Salem, Oregon – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has called for a special session of the state legislature scheduled to start on December 12 in response to the disastrous wildfire season of 2024. This move seeks to secure the money necessary to address the significant damages caused by wildfires that tore almost 1.9 million acres over the state, well above the 10-year average.
The sheer extent of damage and the financial load this year’s wildfire season has placed—more than $350 million—have made the season historic. Governor Kotek acted quickly because of the urgency of necessary payments, even though guarantees of federal funding covering more than half of these costs. Resolving accounts with many contractors who have committed more than five months to firefighting and relief efforts throughout Oregon depends on the state’s timely financial response.
“The unprecedented 2024 wildfire season required all of us to work together to protect life, land, and property, and that spirit of cooperation must continue in order to meet our fiscal responsibilities,” said Governor Kotek. “I am grateful to legislative leaders for coming to consensus that our best course of action is to ensure the state’s fire season costs are addressed and bills paid by the end of the calendar year.”
The financial plan asks the legislature to set aside $218 million overall for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The funding is meant to cover all current season expenses, therefore guaranteeing that the state fulfills its responsibilities to the many small, medium-sized, and large-scale contractors helping to combat the fires.
“Fighting wildfires of the magnitude we saw this season required a tremendous level of resources that even wildfire experts couldn’t foresee,” said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene & Veneta).
“Now, as we approach the end of the year and the holiday season, we need to make good on our commitments and pay our bills so that the contractors who fought fires in Oregon can be made whole. Convening now will enable us to do so, and to chart a bipartisan path forward to address our state’s most pressing needs.”
Apart from covering large areas, the wildfires have destroyed at least 42 houses and another 132 structures, further aggravating the load on the infrastructure and local businesses. The significant effects on utilities and transportation highlighted the governor’s earlier decision to declare a State of Emergency and use the Emergency Conflagration Act 17 times—a record in state history—to coordinate required firefighting resources.
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The special legislative session is a vital first step towards rebuilding and getting ready for future challenges as Oregon recovers from the financial and physical aftermath of the wildfires. This proactive financial program emphasizes the state’s dedication to its citizens and the resiliency of its people, who demand no less than a unified, efficient response from their leaders in challenging times.
