January 3, 2024 2:50 a.m.

On Thursday, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said they were gratified that President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler counties that enables those counties to receive federal help for wildfires that took place last year between July 10th and August 23rd.

A joint release said the declaration triggers the release of funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities in those counties recover from wildfires that were part of a record-season in Oregon that burned nearly 2 million acres statewide – about three times the amount in an average year.

The declaration follows a letter from the entire congressional delegation supporting Governor Kotek’s request that Oregon receive a major disaster declaration.