Oregon faces greatest wildfire loss of human lives, property in state history, gov. says
SALEM, Ore. (KATU) – Firefighters continue to battle wind-fanned wildfires across Oregon on Wednesday, while much of the Pacific Northwest region remains under Red Flag Warnings for critical fire conditions.
More than 500 square miles (300,000 acres) are burning across the state, Governor Kate Brown said, forcing thousands of Oregonians from their homes.
“We expect to see a great deal of loss – both in structures and in human lives. This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state,” Governor Brown said.
No fatalities from the region's fires had been confirmed by Wednesday afternoon, but Brown said some communities were “substantially destroyed," with “hundreds of homes lost.” She specifically listed the communities of Detroit, Blue River, Vida, Phoenix, and Talent.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to help free up resources to fight some of the state’s largest fires.
"This situation is very dangerous," said Governor Kate Brown. "Wind continues to fuel these wildfires, with devastating consequences across Oregon. People’s homes, lives and land are at risk. If you are in an evacuation area, please pay close attention and listen to local calls to evacuate as needed — this can save your life, your family and the lives of our firefighters."
You can watch her press conference in full below:
The governor will be joined by Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal at the Office of the State Fire Marshal; Doug Grafe, Chief of Fire Protection at the Oregon Department of Forestry; Andrew Phelps, Director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management; Adjutant General Stencel; and Gabriela Goldfarb, Environmental Public Health Section Manager at the Oregon Health Authority.