PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two-thousand wildfires torched more than 700,000 acres in Oregon last year. The Eagle Creek Fire, a teen-made blaze, burned up to 50,000 acres, about a fourth the size of the Chetco Bar fire, which tore through Southern Oregon land near Brookings.
It appeared, during a dangerous wildfire season, that all of Oregon was burning.
An “out-of-control” brush fire that was quickly extinguished in Columbia County threatened 11 homes on Tuesday. It was early for that type of risk, said Cheryl Engstrom with Scappoose Fire.
“Usually we don’t have those until after June but the weather has been perfect for that I guess,” she said.
On Wednesday, with fire season fast approaching, the Oregon department of Forestry released an interactive map called Oregon Explorer showing the most at-risk areas for wildfires.
Areas in Bend, Medford and Hood River are the most red, meaning they have the highest risk.
You can learn more about the new tool here.