Governor Kotek Surveys Wildfires, Visits with Oregon National Guard Responders

Salem, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek joined Oregon National Guard Adjutant General Alan Gronewold, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple, and Oregon State Forester KC Kacey to conduct an aerial survey of active wildfires and recent damage, as well as meet with Oregon National Guard aviation unit members deployed in Pendleton.

"The scale of this year’s wildfire season is massive, and it was instructive to see wildfire damage and active fires between Salem and Pendleton from the air,” said Governor Kotek. “I want to thank all the first responders and Oregon National Guard members who are serving our state during this difficult time. Our first responders represent one of the greatest expressions of public service, and I will continue to have their backs as we enter a dry September with potential for more challenges ahead.”

Approximately 100 Oregon National Guard personnel have cycled through 35 days of continued operations, putting in roughly 390 hours of flight time. As of this morning, aviation crews have dropped approximately 1.4 million gallons of water this wildfire season.

The Governor and fire response leaders touched down at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Pendleton, home to the Oregon Army National Guard’s CH-47 Chinook helicopter fleet, after surveying the devastation caused by the Grasshopper and Cottonwood fires. At the air base, Governor Kotek received an aviation unit briefing from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Military Department (OMD) on the Hagen and Paradise fires and met with service members who have been conducting fire suppression and support operations for over a month. Following their time in Pendleton, Governor Kotek and fire response leaders surveyed the Austin and the Narrows fires on the way back to Salem.

“It’s been all-hands-on-deck this summer to fight wildfires, and while we’ve made significant progress on containing fires and protecting lives and property, there is still a dangerous part of the season yet to go,” Governor Kotek continued. “September will likely present more wildfire challenges, and we need every Oregonian to do their part to prevent new fires from starting.”

In late July, the Governor also joined the State Fire Marshal, State Forester, the OEM Director, and incident command and operational staff at the Akawa Butte Fire Camp at Sisters Rodeo Grounds to receive a situation update on the Akawa Butte Fire as part of her ongoing efforts this wildfire season to meet with fire response leaders and ensure teams remain appropriately resourced to protect lives and property.

For photos from the day, click here. For a recording of a media briefing she held after the visit in Salem, click here.

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