Wildfires in Oregon have consumed over 1.4 million acres of land in 2024, marking the most extensive devastation on record, authorities revealed on Friday. The fires have burned more land than in any year since 1992 when reliable record-keeping began, surpassing the previous record set in 2020. According to Northwest Interagency Coordination Center spokesperson Carol Connolly, 71 large fires, defined as those that consume over 100 acres of timber or 300 acres of grass or brush, have been responsible for the vast majority of the destruction.
Despite efforts to contain the blazes, high temperatures, dry weather, and low humidity have fueled the fires, resulting in the loss of 32 homes in Oregon. Evacuation notices have been issued statewide, impacting rural and mountainous regions, as well as areas closer to the Portland metro area. In Cherry Grove, a small town west of Portland, Level 3 evacuation orders were in place with residents urged to leave immediately by local authorities.
In response to the fires, emergency crews have been utilizing airplanes and helicopters to extract water from Henry Hagg Lake for aerial firefighting. The lake was closed to the public over the weekend as efforts to contain the fires continued. One fire near Oregon City led to a temporary closure of a state highway and evacuation orders, which were later downgraded as the situation improved.
The most significant fire, the Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon, has burned over 459 square miles of land but is reportedly 95% contained as of Friday. Meanwhile, California’s Park Fire has become the largest in the country, scorching more than 660 square miles and destroying over 600 structures. Last year, in Oregon’s record-worst fire season, blazes killed nine people, consumed over 1,875 square miles of land, and razed thousands of homes and structures.
