July 29, 2026 6:30 a.m. 

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in response to the agency’s denial of Fire Management Assistance Grants for two wildfires in Oregon: the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex.

A joint release said both fires were under Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation at the time of the application, and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex was the largest in the nation. The lawmakers say the current fire situation in Oregon remains the worst in the nation.

The senators wrote, “FEMA”s decision to deny these FMAGs is a significant departure from FEMA’s historical criteria and agency guidance”. Their letter continued, “According to state officials, FEMA’s criteria for an FMAG has been, in part, that 150 primary residences must be in immediate threat of wildfire, gauged often as Level 3 ‘Go Now’ Evacuation status. In recent years, state officials have seen an increase to over 200 primary residences as a threshold – which the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex had still surpassed”.

The State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through FMAGs, which help cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. The senators say FEMA’s decision comes as Oregon faces an increasingly dangerous fire season – with at least 86 active fires burning over 1 million acres.

Meantime, Congressman Cliff Bentz announced that FEMA did approve three requests for Fire Management Assistance. This was for the Lower Dry Creek Fire near Milton-Freewater, the Awaka Butte Fire near Sisters and the Grasshopper Fire near Pine Hollow. Bentz said the grants fund up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs. These costs can include expenses for materials, equipment use, and mobilization activities that support firefighting efforts.