Major Disaster Declaration Issued for Umatilla, 4 Other Counties

U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they were gratified that President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for Umatilla, Gilliam, Grant, Wasco and Wheeler counties that enables those five Oregon counties to receive federal help for wildfires last year between July 10-Aug. 23.

The major disaster declaration triggers the release of federal funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help communities in those counties recover from wildfires that were part of a record-setting season in Oregon that burned nearly 2 million acres statewide – about three times the amount in an average year.

“This is good news to start 2025 that helps residents and small businesses in Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler counties to recover and rebuild from the wildfires that struck their communities in the summer of 2024,” Wyden said. “Oregon suffered a brutal fire season.”

“Last summer’s wildfire season was devastating for many Oregonians and our economy as a record number of acres burned, destroying dozens of homes and damaging valuable rangelands, cattle, and miles of fences,” Merkley said. “This federal disaster designation is essential for the state, local, and Tribal governments in several counties in Oregon to continue to recover and rebuild.”

The federal disaster declaration follows a letter from Oregon’s entire congressional delegation supporting Gov. Kotek’s request that Oregon receive a major disaster declaration.