Bend, OR – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has called a special session of the state legislature, scheduled to begin on December 12, to address the financial fallout from the state’s devastating 2024 wildfire season. The season, which saw a record-breaking 1.9 million acres burned, has led to firefighting and recovery costs soaring to over $350 million—far exceeding the state’s typical annual average of 640,000 acres burned.
In her announcement, Kotek urged lawmakers to appropriate $218 million in emergency funding to cover the immediate costs of firefighting and recovery operations. The requested funds would go to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), which have been at the forefront of wildfire response efforts this year.
The Governor’s office emphasized that while federal disaster relief funds are expected to cover more than half of the overall costs, the state must act quickly to meet its obligations to contractors, first responders, and other partners who have been critical in fighting the fires and assisting impacted communities.
“These funds are essential to pay the bills we’ve already incurred and ensure that Oregonians can continue to recover from this historic disaster,” Kotek said in a statement. “While we anticipate federal funds will cover a significant portion of the expenses, we need to act now to maintain our momentum and support those on the front lines.”
The 2024 wildfire season has been one of the most destructive in Oregon’s history, with flames sweeping across a wide range of landscapes, from forests to farmland, displacing thousands of residents and overwhelming local firefighting resources. The destruction has placed significant strain on both state and local budgets, and the costs of recovery continue to mount.
Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey, who is expected to play a key role in the special session, has indicated that lawmakers will carefully review the funding request. “This is a major challenge for our state, but we understand the urgency,” Fahey said. “We need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support the recovery while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
The special session is expected to be a pivotal moment for Oregon lawmakers as they balance the immediate need for wildfire recovery funding with the long-term fiscal health of the state. While much of the cost of this year’s wildfire season will ultimately be covered by federal funds, the state is facing a complex challenge in managing the immediate cash flow needs to keep recovery efforts on track.
Kotek’s proposal would help pay contractors who have worked for more than five months to assist in firefighting efforts, including those who provided critical support such as equipment and manpower for fire containment and damage assessment. These contractors are essential to maintaining the state’s capacity to respond to ongoing wildfire threats.
The Governor has made it clear that swift action is necessary to ensure the state’s financial obligations are met, and that recovery efforts continue without interruption. As the session approaches, both lawmakers and residents are bracing for a difficult but crucial decision that could determine the pace and success of Oregon’s wildfire recovery for years to come.
The 2024 wildfire season has raised concerns about the growing intensity and frequency of wildfires in Oregon, which has seen a steady rise in fire activity over the past decade. With the state’s average number of acres burned increasing year over year, Kotek and other officials have stressed the importance of long-term strategies for fire prevention, mitigation, and recovery.
As the special session looms, all eyes will be on how quickly Oregon’s lawmakers can come together to address the financial challenges posed by this catastrophic wildfire season and ensure the state is prepared for the challenges ahead.
