Tina Kotek: “Increasing heat, dry vegetation and shifting winds continue to align and create dangerous conditions that demand…”

To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well.

The tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary has devastated the Bend community.

No community should experience this, no parent.

My heart is absolutely broken today, and our hearts will stay broken in the days and weeks ahead, and my daily prayers will be with this community, with the children, with the parents, and with the educators.