Oregon leaders prep for 2024 wildfire season
With the weather heating up in the Pacific Northwest and wildfires already in progress in Canada, Gov. Tina Kotek held a press conference to share information about Oregon's readiness for the 2024 season.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- It's never too early to plan for wildfires in Oregon.
With the weather heating up in the Pacific Northwest and wildfires already in progress in Canada, Oregon leaders held a press conference to share information about Oregon's readiness for the 2024 season.
State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple and the heads of five other departments plus the Oregon National Guard, laid out their plans.
According to the group, this year, they are expecting an average wildfire season during May and June with above-average fire conditions during July and August.
On average, there are over 2,000 wildfires every year in Oregon burning over 600,000 acres officials said during the press briefing.
Working with several agencies, including the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal, there are protections in place for forests across the state and plans to call in help from smaller local fire departments when needed.
Local agencies have also been upgraded in 2024 with new equipment and through a new grant they will also be increasing staffing through October to help combat any wildfires.
In a statement, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek shared the importance of being prepared and working together to protect the state from potential damage.
“Wildfires will forever impact our state and our nation. The threats will continue to grow as we grapple with hotter, drier conditions due to climate change,” Kotek said. “Here in Oregon, we are prioritizing readiness, coordination, wildfire risk mitigation, and a comprehensive, statewide approach to protecting our natural working lands and communities. The best way to limit the impacts of wildfires is to be careful and keep them from starting in the first place.”
Agencies have also taken into account what they learned from 2023 to help better understand and streamline responses to fires around the state.