Oregon - 37 Fires, 800 Square Miles Burned, 3 Confirmed Dead, Town Of Gates Destroyed

Wildfires that continue to burn throughout the state Thursday have killed at least three and have forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

Damage has been widespread, as blazes have burned more than 800 square miles of Oregon. As many as 3,000 firefighters are battling the blazes, which numbered 37 on Thursday and are affecting those living in or near all of the state’s major population centers along Interstate 5 — from Ashland to Portland. Five fires that each cover more than 100,000 acres are collectively about 1% contained.

Gov. Kate Brown has declared a statewide emergency and said Oregon will likely experience the greatest loss of property and lives from wildfires in its history. She said 30,000 to 40,000 Oregonians have had to evacuate their homes .

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State fire officials held a news conference Thursday afternoon, saying they expect two of Oregon’s largest wildfires to combine. The Beachie Creek and Riverside fires, which started in Marion and Clackamas counties, respectively, have scorched more than 300,000 acres, said Doug Grafe, chief of fire protection at the Oregon Department of Forestry. “We fully expect those two fires to combine,” Grafe said. “This fire will continue to push near Molalla. We really need these winds to stop for the forward spread to stop.”

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https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/thousands-evacuate-at-least-2-killed-as-oregon-wildfires-burn-500-square-miles-live-updates.html