Sherman County Sheriff's Office

06/05/2026

Some great news this morning out of Wheeler County!

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.

06/03/2026

May stats!

06/02/2026

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.

05/24/2026


Update: All lanes are open.
There were multiple accidents due to visibility. No details yet on what started the fire. Fire and ODOT are still in the area.

I-84 at mile post 105 (just east of Biggs) is shut down due to a fire. We will update you as we get more information.

05/20/2026

This boat capsized last night on the Columbia River east of Willow Creek. The owner reported that they remained on top of the vessel for approximately seven hours until a passing barge was able to assist them. Their life jackets were stored away and were not accessible.

We helped recover the boat this morning and towed it to the Willow Creek boat ramp. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but this serves as an important reminder to always wear a PFD while on the water.
Gilliam County Sheriff's Office Oregon State Marine Board

05/12/2026

Don't forget to come see us Saturday at 5. We look forward to seeing you all.

05/11/2026

A big thank you to Kite The Gorge for helping out today with our annual water safety assemblies. Carlos Cornieles and David Mackintosh brought out a ton of gear and knowledge to share with the kids and did a great job teaching important water safety skills ahead of the summer season. We appreciate their support and partnership in helping keep our community safe.

05/11/2026

April Stats!

05/10/2026

Update: The subject has been identified and contacted.

This gentleman was creeping around the north end of the county last night. If you recognize Mr. Sandals and his dark Ford, please let us know. (Yeah the picture is not great, but it’s what we’ve got). Thank you.

05/06/2026

This morning, I had the privilege of swearing in Megan Long as our newest Patrol Deputy. Deputy Long brings over seven years of experience in the first responder field.

She began her career with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office as a Cadet, where she advanced to the position of Cadet Sergeant. She also served as a Seasonal Marine Services Officer and as a member of the Search and Rescue Team.

In addition, she brings nearly two years of experience as a 911 dispatcher in both Kansas and Oregon. Her diverse background provides a well-rounded perspective and a strong foundation for her work with our office.

— Sheriff Burgett