Wyden, Merkley Call For The Quick Distribution Of Wildfire Funds

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are pressing FEMA to speed up wildfire funding for communities recovering from past fires and preparing for future ones.

The senators joined colleagues in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to quickly distribute disaster assistance, saying many communities are still waiting on post-fire hazard mitigation grants from previous wildfire seasons. In a letter to FEMA, the lawmakers note that 2024 was Oregon's worst wildfire season on record, with fires destroying homes and infrastructure, worsening air quality, and straining local economies.

“Wildfires are one of the most frequently recurring disasters that, while once common only to western states, have recently become a major threat to communities across the country,” the senators wrote. "These wildfires can be lethal and destroy critical infrastructure and entire residential communities, negatively affect public health through harmful smoke and air pollutants, and place large economic burdens on urban and rural communities."

Delays Leave Western Communities Vulnerable

“Given these recent fires, the persistent drought across multiple states, and the expected above normal wildfire activity, it is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters,” the letter continued.

The letter, led by Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen, added delays in federal funding leave communities more vulnerable as drought persists and above-normal wildfire activity is expected. The letter, which was also signed by Democrat senators Michael Bennet, Ruben Gallego, Martin Heinrich, John Hickenlooper, Mark Kelly, and Raphael Warnock, called on FEMA to ensure states have the resources they need to respond to wildfires now and reduce the impact of future disasters.

Click Here to read the letter sent to FEMA this week.