Oregon’s wildfire season has already seen over 400,000 acres burned in 30 large wildfires, prompting Gov. Tina Kotek to acknowledge that it’s going to be a long and difficult summer. With 17 large wildfires burning and more lightning expected, the situation is only going to worsen. The state has issued evacuation orders and warnings, and Kotek declared a wildfire state of emergency earlier this month.
Fire crews from other states have been called in to help combat the wildfires, which have been exacerbated by hot and dry conditions. Officials are urging Oregonians to refrain from starting new fires, as many of the largest fires this year have been human-caused. Campfires are currently banned in most areas, and residents are encouraged to be aware of evacuation levels and familiarize themselves with emergency information sources.
Kotek emphasized the importance of being prepared to evacuate in case of an emergency, especially with more hot and dry weather and dry lightning forecasted. Despite the challenges, firefighters are working tirelessly to detect and extinguish fires as quickly as possible. Oregonians are urged to stay informed and make safety a top priority during this intense wildfire season.
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