Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management is collaborating with other state agencies to further raise fire prevention awareness. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports the goal is to reduce human-caused fires.
228,000 acres burned last year in Oregon, from fires that were caused by people. Officials hope 2018 isn’t a repeat of that damage.
Paula Negele of the state Emergency Management Office says it’s a far worse year for wildfires.
The Oregon Forestry Department responded to 30 human-caused blazes in the previous week alone.
“Because of the extremely dry conditions, and a lot of dry grass, that a spark from a car, a dragging chain, low tire pressure, where maybe the rims are hitting the concrete or the pavement, that kind of activity can be something that starts a wildfire,” she says.
The gist that many state forest, safety, and travel agencies want to convey is that even simple activities such as making a campfire or mowing a lawn can spark disaster, if people aren’t attentive to the risks.
Copyright 2018, KLCC.
