Oregon’s Wildfire Crisis and What Must Change | Portland News

Oregon’s wildfire season is turning catastrophic, with the Big Grass fire now the state’s largest ever, burning over 100,000 acres and choking communities with air quality hitting 540. State Rep. Mark Owens, who represents a massive southeastern district mostly rangeland, says the crisis demands proactive action—not just reaction. Despite being a Republican, he’s teamed up with Democrats to push for prevention strategies like fire breaks and vegetation thinning, arguing that current policies ignore long-term risks. He warns that protecting wildlife and limiting grazing hasn’t stopped megafires fueled by invasive grasses—and that neither gubernatorial candidate is offering bold solutions. Owens insists fire management must transcend politics and prioritize prevention before it’s too late. 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/1efe4cd3dcb43469