Oregon’s Governor Brown Declares State of Emergency due to Imminent Threat of Wildfires in the State

On Wednesday (8/19) Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency due to what she called the imminent threat of wildfires across the state. In a news release Brown said, much of the state is now in extreme fire danger, and red flag warnings have been issued for hot, dry, windy conditions and dry thunderstorms. Brown went onto say, “The wildfire season has escalated in Oregon this summer, and fire crews are working in extreme temperatures to keep homes and resources safe during this pandemic. I’m committed to making state resources available to ensure crews have the resources they need on the ground and across the state. I urge the public to use extreme caution and be mindful of fire restrictions to protect the beauty and bounty of our state.” Brown further stated that Oregon continues to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, which adds complexity to wildland firefighting and operations .