Story at a glance
- Oregon wildfires, namely the Almeda Fire, have claimed two lives.
- The smoke and debris is producing the same eerie red skies as seen in San Francisco.
While dozens of wildfires besiege California, just north of The Golden State, Oregon is battling its own flames — already claiming two lives and forcing thousands to evacuate.
The Oregonian reports that flames have consumed about 500 square miles, as 3,000 firefighters battle the roughly 50 individual blazes as of Wednesday.
Gov. Kate Brown (D) issued a state of emergency on Sept. 8 in response to the Alameda Fire near the towns of Talent, Phoenix and Medford, all of which were placed under evacuation orders.
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“This situation is very dangerous,” Brown said. “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.”
Similar to the climate in California, Oregon’s unusually dry conditions, low humidity and gusty winds coalesced to create a particularly deadly wildfire season. While the Golden State frequently sees fires, Brown clarified that this is Oregon’s most extreme fire emergency seen in three decades.
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The fire has given way to poor air quality, with current estimates characterizing the air near Medford and the surrounding communities as “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” and even “hazardous.”
As orange skies linger over the Northern California Bay Area thanks to an influx of smoke and ash from various fires plaguing the Pacific Northwest, Oregonians are seeing the same ominous red atmosphere as they evacuate.
OREGON: a family flees near Detroit Lake. A seriously frightening & fiery experience while also showcasing the bravery of fire departments
pic.twitter.com/VS7w8fiOz2— ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) September 9, 2020
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