Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared the Emergency Conflagration Act due to the Telephone Fire in Harney County. This decision was made because the local resources were not enough to handle the fire, which was threatening lives and property. Harney County Judge Hart had asked for help with safety and fire protection, and the state fire marshal agreed.
Governor Kotek expressed her concern about the severity of this fire season, stating, “I continue to be alarmed by how quickly this fire season has escalated.” So far this year, she has deployed the National Guard and received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for seven Fire Management Assistance Grants.
She has also requested a Secretarial Disaster Declaration from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help the agricultural community recover from the fires. This is the eighth time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been used this year.
The Governor praised the hard work of firefighters battling the Telephone Fire and other wildfires across the state, saying, “I want to thank our firefighters for their tireless work on the Telephone Fire and fires across the state, as well as the many partners that have come in to aid our communities.”
To combat the wildfires throughout Oregon, the Governor has declared a Statewide Emergency. This declaration helps agencies and localities work together more efficiently and gather all available resources. State agencies are closely collaborating with local communities to assess the needs for state and federal assistance. Under the Governor’s guidance, the National Guard has deployed two Medevac crews, two bucket crews, and four hand crews to support wildfire operations.
Governor Kotek’s request to FEMA resulted in the approval of seven Fire Management Assistance Grants. Recovery efforts begin as soon as a wildfire starts, and the Governor is focused on protecting Oregon’s cattle, crops, and properties while ensuring the agricultural community can recover quickly.
The Governor has also asked for federal disaster recovery support through a Secretarial Disaster Designation for multiple counties, including Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler. This designation allows the state to seek federal assistance when weather conditions severely impact the agricultural industry.
Additionally, the Governor is requesting Federal Lands Grazing Permits to provide alternative grazing areas and more flexible grazing schedules on National Forest System lands to aid in recovery. Emergency waivers for the use of non-certified weed-free forage are also requested, as they are necessary for soil stabilization and livestock feeding.
The Governor has urged the USDA to collaborate with state and local offices to speed up the relief process through federal programs that cover various agricultural and recovery needs.
According to ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Kotek determined that the Telephone Fire, which exceeds the firefighting abilities of local teams, poses a serious threat to life, safety, and property.
This declaration allows the state fire marshal to mobilize resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to assist local fire agencies on the scene. The Emergency Conflagration Act is specifically declared for the Telephone Fire, which poses a risk to structures in Harney County.
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The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Green Incident Management Team will join forces with the Complex Incident Management Alaska Team 1 to tackle the situation. At 9:00 PM on August 1, 2024, the OSFM Green Incident Management Team was briefed on the developments of the Telephone Fire.
