Oregon, wildfire

Oregon lawmakers hold special session on emergency wildfire funding
Oregon lawmakers were convening Thursday for a special session to discuss emergency funding to pay out millions in unpaid bills stemming from the state’s 2024 record wildfire season. As wildfires still rage in California,
Oregon lawmakers approve $218 million to fund bill from record-breaking wildfire season
Last summer's historic wildfire season brought record-high costs upwards of $350 million, placing Oregon agencies in a deep financial hole.
Gov. Kotek signs $218 million wildfire funding bill, passed by Oregon lawmakers in one-day special session
Gov. Tina Kotek on Friday signed Senate Bill 5801, passed in Thursday’s legislative special session, that allocates $218 million to the Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal to pay for costs associated with the 2024 wildfire season.
Oregon lawmakers approve rush of wildfire funds in speedy emergency session
The emergency spending will free up the Oregon Department of Forestry and Office of State Fire Marshal — the two state agencies that predominantly tackle wildfires — to pay contractors who sent machinery and manpower to battle this year’s blazes and support firefighting teams, but have sat unpaid for months.
Oregon Legislature approves spending $218 million to cover unpaid wildfire bills
Gov. Kotek called the special session to free up money to pay hundreds of contractors involved in the wildfire season that burned 1.9 million acres.
Oregon looks to special session to pay 100s of vendors millions of $$$ for wildfire costs
The Oregon Department of Forestry still owes hundreds of vendors more than $98 million for costs incurred during this year's wildfire season.
Oregon lawmakers to vote on funds to pay off debts for historic 2024 wildfire season
The Oregon Department of Forestry had more than 1,800 outstanding invoices totaling $98 million at the beginning of December.
Oregon approves $218M in emergency wildfire funding
The state spent more than $350 million responding to more than 2,000 wildfires in 2024, far exceeding projected costs and leaving some contractors unpaid.
Oregon lawmakers approve $218M in emergency wildfire funding in special session
Oregon lawmakers have approved $218 million in emergency wildfire funding after convening for a special session
Oregon Legislature approves $218 million in additional wildfire funding in emergency session
The Capital Chronicle has launched a $10,000 end-of-year fundraising campaign to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and there’s a long legislative session in 2025.
Lawmakers approve hundreds of millions to pay Oregon wildfire bills
Lawmakers stressed that the money is a stopgap cobbled together so the state can pay contractors who helped fight fires this year. Finding long-term solutions to pay for increasingly severe and expensive wildfire seasons will be among the priorities that the Legislature tackles during the 2025 session.
Daily on Energy: Oregon eyes wildfire funding, solar industry lays out agenda, and Democrats want investigation into alleged Exxon hacking operation
Good afternoon and happy Thursday, readers! In today’s edition of Daily on Energy, Callie and Maydeen take a look at the ...
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Oregon isn’t paying its wildfire bills on time. Now legislators must act
The company has worked on wildfires for decades, and Miller says the state routinely pays its bills within 45 days. But this ...
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EWEB gets federal funding for wildfire resiliency projects
EWEB and other local groups have secured a total of $1 million in federal funding to undertake projects that will make local ...
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Oregon legislature pushes bill to pay $218 million bill left from 2024 fire season
The Oregon legislature pushed a bill covering millions of dollars of unpaid bills for the 2024 wildfire season, with governor ...
Here’s how to cut your own Christmas tree in one of Oregon’s national forests
For just $5 — and a little effort — you can find your Christmas tree in one of Oregon’s national forests. The U.S. Forest ...
Wildfire smoke affecting many U.S. cities, including in Midwest, East Coast
Heavy smoke from wildfires more frequently chokes the skies over the Western United States, but cities farther to the east ...