Oregon Faces Record-Breaking Wildfire Season

Oregon has experienced its most devastating wildfire season in 2024, with more than 1.4 million acres burned. High temperatures, dry weather, and low humidity have fueled the fires, causing widespread evacuations and significant property damage. The largest fire, the Durkee Fire, has scorched over 459 square miles.

Oregon is grappling with its most destructive wildfire season on record, with over 1.4 million acres scorched by mid-August 2024, authorities confirmed Friday. The combination of high temperatures, dry weather, and low humidity has exacerbated the situation, prompting widespread evacuations and resulting in significant property damage.

Carol Connolly from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center reported that this year's fires exceed any since modern records began in 1992, outpacing the previous high set in 2020. A total of 71 large fires have razed vast tracts of land, including 32 homes across the state.

Among the largest blazes, the Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon has burned over 459 square miles and was at least 95% contained as of Friday. In response to these catastrophic fires, authorities have deployed extensive resources, including airplanes and helicopters, to combat the flames from the air.

(With inputs from agencies.)