Gilliam County Sheriff's Office

06/05/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – WHEELER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

June 5th, 2026

Fossil, Ore. – Following a multiple-day operation, Ethan Burlingame was successfully taken into custody by the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office on warrants and additional crimes.

Late on June 4th, 2026, Firefighters saw suspicious lights in the hills north of Fossil. Drone assets from the Yamhill and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices were able to identify multiple power poles that were on fire. Fire crews from the Fossil Volunteer Fire Department, Wheeler Fire and Rescue, and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to deal with the fire.

In the meantime, Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office and multiple Law Enforcement officers from the Oregon State Police, Union, Yamhill and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI conducted a join tactical operation as Lieutenant Calloway of the Oregon State Police was in contact with Burlingame by phone and was able to convince him to surrender peacefully. Burlingame was taken into custody without incident by Sheriff Jeremiah Holmes and later lodged at NORCOR in The Dalles.

The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office and community of Fossil are grateful for the assistance received from around the state in locating and apprehending the suspect. In addition to those mentioned above, assistance was received from the Sheriff’s Offices of Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, Jefferson, Union, Wasco, and Yamhill counties, the Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thanks also to the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association and to the many Sheriff’s who reached out with offers of additional resources.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information that may aid in the investigation and piecing together Burlingame’s movements and activities over the last few days is encouraged to contact the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office at 541-763-4101 or Dispatch at 541-384-2080.

06/04/2026

After speaking with Gilliam County Road Department crews, repairs on Blalock Canyon Road are still underway following recent storm damage.

Road Department personnel have advised that the roadway will be temporarily opened this weekend (June 6 – June 7). However, the road is expected to re-close during the week of June 8 so crews can continue repair work.

Significant progress has been made, but work remains. Crews still need to install a culvert and complete additional shoulder stabilization and repair work before the roadway can safely reopen on a permanent basis.

For your safety, please do not drive around road closure signs, barricades, or other traffic control devices. Heavy equipment continues to operate throughout the work zone, moving large amounts of dirt and rock, creating hazardous conditions for unauthorized traffic.

Motorists should also be aware that cattle may be present in the area. Several fences were damaged during the storm surge and have not yet been repaired, allowing livestock access to areas near the roadway.

We appreciate everyone's patience as the Gilliam County Road Department continues working to restore safe travel through Blalock Canyon.

06/02/2026

Sharing this bulletin on behalf of the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE REQUEST – June 2, 2026

The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in an ongoing investigation involving multiple fires that occurred during the early morning hours of June 1, 2026, within the City of Fossil.

At this time, investigators believe that two of the fires were intentionally set. A third fire, located south of Fossil, remains under investigation and is being examined for a possible connection to the incidents within the city.

Residents may have noticed an increased law enforcement presence in and around Fossil throughout the day as deputies and partner agencies followed leads and gathered information related to this investigation.

The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office is currently attempting to locate Ethan Burlingame, a 28-year-old white male described as approximately 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement is seeking to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Burlingame, who has been identified as a person of interest in this investigation.

We ask anyone with information regarding Mr. Burlingame’s whereabouts, or anyone who may have observed suspicious activity in the Fossil area on or around June 1, 2026, to contact the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office immediately.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

If you have information, please contact the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office at 541-763-4101 or Dispatch at 541-384-2080.

Thank you for your assistance and continued support as we work to ensure the safety of our community.

05/30/2026

⚠️ ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE ⚠️

The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office would like to advise the public that Blalock Canyon Road is currently closed between Heritage Lane and Interstate 84 due to damage caused by a recent storm system.

Heavy rainfall and flooding compromised sections of the roadway, creating unsafe travel conditions. Personnel from the Gilliam County Road Department have been actively working to repair a blown-out culvert and stabilize a cut bank that impacted the travel lanes.

At this time, the anticipated reopening of this section of roadway is expected to occur sometime Wednesday or Thursday of next week, weather and repair progress permitting.

We appreciate the hard work of the Gilliam County Road Department and ask motorists to respect all road closure signs and barricades. Please avoid the area and seek alternate routes until repairs have been completed and the roadway is deemed safe for travel.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as crews work to restore the roadway safely

05/30/2026

Media Release:
Highway 74 Brush Fire
Date of Release: 05/29/2026

On May 29, 2026, at approximately 10:23 a.m., Frontier Regional 911 received reports that the Highway 74 Fire had re-ignited while crews from North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District were still actively mopping up hot spots from the previous day's fire.

Strong east winds and several hot spots that re-ignited within the containment lines caused portions of the fire line to fail, allowing the fire to spread in multiple directions. As conditions changed, additional firefighting resources were requested from South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District, Ione Rural Fire Protection District, Irrigon Fire Department, Heppner Fire Department, Lexington Fire and Rescue, Boardman Fire Rescue District, Bureau of Land Management, and heavy equipment and water tenders from Three Mile Canyon Farms and heavy equipment from the Gilliam County Road Department.

As the fire progressed to the north, one residence became threatened. Local law enforcement quickly evacuated all occupants and livestock from the property as a precaution. Due to there being no additional residences at risk in the area, an Everbridge evacuation notification was not issued. Deputy Burdick was called in to assist with aerial support with the use of his drone to provide real time updates to fire command on fire activity and direction on outer containment lines.

The Gilliam County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State Police with traffic control and public safety efforts during periods of reduced visibility caused by smoke.

We are pleased to report that the threatened residence was successfully protected through an aggressive suppression effort by firefighters and heavy equipment operators. At this time, the fire has been returned to mop-up status, all mutual aid resources have been released, and the estimated fire size is approximately 450 acres. North Gilliam crews will continue monitoring and mopping up hot spots into the evening hours.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to every firefighter, dispatcher, law enforcement officer, heavy equipment operator, and volunteer who answered the call. Incidents like this are a reminder that rural communities succeed because neighbors help neighbors. The teamwork displayed over the past two days was nothing short of outstanding.

Thank you to our mutual aid partners, Frontier Regional 9-1-1 dispatchers, and the many local residents who offered assistance, patience, and support throughout this incident. Your cooperation and dedication helped protect lives, livestock, homes, and property.

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

HIGHWAY 74 BRUSHFIRE - REKINDLE

Resources are currently battling a north and eastern push on a rekindle from last nights brush fire in the area of Highway 74 and Sullivan Lane, about 10 miles east of Arlington.

North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District, South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District, Boardman Fire Rescue District, Ione Fire Department, and local landowners are currently battling this fire being fanned by the heavy winds.

Additional resources have been requested from the Heppner and Lexington Fire Agencies.

Additional updates will follow as soon as possible.