Oregon wildfires off to a 'very aggressive start', Gov. Kotek warns
Governor Tina Kotek has declared a wildfire state of emergency in Oregon, with over 100 wildfires burning across the state, requiring the deployment of firefighters from other states and the National Guard to combat the growing number of fires.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – With a wildfire state of emergency in effect in Oregon and more than 100 wildfires burning, Gov. Tina Kotek predicts it will be “a long wildfire season.”
It may be early in the season, but things are already heating up with dry weather and lightning strikes throughout the state. Gov. Kotek and other state leaders held a briefing Friday morning to discuss the resources available to combat wildfires.
Gov. Kotek began with a frank warning with the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, and the State Fire Marshal.
"To be very honest, our wildfire season is off to a very aggressive start,” Kotek said.
However, there are several efforts underway to battle the growing number of wildfires within Oregon’s borders. For instance, The Oregon Department of Forestry has received more than 70 fireline leadership personnel and strike teams from eight different states in the past week.
And in addition to 24 task forces, 300 firefighters and nearly 100 engines provided by local response, Gov. Kotek says the emergency declaration has freed up deployment of the National Guard along with firefighters and structural equipment from California and Washington.
"Just this past week, I've declared five conflagrations,” Kotek said. “Thousands of lightning strikes earlier this week resulted in over 100 new fires detected just so far. Wildland firefighting resources have been working around the clock to detect fires early and put them out as quickly as possible.”
The governor and officials urge residents to sign up for local emergency alerts and be aware of fire evacuation levels, warning of the hot weather and lightning expected to strike this weekend.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management reported 103 active fires and hotspots burning more than 376,000 acres across the state. So far, these wildfires have destroyed 13 homes and 25 other structures. At least 25 people have been injured.
"The fires that we've got now may just be the beginning," said Kyle Williams, Deputy Director of Fire Operations with the Oregon Department of Forestry. "We are asking the public for help keeping human caused fires off the map. We have our hands full already and more lightning coming, we can address that as long as our resources are not busy dealing with other human caused fires."