Wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest is starting earlier than normal this year. Already, Oregon governor Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency related to wildfires.
In southeastern Oregon, the Bootleg fire has spanned 300,000 acres, and fire crews estimate that the blaze won’t be fully contained until the end of November.
There is a long road ahead of folks in the Pacific Northwest when it comes to wildfires.
Climate change and drought are big factors as to why the threat of wildfires is so severe this year.
But there are actions that individuals can take to better understand fire risk, and protect themselves, their families and their fire risk.
Mary Leathers is a part of the Wildfire Prevention team in the Pacific Northwest from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
KBOO's Althea Billings spoke with Mary to learn more about what people can do to prevent and mitigate wildfire damage in their area
- KBOO