UPDATED September 3, 2024 to include additional agricultural resources

Salem, Ore – The impact of this year’s wildfire season continues to reverberate throughout the state as 2024 has shaped up to be one of the most destructive years on record.

At this time, the number of acres burned is four times the average when compared to the same point in past seasons. Residents in these communities have been deeply affected. As many as 18,000 residents were under a level 1, 2 or 3 evacuation level during the height of the response.

The full scale of the loss will not be clear for a few months at least. Initial reports show that dozens of people have been injured, and there was at least one wildfire-related death. An air tanker pilot named James Bailey Maxwell, 74, who died in a crash while working in the vicinity of the Falls Fire, north of Burns, on July 25, 2024.

Initial reports show fires have destroyed as many as 28 homes and 73 structures. Much of the damage has been to grazing land and livestock, heavily impacting the ranching community in eastern Oregon.

More than 10,000 people are involved in the response including 261 fire crews, 483 engines and 31 helicopters. Local and statewide emergency response departments and agencies are working around the clock to contain the remaining wildfires.

Several organizations are collecting funds and resources for those impacted. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) staff have gathered a list and made it available at Wildfire.oregon.gov.

Some donation resources include:

• The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and the Oregon Farm Bureau are collecting monetary donations.
• Oregon State University is collecting monetary donations, pledges of any in-kind, and donations of hay, feed and transportation.
• Wildland Firefighter Foundation supports firefighters on the frontlines who have been injured and families of those killed in the line of duty.

OEM and agency partners want to caution the public to beware of scams when donating, and only give to trusted organizations. Scammers often contact their possible victims by telephone, social media, email or in person so be suspicious of direct asks. Also, be cautious if the person asking for donations creates a sense of urgency and won’t let you think about it or donate later. If you want to donate money to support the wildfire recovery effort, it’s best to donate to the organization directly.

OEM has compiled a library of additional recovery resources with information from multiple agencies to help residents during and after a fire.

This library includes but is not limited to: