Local and state leaders say wildfire seasons are lasting longer across Central Oregon, and the threat is only growing. On Thursday, officials met in Bend to discuss how to better protect homes and communities from increasingly severe fire seasons. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler reflected on how much conditions have changed. โWhen I grew up, I canโt remember a time where there was enough smoke that I couldnโt play outside for days at a time,โ Kebler said.
Leaders pointed to the more than 23,000-acre Flat Fire near Sisters as a reminder of how fast wildfires can spread into nearby neighborhoods. Kebler said cooperation among agencies helped keep that fire from spreading even further. โIt was an incredible collaboration effort between the state to fight the fire, but also really good work on mitigation,โ Kebler said.
