As Oregon faces the largest wildfires in nearly 150 years--and ranchers, residents, and firefighters are scrambling to save their communities, livestock, and range--I’ve been in close touch with local, state, and federal officials, as well as citizens and ranchers from the affected areas in Harney and Malheur counties. I've encouraged all levels of government to be flexible and responsive to the needs of communities, families, and businesses.

This morning, at a townhall meeting I held in Ontario, a representative from the BLM briefed the community further on the situation. They told us the moisture levels of the sagebrush and grass fuel in the affected areas is 40-50% of normal for this time of year. They also told us that the recovery time for the affected areas is at least two years. These fires will have a major impact on the economy of southeastern Oregon over the long-term.

Today we did receive a little bit of good news for the ranchers whose cattle are being impacted by the wildfires. Yesterday I called and asked the USDA Farm Service Agency to be flexible in locating private farmlands in nearby counties in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) where ranchers can relocate their cattle for emergency grazing. The USDA has just announced that they have done so.

Here is the statement from the office of Farm Programs at FSA: “Due to the imminent threat of wildfires in Malheur and Harney counties in Oregon, FSA has authorized livestock producers for emergency use of CRP in those counties and in the contiguous counties. This allows livestock producers to move their livestock to CRP acres in neighboring counties.”

I’ll keep working on encouraging all levels of government to be creative and flexible in finding solutions.

A public meeting will be held in Jordan Valley tonight and in McDermitt, Nevada, tomorrow. I have a previously-scheduled townhall in Enterprise tonight, but a representative from my office will attend the meeting in Jordan Valley tonight on my behalf.

I’ll continue to keep you updated on this rapidly-developing situation. In the meantime, please keep the firefighters and those in the impacted communities in your thoughts and prayers.