Morrow County Emergency Management

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Morrow County Emergency Management Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Morrow County Emergency Management, Government Organization, 110 NE Court St, Heppner, OR.

Morrow County Emergency Management coordinates and supports the efforts of local governments to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and human caused emergencies and disasters.

08/04/2026

Oregon has passed 2,014,481 acres burned. That is a record, and we still have two months of fire season ahead. Still no civilian or firefighter fatalities, and 12,000 personnel are working 32 large fires.

Closer to home: the Row Fire is locked in along Highway 26 with structure protection on McKay and Mill Creek. Round Butte near Madras was held at 1,000 acres over the weekend. The Grasshopper Fire south of The Dalles has good lines on the south end and should see containment climb. The Hagen Fire east of Pendleton sits near 38,000 acres with crews ready to reengage. Fires in the John Day corridor are in good shape, thanks in large part to our Rangeland Fire Protection Associations.

This week brings heat, dry east winds, and gusty conditions by the weekend. Please be careful with anything that throws a spark.

07/22/2026

Any information on the fire situation for MORROW COUNTY will be updated on this page.
Also the U.S. Forest Service - Umatilla National Forest page is a great resource for fire information in our local forest.

Please be aware and stay safe and informed.

*** Advisory Only – Wildfire in Gilliam County ***Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 evacuation notices ...
07/17/2026

*** Advisory Only – Wildfire in Gilliam County ***

Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 evacuation notices for areas east of Highway 19 near Arlington between Airport Road and Base Line Rd (McNab Lane). This notice is for information only.

7/16/2026 at 9:20 PMLevel 1 – Be ReadyAffected Area: City of Ione north to McNab Lane and west toward Gilliam County.Fas...
07/17/2026

7/16/2026 at 9:20 PM

Level 1 – Be Ready

Affected Area: City of Ione north to McNab Lane and west toward Gilliam County.

Fast-moving wildlife activity is approaching Morrow County. Residents in the affected area should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Stay alert, monitor local updates, and be ready to leave immediately if conditions change.

- Emergency Manager Steve Freeland

As we prepare for a hot, dry summer, Morrow County Emergency Manager Steve Freeland encourages all residents to take ste...
05/07/2026

As we prepare for a hot, dry summer, Morrow County Emergency Manager Steve Freeland encourages all residents to take steps now to reduce wildfire risk. Early preparation helps protect lives, property, and our community.

For additional preparedness tips and resources, visit: https://wildfire.oregon.gov/prepare.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe this wildfire season.

03/24/2026

***DRILL***DRILL***THIS IS AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE ONLY***

***THIS CONCLUDES OUR SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE***

Thank you all for participating in this exercise and preparing Morrow County for those real world surprises.

Emergency Manager Steve Freeland would like to extend a special thank you to Sheriff Bowles, Undersheriff Snyder, Commissioner Peterson, Commissioner Sykes, Administrator Jensen, Finance Director Ince, Shelly Wight and Beth Leslie with ODHS for participating in person at the Emergency Operations Center and Tabitha Daugherty for OEM support and participating in this exercise.

***DRILL***DRILL***DRILL***EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE ONLY***

03/24/2026

# # # THIS IS A DRILL # # #

Following today’s emergency at the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant, Oregon residents do not need to evacuate or take shelter in their homes and businesses. Oregon experts continue to monitor the situation and will provide regular updates.

The Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant is about 35 miles north of Umatilla, Oregon. The State of Oregon set up an Agency Operations Center at the Oregon Department of Energy in Salem as a precaution. The AOC staff is trained to respond to a nuclear incident. Governor Tina Kotek has been notified of the incident.

>>> Again, this is only a drill.

03/24/2026

# # # THIS IS A DRILL # # #

Morrow County Emergency Operations Center is currently staffed. Morrow County Emergency Management and Oregon nuclear experts are closely tracking a Site Area Emergency, which is the second-highest level of emergency, at the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant near Richland, Washington this morning.

Energy Northwest notified the State of Oregon at about 8:30 a.m. of a situation at the plant that warranted a Site Area Emergency. At this time, there is no reported release of radioactive materials.

“Oregonians do not need to take any special precautions or protective actions,” said Linda Bures, Acting Director of the Oregon Department of Energy, which conducts emergency planning for a nuclear incident. “We want people to be aware that we are monitoring the situation at the Columbia Generating Station nuclear plant closely.”

Governor Tina Kotek has been informed of the incident. The Oregon Health Authority has dispatched environmental monitoring teams to Hermiston. Oregon Department of Energy also has staff on-site at the Energy Northwest Emergency Operations Facility in Richland, Washington.

>>> Again, this is only a drill.

03/24/2026

# # # THIS IS A DRILL # # #

3-24-2026
Morrow County Emergency Management along with Morrow County Sheriff's Office and other local, state and federal partners will be conducting a SIMULATED emergency involving the Columbia Generating Station today, March 24, 2026. Our Emergency Operations Center will be activated during this exercise.
You will see some press releases on this page. Each press release will state this is only an exercise.

>>> Again, this is only a drill.

02/24/2026

***DRILL***DRILL***THIS IS AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE ONLY***

***THIS CONCLUDES OUR SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE***

Thank you all for participating in this exercise and preparing Morrow County for those real world surprises.

Emergency Manager Steve Freeland would like to extend a special thank you to District Manager Kevin Payne with Morrow County Soil & Water Conservation District for appearing in person and participating in this exercise.

***DRILL***DRILL***DRILL***EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE ONLY***

Address

110 NE Court St
Heppner, OR
97836

Telephone

+15412560122

Website

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