credit Central Oregon Daily 

An apparent explosion in a storage container damaged several buildings and vehicles in northeast Bend early Friday morning and sent a loud boom that could be heard for miles, waking people from their sleep.

It happened around 5:20 a.m. at 2524 NE Division. It's in a cluster of businesses along NE Division Street just south of Butler Market Road and west of the Bend Parkway. The exact cause was under investigation.

Central Oregon Daily gathered information from Bend Police, Bend Fire and neighbors on scene.

picture courtesy oregon waterfalls

A body was found in a remote area of the Deschutes River, southwest of Bend, Wednesday. Kayakers made the discovery around 2:30 p.m. at Lava Island Falls. Deschutes County Search and Rescue responded to recover the body from an area officials say is extremely difficult to access. The location is about three miles down river from Dillon Falls, where several people died in mid-July. One victim remains missing. 

 A sweeping new cell phone and personal electronics ban will take effect next week in Redmond schools.

Fire officials on the Flat Fire shared positive news at a community briefing at Sisters High School Monday night. 

The Flat Fire...burning between Crooked River Ranch and approximately two miles northeast of Sisters has grown to almost 22-thousand acres since Thursday.

Nearly four-thousand homes are in evacuation zones…

Damage assessments revealed four homes and six outbuildings have been destroyed, while one home and one additional structure have suffered damage.

All current losses are within Deschutes County, officials caution that the numbers may change as evaluations continue.

Firefighters and proactive property owners have helped protect hundreds of other residences in the affected area.

Daytime crews continued aggressive firefighting efforts yesterday (Sun) under a Red Flag warning and heat advisory as dry fuels resulted in increased fire activity.

Find evacuation notices on Deschutes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s social media.

There is a Flat Fire Facebook page and YouTube channel.

A community informational meeting is tonight (Mo) at Sisters High School from 6 to 7.

Franklin Avenue, between Fourth and Eighth streets, will temporarily close in one direction for safety improvements beginning September 2nd.

Bend La Pine Schools are gearing up for the new school year.

 A Bend family got the keys to their new house Wednesday.

A high-speed pursuit across Deschutes County Tuesday morning ended in Sunriver with the arrest of 40-year-old Matthew Hammer.

The incident began when a Deputy spotted Hammer driving recklessly in Bend; after refusing to stop, Hammer led authorities on a dangerous chase through several communities.

The suspect struck patrol vehicles, drove onto private property, and nearly collided head-on with law enforcement.

Deputies finally used a Pursuit Intervention Technique to end the chase. Hammer faces multiple charges, including attempted assault, reckless endangering, and felony attempt to elude.

Minor injuries were reported.

Authorities praised inter-agency cooperation in safely resolving the situation.

A 50-year-old La Pine man, Aaron Loosli, was cited after investigators uncovered an illegal marijuana grow operating outside of state licensing guidelines.  

Last Thursday morning, detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the La Pine area, targeting a property on Bridge Drive.

The cultivation site was dismantled, and the investigation revealed further violations, including illegal water use and lack of proper permits for electrical and structural work.

The operation involved the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies.
 

Congresswoman Janelle Bynum warns Medicaid cuts could shutter rural Oregon hospitals. 

Cooling temperatures around Oregon today should help the wildland fire crews working several small fires in the state. 

The Pine Fire started yesterday, in Central Oregon... prompting a "Go Now" evacuation for a small area near the town of Post in Crook County. Crook County Sheriff's Office has since downgraded zone CRR-7S-E to a level 2 Be Set notice, this includes Pine Creek Reservoir on Forest Rd 17 to Forest Rd 150. That fire is still estimated at about 50 acres. 

In southern Douglas County, the Scenic Fire is burning in the High Cascades Ranger District. It also broke out yesterday and is believed to be 75 acres. It's 10-percent contained. 

And, south of Reedsport on the coast, crews have the Scholfield Ridge Fire 50-percent lined. It started Tuesday and is about 50 acres. 

A wildfire known as the Chevy Fire ignited near Highway 97 in Madras on Saturday, sparked by construction equipment. Crews from Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene around 12:37 in the afternoon, where a mini excavator set dry grass and shrubs ablaze. The quarter-acre fire moved toward nearby homes, prompting a brief Level 3 evacuation notice. Firefighters, including teams from the Bureau of Land Management and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, quickly contained the blaze. No injuries were reported and the fire's cause remains under investigation. Residents are reminded to carry water and tools when working near dry vegetation.

Firefighters are battling a fast-moving blaze near the Redmond Airport, at the end of East Antler Avenue in Deschutes County. The Canal Fire has scorched about 30 acres so far, fueled by grass, brush, and timber. Although the flames are running and torching, there are currently no structures at risk. The cause remains under investigation. The response includes 7 engines, air attack support, 3 large helicopters, 10 smokejumpers, and 20 more firefighters on the ground. Crews are working to contain the fire and protect nearby areas.

 Bend City leaders have completed a round of decisions to boost affordable housing.  During Wednesday night’s meeting, officials finalized which projects will receive funding from the city’s pro housing grant and affordable housing fund.

 Central Oregon’s wildfire risk remains high as hot, dry weather continues.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

An Oregon man is back in the U-S after authorities say he fled the country before he could face trial on child porn and drug charges.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

One person remains missing almost two weeks after going over Dillon Falls outside Bend. The Deschutes Basin Board of Control has agreed to reduce flows in the Deschutes River, starting Friday, to aid in the search effort. Visitors may notice lower river levels through Monday. Irrigation districts in Central Oregon say water deliveries should not be impacted. Three people went over the class five rapids and falls July 21st. The bodies of two women were recovered within a couple of days, while a man remains missing. Three others in their party were rescued before going over the falls.