Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board provides $47.5 million to ODF for firefighting efforts in record wildfire season

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Legislators on the Joint Emergency Board provided more than $103 million to state agencies on Wednesday to address fighting wildfires and other urgent issues of health and safety across the state.

Amid a historic wildfire season, legislators allocated $20 million in new funds and released $27.5 million in previously allotted special-purpose appropriations to the Oregon Department of Forestry to support wildfire fighting efforts.

Oregon has seen more than 2,000 wildfires this year, which have burned a record 1.9 million acres statewide. 

"We stand with Oregonians across our state who have been impacted by fires this year. The Department of Forestry has done incredible work fighting these fires under difficult weather conditions and with personnel and resources stretched thin across multiple states," said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego). "The Legislature will continue to support wildfire fighting efforts, so our firefighters can focus on keeping Oregonians safe and protecting homes and wildlands."

A total of $24 million from the Emergency Board’s General Fund were allocated, with the remainder going toward:

• $3.15 million to the Department of Justice to backfill federal funding reductions from the Victims of Crime Act, ensuring that Oregonians will continue to receive the resources and support they need after being victims of a crime. 
• $1.1 million to the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to repair a critical building used in training courses for law enforcement.
• $40,000 to the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability for an additional 0.25 FTE to address a backlog of complaints.

"The Emergency Board's actions were focused on urgent issues of health and safety, including responding to Oregon’s most damaging wildfire season in history and ensuring victims of crime have the support they need," said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene & Veneta). "With the limited resources we have, we will continue supporting the professionals who provide the services that Oregonians expect of their state government."

The Emergency Board also took action to support the continued transition of the Public Defense Commission to the Executive Branch, including the approval of new personnel. Significant work remains for the agency to resolve the state’s unrepresented persons crisis. Several funding requests were deferred until further progress on the crisis can be demonstrated.

In total, the Emergency Board released $79.3 million in previously allocated special purpose appropriations and approved an increase in spending for federal funds and other funds by $169 million and $198 million, respectively.