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Effects Of Oregon's 2020 Wildfires Still Threaten Area Residents

Brian Bull
/
KLCC

The devastating Oregon wildfires this year have been one for the record books. More than $116 million in federal disaster assistance has been allocated for relief and recovery efforts. And  residents of the McKenzie River Corridor are now wary of fire-related aftershocks.

1.2 million acres and 4,026 residences were consumed by the 2020 wildfires in Oregon. Nine people are confirmed dead and one remains missing.

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Damaged cars and demolished homes from the Holiday Farm Fire, Blue River, OR.

LeighAnn Blodgett of Marcola said she’s glad the Holiday Farm Fire was contained short of her home along the Mohawk River. However…

“The upper part of it was burned extensively," Blodgett told KLCC. 

"And they’re trying to get all the logs out of the area and stuff, but that could definitely cause landslides.”

A deadline to apply for public assistance has now been extended to January 13th.  Twenty Oregon counties are eligible for damages sustained by the September wildfires. Local and tribal governments, as well as state agencies and non-profits can apply through FEMA.

Copyright 2020, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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