Dear Friend,

As we all know, wildfire season is getting longer and fires are getting more intense every year. That’s why I’m working hard to make sure our communities have what they need to prevent and combat these deadly blazes.

I’d like to update you on some of the work I am doing to protect our community from wildfires, as well as share a few resources to help you and your neighbors stay safe.

This wildfire season, I have been meeting with firefighters and first responders across Oregon to hear from them and make sure they have enough personnel, resources, and support to do their jobs. Last month, I visited an Incident Command Center in Springfield to receive a briefing on the Pyramid and Slate fires. I also stopped by a fire camp near Mt. Hood to talk with our brave firefighters as they are battling the Sandstone fire. These conversations help give me a firsthand look into what is needed and how we can improve coordination between agencies to get these fires under control.

The bottom line: We need to deliver more resources that will help our communities fight these fires today, while also reducing our wildfire risk for the future. As Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Forestry Subcommittee, I am working hard to pass legislation that will do just that. That's why I introduced a bill to help the Forest Service recruit, hire, and train more skilled wildland firefighters. My bill would put more boots on the ground and help keep our communities safe.

In addition to strengthening our workforce, we also have to protect the mental health and wellbeing of our first responders who frequently face life-threatening or dangerous situations on the job – such as fighting wildfires. We know that many firefighters suffer from higher rates of PTSD, depression, alcohol and substance use, and other behavioral health disorders. In Congress, I have championed several pieces of legislation that would improve access to mental health care and substance use treatment for firefighters, including one bill that would help connect firefighters with trained peer support specialists who know what these heroes are going through and can give them the support they need. This effort would benefit local fire departments and wildland firefighters, alike. 

Finally, I am fighting to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that will help us fight climate change and prevent future wildfires from wreaking havoc on our communities. I’m working to include several key provisions in the final bill that will do that, like my bills to protect forest health and promote responsible forest management. 

As I continue to work on this issue in Congress, I also want to share a few important resources and helpful tips to help you stay safe in the event of a wildfire.

• Visit wildfire.oregon.gov for tips on how to prepare for and prevent wildfires.
  Sign up for emergency alerts by visiting oralert.gov.
• Develop a “Ready, Set, Go!” emergency plan. You can use this checklist.
• Find emergency shelter options near you by texting SHELTER and your zip code (for example, “SHELTER 01234”) to 4FEMA (43362). You can also download the FEMA Mobile App to find open shelters.
• Para Español, envía un mensaje de texto con REFUGIO y tu código postal a 4FEMA (43362).
• Monitor your county law enforcement’s social media channels for updates on wildfires

Be well,




Andrea Salinas
Member of Congress