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58 active fires are burning, mostly in southern Oregon, but “extreme high temperatures” means the risk is worsening all over the state. "We have to be prepared," Gov. Tina Kotek said.
The threat of wildfires across the Northwest is expected to escalate through the summer, and in response Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency across Oregon on Wednesday, July 16.
The declaration, made in an executive order, is meant to mobilize state and federal agencies and resources to prevent and respond to fires.
It comes on the heels of six emergency declarations for individual fires just in the last two weeks. Most of the nearly 60 active fires in the state are in southern Oregon.
The statewide emergency will remain in effect until the governor either determines that the threat has significantly receded or the fire season officially ends.
“Oregon is already experiencing a devastating wildfire season that will have lasting consequences,” Kotek said in a news release. “The summer is only getting hotter, drier and more dangerous. We have to be prepared for worsening conditions.”
The declaration directs state agencies and the National Guard to collaborate on wildfire response and prevention by sharing personnel, equipment and resources. It also directs those agencies and Guard troops to meet requests coming from the state’s primary fire agencies — the Oregon Department of Forestry and the State Fire Marshal — and local and tribal governments.
In her news release, Kotek also advised Oregonians to sign up for the statewide emergency alert system OR-Alert, to have an evacuation plan and to have an emergency “go kit” ready.
The state’s fire dashboard lists 58 active wildfires that have so far burned more than 54,500 acres in Oregon. Many of the fires are mostly contained. Nearly half of the fires ignited due to natural causes, while the cause is still undetermined for most of the others. Ten fires so far have been determined to be human-caused.
Nearly half of the fires occurred or are burning in Jackson County, six in Josephine County, five in Jefferson County and four in Klamath County.
No fatalities have been recorded this fire season, but six people have been injured. At least five structures have been recorded damaged or destroyed and only in the Elk Fire.
More than 2,200 Oregonians at nearly 900 addresses are currently in an evacuation zone, according to the state fire dashboard. More than half are at the Level 1 “Be Ready” stage. More than 800 are in the Level 2 “Be Set” stage, meaning they should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. More than 200 are at the Level 3 “Go Now” stage, meaning they are in extreme danger and should be evacuating or already evacuated.
Kotek in her news release also encouraged Oregonians who believe they’ve been charged excessive prices or fees for essential goods and services during a wildfire emergency to report those claims to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Services.
