Oregon lawmakers Back in Salem To Discuss Emergency Wildfire Funding Amid Record-Breaking Season
SALEM, OR – With about a month left in the fire season, crews have already battled wildfires across 2.5 million acres in Oregon.
Angie Lane, with the Northwest Coordination Center tells our news partner KGW it’s not only been an expansive season, but also an expensive one.
“Funding fires is an expensive operation,” Lane said. “We have lots of tools we bring to the tool box that are costly.”
“To fight those large fires and keep them as small as possible, it does take a lot of effort and a lot of resources (like) aviation and hand crews,” Lane continued.
Oregon’s Department of Forestry is asking the legislature’s Emergency Board for at least $78 million. The State Fire Marshal has requested $15 million.