Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon will receive $2.48 million in federal reimbursement for fire response and hazardous debris removal from the South Obenchain and Almeda fires that tore through southern Oregon in 2020.
“Southern Oregon has made incredible progress recovering from these catastrophic fires, but these efforts have been challenging and expensive,” Wyden said. “As we anticipate more and more challenging wildfire seasons to come, I am gratified to see FEMA dollars go toward recovery and prevention for Southern Oregon as Oregonians continue to work to rebuild our communities.”
“Southern Oregon lost thousands of acres in the South Obenchain and Almeda fire, and the region still needs every available resource to continue their recovery,” said Merkley. “I am pleased to see federal reimbursement for these critical recovery efforts, and I will continue to fight for federal support as communities rebuild from the devastating wildfires.”
Starting Sept. 8, 2020, the South Obenchain and Almeda fires burned a combined nearly 37,000 acres in Southern Oregon. The Oregon State Office of the Fire Marshal (OSFM) provided fire management and suppression; evacuating communities, identifying hazardous materials, and post-fire mop-up for the protection of public health, safety, and property.
“Local communities and States rely on these federal reimbursements for recovery, resiliency, and response,” said State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple.
A web version of this release is here.