4 results for tag: wildfires
Smoke and Heat: A Deadly Climate Combo Unfolding in Oregon
Oregon’s wildfire situation has gone from bad to worse.
Just a few days into August, this year has officially set the record for most acres burned in a single Oregon wildfire season. We’re currently sitting at over 2 million acres burned, surpassing the previous record set in 2024. Sadly, the fires are still far from contained, and Oregon’s available resources to fight them are spread thin – and there are still months left to go of wildfire season. Our hearts are with each and every Oregonian impacted by the wildfires, and all the firefighters putting their lives on the line to contain them.
Now, two additional factors have entered the ...
How To Stay Safe During Oregon’s Wildfire Season
Oregon’s wildfire season is off to an early and dangerous start.
Already, dozens of wildfires have burned nearly 2 million acres – more than four times last year’s total. At least 24,000 Oregonians are currently under some level of evacuation notice. Families across the state are facing the health risks of steadily worsening air quality as smoke rolls in.
Sadly, with August and September still ahead of us, the worst is likely yet to come. We’re deeply grateful for the frontline firefighters (both in- and out-of-state), volunteers, and state leaders working to safeguard our communities.
Tips To Stay Safe
Our hearts are with each and ...
Wildfires and our water resources
As we face a future with more wildfires, it's time to start looking beyond the burn. Even after flames die down, our watersheds are still at increased risk.
Wildfire smoke and my fireplace.
What does it feel like to be vulnerable to air pollution? Let me tell you my story...
One Friday a while back, I couldn't seem to get a deep breath. I thought it was due to over-exerting myself (I'm six months pregnant so I get tired pretty easily). I didn't realize that a steady stream of smoke from wildfires across the Pacific Northwest was slowly rolling into the Portland metro area, impacting the air quality all around me. It was a warm summer night, and I'm a typical Oregonian without air conditioning, so my husband and I slept with the screen door to our bedroom open that night, breathing the outside air as it got worse and worse. I slept ...