Oregon
Oregon climate assessment highlights need for wildfire preparedness
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – An Oregon Climate Assessment released Wednesday, highlights the need for more wildfire preparedness, how the state’s weather is impacted by rising temperatures, and advises policymakers on steps to take.
The assessment, released by the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University could serve as a major blueprint for preventing or mitigating wildfire damage in the Pacific Northwest, like those currently burning in Los Angeles.
“The hazards are real, regardless of what people think of some of the reasons why our climate is changing,” said Erica Fleishman, OCCRI Director. “We’re seeing differences in weather and climate, and it’s important to be thinking of ways to protect themselves, and the people, places, and values they have.
The Seventh iteration of the report, which is 300 pages long and meant to inform policymakers and the public alike, indicates the state has increased its average temperature by 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the past century and will exceed five degrees by 2074.
In addition, the region has received below-average precipitation for 18 of the past 24 water years. These two facts combined show a reason for caution in future years and the need for preventative action to be taken based on the difficulty of fighting wildfires in both Oregon and California.
SEE ALSO:
“One can’t prevent those fires but can impact lives and structures from being lost,” Fleishman said. “A lot of things can be done to harden structures, homes, businesses. We’ve seen some difficulty and confusion with single evacuation zones and mobility challenges of loved ones and neighbors.”
In many areas across the Portland Metro area, homes are densely constructed close to vegetation, and these recent wildfires have many paying attention to what they can do big or small to keep their communities safe.
“I know there are stark climate differences between Southern California and Northern Oregon but it’s definitely a concern because of how much worse it’s been getting throughout the years,” one resident said. “Really just being mindful in any wooded area such as this.”
“Knowledge of the biological, physical, and social impacts of climate change better informs society’s decisions about how to respond,” Fleishman added.
The state has made the 300-page assessment viewable to the public.
Copyright 2025 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.