OCAR4
FIRE RISK
Fire activity is strongly linked to summer climate, with the largest fires occurring exclusively in warm and dry summers.
The most obvious impact of climate change in the west in recent years has been fire.
Fire Season
Fire season in Oregon runs roughly from late July to mid-September, though it can start earlier and end later, as was the case in 2018. Fire activity is dependent on many anthropogenic and natural variables, and warmer or drier seasons can create conditions favorable for wildfires.
Recent catastrophic fires in California and major wildfires in Oregon highlight the vulnerability of the state to increasing wildfire in a warming climate. The Eagle Creek Fire September 2017 closed I-84, a crucial transportation corridor between western and eastern Oregon.
2002 and 2012 had significant large fires over 500,000 acres
Impact
Fire risk is projected to increase across the entire state by midcentury, with the largest increases in the Willamette Valley and eastern Oregon. The associated wildfire smoke creates a health hazard for vulnerable communities, especially outdoor laborers and children, who may be exposed to poor air quality.
“ I have lived in the Oregon for over 20 years and have always enjoyed hiking with my family in the Columbia Gorge. It was horrible seeing such a beautiful place up in flames for such a long period of time and knowing that it will take decades to get back to where it was before.”
- Chuck Dunham, 59