SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — Firefighters in Oregon are doing what they can to keep up with wildfires, but resources are strained and conditions are predicted to get worse.
Gov. Tina Kotek on Friday evening declared a state of emergency because of the imminent risk of wildfire.
“Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace. Hot and windy conditions this weekend, including forecasted lightning in some areas, are threatening even larger wildfires,” Kotek said. “I am declaring a State of Emergency to access state resources for communities across Oregon as we respond to this year’s escalating wildfire season.
The governor's state of emergency runs through Oct. 1.
Right now, nine fires are burning across Oregon: The Larch Creek Fire in north-central Oregon, the 0381 RV Juniper Fire in Jefferson County, the Salt Creek Fire in Southern Oregon, the Falls and Upper Pines fires in Central Oregon, and Cow Valley, Bonita Road, Huntington Mutual Aid and River fires in eastern Oregon.
Not only are resources strained in Oregon, but nationally fires and fire danger in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah are occupying much of the mutual aid resources that Oregon may have otherwise been able to count on in case of quick spread.
Damon Simmons, with Portland Fire & Rescue, called us from the front lines of the Cow Valley Fire in Malheur County.
"We are coming off of another fire and coming to this fire, so we were on the Larch Creek Fire and came to this fire last night," he said, noting that conditions are not working in their favor.
"Just hot dry winds. I feel like just everything you touch crackles in your hands out here, and so anything that gets any little bit of fire on it wants to take off and burn," he said.
Those conditions are about to get worse.
"We are going to get some lightning on top of that with some wind as well, so we have unfortunately a ominous combination of contributing events," said John Saltenberger, fire weather program manager at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.
He said those predicted lightning bolts in the eastern, southeastern and central eastern regions of Oregon won't bring a lot of moisture with them.
"When a heavy rainfall occurs, the fire danger will go down and firefighters have extra time to find new starts before they become large costly fires. Dry lightning circumstance means that we get so many fires starts from just a few lightning strikes that firefighters can become overwhelmed," he said.
Those lightning strikes are joining already dry conditions in a drought-stricken region and winds are expected to pick up to 30 mph.
Saltenberger said to get ready for that event. The agency is stationing crews where they will likely be needed the most.
"We are going to move some firefighting resources into the area ahead of time to reduce travel time if and when those fires break out. We have got a fire team on order from the southeastern United States, and we are going to be prepositioning them this weekend into eastern Oregon."
While the Columbia River Gorge area is not expected to see dry lightning, the persistent drought there has made for some ripe fire conditions and extra caution is advised for those recreating in those areas.
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