Oregon Spends $123M to Battle Wildfires | Portland News

Oregon just poured nearly $123 million into battling this year’s wildfire crisis, with $108 million going to the Department of Forestry and $15 million to the State Fire Marshal — as flames have already scorched 2.5 million acres and cost over $236 million. With projections hitting $350 million by season’s end, officials are scrambling: the forestry department is borrowing $150 million from the state treasury, while firefighters — who’ve battled 12 major blazes — get critical funding to keep going. Lawmakers are frustrated by slow federal reimbursements, as state funds meant for schools and healthcare sit idle. Still, there’s deep appreciation for the crews who saved towns — and for now, Oregon is paying the price to protect its communities, knowing federal repayment could take years. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/80a6dc2fc8654d33