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Sen. Ron Wyden says frontline firefighters have roughly half the resources they need, urges Congress to act
Summary
At a Central Oregon press event, Sen. Ron Wyden said firefighters told him they have "0.5 of what they need," criticized federal delays and outlined efforts to steer funding toward prevention and relief for hard-hit communities.
Sen. Ron Wyden, speaking at a press event in Central Oregon, said firefighters he met at sites including Roe Creek and Warm Springs reported having only "0.5 of what they need right now," and he urged a faster federal response to the ongoing wildfire season. Wyden said he will take frontline information back to Congress to press for more equipment, personnel and funding.
Wyden said the gap between frontline needs and Washington's response is "as big as the Newberry Crater," and called the shortfalls an "indictment of the current system." He emphasized that local leaders and firefighters are doing heroic work, but that federal priorities and reorganizations have left communities under-resourced. "They said 0.5 of what they need right now," Wyden said, attributing the figure to local responders. The senator asked officials to provide him continued updates so he can advocate for changes in appropriations and program delivery when Congress reconvenes.
