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2 clusters · 5 sources · 8 days · First seen 11 days ago · Last updated 4 days ago

Oregon 2026 wildfire season

Overview

The 2026 wildfire season in Oregon has become the state’s most expensive on record, with approximately 2.5 million acres burned. To manage the crisis, the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Emergency Board approved nearly $123 million in funding, allocating $108 million to the Oregon Department of Forestry and $15 million to the Department of the State Fire Marshal. Total expenditures for the season are projected to reach $350 million.

Beyond state-level budgetary impacts, the wildfires have caused significant hardship for local residents. Evacuations led to the loss of at least $44,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for approximately 170 low-income households. These losses were concentrated in six counties, with half of the replacement requests originating from Jefferson County following the Bench Fire. The season has also resulted in the destruction of at least 30 homes and 74 other structures.

Entities

Oregon Department of Forestry · Oregon Legislature · Oregon Department of Human Services · Warm Springs Indian Reservation · Jefferson County

Timeline

4 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Oregon families lose $44,000 in SNAP food benefits to summer wildfires
Nearly 170 Oregon households requested replacement SNAP benefits this summer after wildfires caused evacuations, resulting in at least $44,000 in lost food for low-income families.
11 days ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
Oregon approves $123 million for record-breaking wildfire costs
Oregon lawmakers approved $123 million to cover the costs of the state’s most expensive wildfire season to date, which is projected to reach $350 million by year-end.

Sources

dailyastorian.com · eastoregonian.com · fireandemsfund.com · philomathnews.com · TIME.com