Red Flag Warnings have been issued for Friday across parts of Southern Oregon and Northern California, including Klamath, Lake, Modoc and Siskiyou counties, as thunderstorms are expected to bring abundant lightning over dry fuels.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Klamath, Lake, Siskiyou and Modoc counties, warning that thunderstorms could bring abundant lightning, dry fuels and gusty outflow winds late Thursday night through Friday night.

The first significant heat wave of the summer is expected to bring 90-degree and triple-digit temperatures to much of Southern Oregon and Northern California this weekend, prompting heat advisories across several west side valleys, coastal areas and parts of far Northern California.

The Klamath & Lake Counties Stand Down will be held Friday, June 12, at the Klamath County Fairgrounds in Klamath Falls. The free event is open to veterans, active-duty service members and their dependents, with services expected to include VA benefits assistance, housing and employment resources, haircuts, clothing, eye exams, mental health support and meals.

Fire danger on ODF-protected lands across Jackson and Josephine counties will rise to moderate Thursday, bringing new restrictions on campfires, chainsaws, mowing and other spark-producing activities. SCOFMP already lists moderate fire danger across parts of Klamath and Lake counties.

Fire season will officially begin Friday, May 22, in Klamath and Lake counties. The Oregon Department of Forestry Klamath-Lake District and partner agencies are moving into coordinated fire season operations, with Moderate fire danger and IFPL I restrictions taking effect.

More than $26.4 million in new state shelter funding has been awarded to regional coordinators serving Southern Oregon, the South Coast, and Central Oregon. The awards are part of more than $102 million announced statewide through Oregon’s Statewide Shelter Program.

Youth ages 6 through 15 can take part in hands-on ATV, motorcycle and side-by-side safety evaluation classes May 30 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeview. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says pre-registration is required, a parent or guardian must be present, and riders must bring their own properly fitted vehicle and required safety gear.

A 75-year-old motorcyclist was injured Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on Old Millican Road in Lake County, about two miles from the Deschutes County line. The rider received medical care at the scene before being transferred to Life Flight Network for transport to a higher level of care.

Nearly $48.7 million in federal Secure Rural Schools funding is headed to Oregon counties, with Southern Oregon communities receiving some of the largest allocations in the state. Douglas, Klamath, Jackson, and Josephine counties are among the top recipients.

Lake County District Attorney Paul Charas is resigning just over a year into his term, saying chronic underfunding has made it increasingly difficult to prosecute cases. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Charas cited staffing shortages, minimal trial resources, and the strain of serving as the county’s only prosecutor.

A missing and endangered Lake County man has been located deceased in a remote area of Green Mountain. Warren Sherman, 70, had been reported missing after last being seen March 31 in the Christmas Valley area. Officials say no foul play is suspected, and multiple agencies assisted in the coordinated search effort.

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley will host a series of town halls across Central and Southern Oregon on March 20–21, including stops in Klamath, Lake, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. The events are part of his ongoing effort to hold annual conversations in all 36 counties statewide.

Oregon State Police are investigating two separate fatal crashes that occurred earlier this week on highways in Lake County and Josephine County. The incidents, reported on January 8, resulted in two fatalities and involved single-vehicle rollovers under differing circumstances.