Oregon Leaders Warn Of Difficult Wildfire Season

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – One of Oregon’s top fire watchers says the state remains poised to see a potentially “challenging” wildfire season this summer despite a wet and cool spring in much of western Oregon.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Chief Mike Shaw says the rain and snow have helped to push back a fire season that threatened to start this month.

But Shaw says expanding drought conditions in other areas of Oregon have set the stage for fires to spread rapidly later this summer.

Gov. Kate Brown urges residents to sign up for emergency alerts through the state’s website, prepare a go-bag in case of evacuation and work to prevent fires.