The U.S. Forest Service says it has more than 28,000 responders ready for the 2026 wildfire season, along with hotshot crews, engines, aircraft, contractors and a national logistics system designed to move resources quickly when fires start.

Evacuation levels have been reduced Tuesday morning for the Blackwell Fire near rural Central Point after crews completed a containment line around the fire perimeter overnight. Jackson County Fire District 3 says no homes were lost or damaged, though several outbuildings and industrial-type buildings were damaged inside the fire area.

Jackson County Emergency Management will conduct its annual pre-fire season test of the Jackson Alerts mass notification system on Friday, May 1. The test will include alerts sent to registered users and a live Emergency Alert System message broadcast through local radio and cable television.

The Oregon Department of Forestry has added a new multi-mission aircraft designed to improve wildfire detection, night operations, and all-hazards emergency response. Officials say the Twin Otter-based platform includes AI-enabled mapping, thermal imaging, and the ability to detect new fire starts earlier — even during overnight operations.

More than $28 million in federal funding will support new wildfire-mitigation projects across Oregon. The USDA-funded grants, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help communities reduce hazardous fuels, strengthen evacuation routes, and expand prescribed fire and defensible space work.