Oregon governor invokes Emergency Conflagration Act to combat wildfire

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on Wednesday, allowing the state fire marshal to contribute firefighters and other resources to combat a fire that had grown to 10,000 acres.

The fire broke out near Dufur, Ore., on Tuesday evening.

According to The Associated Press, authorities said 12 fire engines and 40 personnel were at the scene.

“I want to reiterate that preventing wildfires is critical this year, especially as we already have entered an early season with several fires burning across the state. I’m asking all Oregonians to be cautious, be safe, and to honor all burn bans,” Brown said in a statement.

According to the Statesman Journal, 20 structures were in danger of catching fire. Crews were able to save one home, but one barn was lost to the fire.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said that weather conditions, including strong winds, that help maintain strong fires like the one seen in Dufur were still a concern. 

Additionally, the state’s fire marshal said that the fire was mainly burning brush and wheat, and it was making its way over to the Deschutes River.

The Associated Press reported that some cities had decided to ban fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday as a way to mitigate more possible fires.

It also comes on the heels of Brown’s announcement yesterday that she had declared a state of emergency because of the threats that multiple wildfires were posing in Oregon.

“Oregon is still recovering from the devastation of last year’s wildfires, which resulted in nine Oregonians losing their lives and thousands more losing their homes,” Brown said in a statement. “With wildfires already sparking this year, it is imperative that we act now to prevent further loss—of life, property, business, and our natural resources.