Oregon's Governor John Kitzhaber declared a state of emergency Tuesday in response to wildfires that have burned more than 1,100 square miles in southeastern Oregon. Crews have gained the upper hand on the largest blazes in Harney and Malheur counties, but thunderstorms could start new fires this week.
The Governor's executive order directs state agencies to assist affected landowners and seek federal disaster assistance.
The Long Draw Fire burned nearly 900,000 square acres. It surpassed the Biscuit fire of 2002 as the largest blaze in state history.
Carol Connoly is with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland. She says wind-driven range fires like the Long Draw grow rapidly in dry grass and sagebrush.
"It's very unsafe to put fire fighters at the head of those types of fires because typical range fires may have four to seven foot flame lengths," Connoly says. "When you get into this rapid growth, they're like 10, 15 almost 20 feet for flame lengths, and it just goes."
Connoly says the lightning storms forecast for the next few days could spark new fires
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