Oregon foresters tell legislators wildfire costs and severity are rising; work group drafting funding changes

Co chairs Frederick and Levy convened an informational hearing on Senate Bill 5521 on March 11, where Oregon Department of Forestry officials said wildfire activity, acres burned and suppression costs have risen substantially and are straining the agency’s existing funding model.

The agency’s fire protection chief, Kyle Williams, Deputy Director of Fire Operations, told the subcommittee that human-caused starts account for roughly 77% of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) fire starts while lightning-caused fires drive the majority of acres burned. “Human cause is anything people might be doing that could cause a fire,” Williams said. He added that lightning storms can create hundreds of starts at once in remote areas that quickly exceed initial attack capacity.

The rising acres are already driving higher costs. Williams said that including the 2024 season, ODF’s average annual gross suppression cost is about $99,500,000; the agency’s average annual net cost — after expected federal reimbursements — is about $42,600,000. He warned the committee that federal reimbursements can lag by one to four years, creating a cash‑flow burden on the state.

Why this matters

ODF staff described a multi-tiered funding model that begins with per‑acre assessments to…