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Good morning, Northwest.

Ranchers are teaming up to fight wildfires in remote Oregon rangelands ahead of what could be a dangerous summer.

OPB’s Alejandro Figueroa leads off today’s newsletter with a look at “neighbors helping neighbors” prepare for the next big blaze.

In other news, the Portland Trail Blazers have traded for a two-time All-Star with a troubled recent past.

Here’s your First Look at Tuesday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Meet the ranchers who fight wildfires in Oregon’s remote rangelands

Ranchers across Oregon are bracing for what could be a bad wildfire season.

When limited wildland firefighting resources run thin, federal and state officials usually prioritize more populated areas.

That’s left many people living in remote rangelands with limited protection for their homes, livestock and vast amounts of shared land. A novel solution used in at least two other states, rangeland fire protection associations, brings neighbors together to fill in the gaps.

Members receive training, radios and retired fire engines from federal and state agencies, which could prove critical this summer. (Alejandro Figueroa)

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3 things to know

• Oregon, Washington and other states can continue to count ballots that arrive by mail after Election Day, the Supreme Court has ruled — at least for this fall’s midterm elections. (Dirk VanderHart)
• Oregon’s top human resources official, Jessica Knieling, said she was fired after trying to hold some of the state’s top public officials accountable. (Lauren Dake)
• Ja Morant is headed to Portland, after the Trail Blazers and Memphis agreed on a trade yesterday that gives the two-time All-Star a chance to revive his career after some injuries and suspensions. (Tim Reynolds, AP)

Northwest headlines

• Nearly every proposed Oregon initiative won’t make it onto the November ballot (Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• Trying to prevent a catastrophic blaze in a fire-prone part of Washington (Aspen Ford, Washington State Standard)
• Red, white and glowing blue: Trump’s push for new reactors reaches the finish line (Geoff Brumfiel, NPR)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• New co-working space for artists opens in Sunriver
• Chinook Indian Nation Chairman Tony Johnson reflects on 250th anniversary of American independence
• UW School of Medicine program aims to increase primary care physicians in rural and indigenous communities

One more look

The Gambler 500 rallies unlikely environmental stewards in Oregon

Every year, an unusual gathering takes place east of the Cascades.

The Gambler 500, a rally-style event, brings together enthusiasts driving beat-up cars with quirky names like “Bat Claw” and “Corollavirus.” But these junker jockeys aren’t here for a race — they’re on a mission to clean up the national forest.

The Gambler 500 started in Redmond and has snowballed into a nationwide phenomenon, with events in every state and several gatherings in Oregon.

Participants drive inexpensive, impractical vehicles off-road on public lands and collect trash along the way. (Noah Thomas)

This story was originally published in May of last year.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/30/rangeland-fire-protection-oregon-first-look/