N in Keizer. He is described as a 41-year-old Black man who is 5-foot-4 and weighs 125 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His SID number is 18104153, and his date of birth is Nov. 1,1984.
According to the sheriff’s office, Herrera is on supervised probation for the crimes of harassment and sex abuse in the third degree. His prior convictions include contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, attempted assault IV, and public indecency.
The sheriff’s office said Herrera was granted supervision on March 23, 2026, and his supervision is set to expire March 22,2031.
Victims of Herrera include a minor female known to him and an adult male known to him, according to the sheriff’s office.
Special conditions listed by the sheriff’s office include no contact with minors, not frequenting places where minors congregate, and no alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
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