Oregon Wildfires Cover 500 Square Miles Amid Historic Loss Of Life and Property

Wildfires have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and 500 square miles in Oregon, and at least four people have died in this historic and horrific wildfire season .

Driven by fierce winds, the destruction tearing through Oregon is unrivaled in the state's history, according to Gov. Kate Brown (D), who described the carnage as an “unprecedented” situation. She said more than 500 square miles of Oregon is on fire.

“We expect to see a great deal of loss, both in structures and in human lives,” noted Brown. “This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state’s history.”

Brown called the fast-spreading wildfires across the state a "once in a generation event" and urged residents to remain cautious. She said firefighters have their hands full battling 35 fires fanned by unrelenting strong winds.

“This is proving to be an unprecedented and significant fire event for our state,” said Brown, who is also dealing with the ongoing protests demanding racial justice and equality in Portland.

New fires erupted across the state Tuesday. The exceedingly warm temperatures plus powerful winds from the northeast are spreading flames into new territory and transforming existing fires into hellish conflagrations.

Substantially destroyed by the raging fires were the communities of Blue River, Detroit, Phoenix, Talent and Vida once populated by thousands of people. Half of Clackamas County was under a must-evacuate order Wednesday afternoon. Brown declared a statewide emergency amid massive blazes in Marion, Lane, Jackson, Coos, Lincoln, Washington and Clackamas counties.

Sheriff Joe Kast of Marion County said crews found two people dead in a vehicle from the Santiam Canyon wildfire east of Salem. In northern Oregon, a 12-year-old boy and his grandmother were both killed in a wildfire near Lyons

Kast said searchers will likely find more victims as rescue efforts continue. There is no accurate count of the dead and missing because teams have been unable to reach some of the areas hardest hit by the flames.

Brown said firefighting teams were desperately fighting 35 wildfires across more than 300,000 acres. Adding to the mounting woes are smaller fires that keep erupting without warning.

Brown said mass evacuations are ongoing. She also some Oregonians had been rescued from rivers where they had sought safety from the massive walls of flames.

Oregon Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said firefighters are fighting the worst fires. She admitted her people “have not been able to get into some of these areas” to see what or who may have been harmed. She said the state’s top priority now is getting to people who need assistance evacuating.

All of the state’s half dozen or so biggest fires are zero percent contained mostly because of hot and heavy winds, said Doug Grafe, chief of fire protection at the Oregon Department of Forestry.