July 13, 2024 7:00 a.m.

On Friday, Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency because of the imminent threat of wildfire, continuing through October 1st.

Kotek said, “Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace”.

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 release said, “Throughout the summer, it will inevitably get hotter and drier, presenting an even greater risk of catastrophic wildfires. The best way to limit wildfire impacts on our communities, natural areas, and first responders is to be aware of the conditions and prevent wildfires from starting”.

Kotek said, “I urge all Oregonians to follow instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of the changing conditions”.

Kotek’s declaration directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to support access to and use of personnel and equipment of all state agencies necessary to assess, alleviate, respond to, lessen, or recover from conditions caused by this emergency and to meet requests by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal, and/or county and tribal emergency management to support response needs to respond to or lessen the effects of, the wildfire emergency as described in the state’s Emergency Operations Plan.

A link to the Governor’s Executive Order is posted: EO 24-13.pdf – Google Drive