The cost of fighting wildfires in Oregon skyrocketed to $454 million in 2017, the most so far this century, according to data from Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.
The high cost was fueled by multiple large wildfires — and more than 2,000 total fires — that burned 665,000 acres statewide.
Between 2010 and 2015, federal and state agencies spent an average of $146 million on Oregon wildfires. That number more than tripled in 2017.
“The 2017 fire season was particularly long and arduous in the Pacific Northwest,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman Stephen Baker said. “Many of the large fires this year were long-duration fires that required a vast number of resources, in some cases from mid-July through September and even October.”
The number of acres burned in 2017 wasn't a record, or even particularly close. In 2012, more than 1.2 million acres were blackened, but most of it was in southeast Oregon grassland.
The major fires of 2017, however, burned primarily in forestland often close to homes and infrastructure, driving up cost, officials said.
Two of Oregon's largest fires, Chetco Bar and Eagle Creek, were declared the nation's top priority during late August and September. Both fires were managed by fire crews that reached 1,500 people and required deployment of the Oregon National Guard.
“At one point, we had more than 10,300 firefighting resources assigned in the Pacific Northwest,” Baker said. “Many of the regional air tanker bases also had record-breaking seasons.”
Photos: Eagle Creek Fire
Photos: Eagle Creek Fire
The reason for the heavy wildfire season was multifaceted, said Kari Cobb, spokeswoman for the National Interagency Fire Center.
The previous winter brought above-average precipitation and snowpack, which led to the growth of extra fuels, she said. But those fuels quickly dried out with above-average and often scorching temperatures in early summer, “which becomes really combustible,” Cobb said.
Add two major lightning storms to the mix, as occurred statewide in June and July, and you had a recipe for trouble, Cobb said.
“There was a lot of fuel, and it dried out quicker than it normally would,” she said. “That's often going to lead to a bad wildfire season.”
Cost of fire suppression in Oregon
2017: $454 million
2016: $53 million
2015: $218 million
2014: $269 million
2013: $183 million
2012: $102 million
2011: N/A
2010: $50 million
Source: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center
Acres burned in Oregon
2017: 664,824 acres
2016: 219,509
2015: 685,809
2014: 984,629
2013: 350,786
2012: 1,256,049
2011: 285,712
2010: 93,731
2009: 100,668
2008: 136,572
2007: 648,046
2006: 545,870
2005: 155,331
2004: 30,018
2003: 160,191
2002: 1,010,952
Source: National Interagency Fire Center
Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 10 years. He is the author of the book “Hiking Southern Oregon” and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.