Wildfire, continued from page 1
According to the U.S. Drought
Monitor, more than 1.6 million
Oregonians are currently living in
drought-affected areas. April 2025
was recorded as one of the driest
months in Oregon’s history, with
precipitation levels more than an inch
below normal.
The winter snowpack which was
lighter than usual, began melting in
March, nearly six weeks earlier than
average. The cumulative effect of a
warm, dry winter and spring has left
soil moisture depleted, reservoirs low,
and vegetation dangerously dry.
Drought conditions dry out
grasses, shrubs, and trees, turning
them into easy target tinder for wild-
fires. The National Weather Service
warns that the Pacific Northwest’s
dry summers, combined with reduced
snowpack and early snowmelt, create
a perfect storm for fire activity. In
2024, Oregon experienced 17 major
fires, burning more than 1.9 million
acres creating a record-breaking year.
With a drier-than-normal winter,
Oregon’s outlook for the 2025 season
is not promising.
With reservoirs at historic lows,
water conservation is more impor-
tant than ever. The Oregon Water
Resources Department has recom-
mend the following:
Indoor Water Conservation Tips
• Fix leaks promptly.
• Shorten showers or switch to
shallow baths.
• Turn off the tap when brushing
teeth or washing dishes.
• Run dishwashers and washing
machines only when full.
• Reuse water where possible.
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips
• Water early in the morning or late
in the evening.
• Mulch your garden to retain soil
moisture.
• Raise your mower blade.
• Limit gardening to food and
medicinal plants.
• Replace lawns with drought-
tolerant, native plants.
Property prevention can go a
long way and is easier than you may
predict. Some basic tips that are
recommended by the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) are
to create a defensible space around
your home.
This includes clearing brush a
minimum of 30 feet from your home.
If you have a slopes or hillsides, a min-
imum of 100 feet is recommended, as
well as removing debris from gutters
and roofs. Fire-resistant landscaping
such as rocks, high moisture shrubs
and plants are a huge help.
Emergency management teams
recommend best practices using the 2
Weeks Ready guidelines. This advises
every household to prepare an emer-
gency kit with at least 2 weeks’ worth
of supplies, like: water, non-perish-
able food, medications, important
documents, flashlights, and batter-
ies. Families should also develop an
evacuation plan that includes multiple
routes and a designated meeting
place. This plan should also include a
plan for your domestic pets.
Families should also develop an
evacuation plan with multiple routes
and a designated meeting place. Don’t
forget to include pets in your plan.
In Oregon, the three-tiered evacu-
ation system includes:
Level 1 - Be Ready: Stay informed
and prepare to evacuate.
Level 2 - Be Set: Pack essen-
tials and be ready to leave at a
moment’s notice.
Level 3 - Go Now: Evacuate imme-
diately. Danger is imminent.
These levels are issued by local
emergency management and law
enforcement agencies. Residents
should sign up for emergency alerts
through their county’s notification
system. If you’re not an Oregon resi-
dent, it is strongly suggested that you
research your state and county emer-
gency alert and evacuation protocols.
You may be asking “what you
to do during a wildfire?” First, keep
calm. Then, follow evacuation orders
without delay. Most state agencies
have a cellular alert that will notify
you in the event of an emergency and
will keep you updated based on your
location. This is a service provided,
similar to an amber alert. You should
wear protective clothing for ready
for anything, like a short sleeve shirt,
with a long shirt over that, pants, and
sturdy shoes.
At the level one notice, fuel up
your vehicle and think about what
sort of items you want to pack. This
can include medicine, pets and pet
food. You should pack lightly, taking
only essentials. You should also take
this time, to fully charge your devices.
Please remember, to be mindful of
your battery life. You don’t know when
the next opportunity will be to charge
up, so conserve your battery reading
only your official emergency alerts.
Agriculture health and air qual-
ity concerns during a drought affects
more than just fire risk. Farmers face
reduced irrigation supplies, leading to
lower crop yields, and forced reduced
quality of care toward livestock as
well as economic strain. Wildlife too,
suffers as streams dry up and food
sources dwindle. The Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
is monitoring fish populations and
may implement fishing restrictions
to protect vulnerable species.
If you have ever lived through a
wildfire, or within proximity to one
you understand the reduced quality
of air all too well. When the smoke of
the fire fills the air even the slightest,
this can increase respiratory issues
such as asthma and the cardiovascu-
lar system. This increases coughing,
wheezing, shortness of breath, and
the added stress mixed with poor air
quality can also increase the risk of a
stroke or heart attack. The closer the
wildfire is the higher the likelihood
it harms both plant life, wildlife,
and livestock. Remember, you stay
indoors while they cannot be.
When the air quality risk is high it
is recommended that you check door
and window ventilation to reduce
how much smoke enters your home.
A helpful tip is to cover door and
window seams with damp towels
or blankets – blocking smoke from
entering your home. If possible, you
should also have an air purifier handy,
to help “scrub” the air in your home.
If you only have a small one, it may
be more manageable to keep it in one
room, such as a bedroom. This helps
increase the amount of filtered air
without overworking your machine.
Experts agree that climate change
is intensifying drought and wildfire
cycles. Warmer temperatures lead
to earlier snowmelt, longer fire sea-
sons, and more extreme weather
events. While mitigation efforts are
underway, community preparedness
is essential.
As Oregon braces for another
challenging summer, officials stress
that preparation is key. “We can’t
control the weather, but we can con-
trol how we respond,” said Kassie
Keller of the Oregon State Fire Mar-
shal’s Office. “Every step you take to
prepare your home and family makes
a difference.”
Helpful resources on fire safety:
• drought.gov - Drought conditions
• weather.gov - Fire weather alerts
• redcross.org - Emergency pre-
paredness
• 2wr.org - 2 Weeks Ready
• nfpa.org - Home and fire-wise
information program
July 2025
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Siletz News
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