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| Above: Visitors coming to Oregon for the Aug. 21 eclipse were made aware of wildfire risks in a statewide campaign this summer. The campaign likely contributed to a temporary dip in human-caused wildfires during a two-week period around the eclipse. |
SALEM, Ore. — Fears
that an influx of people coming to see the solar eclipse in Oregon on Aug. 21
might spark more wildfires didn’t come to pass. In fact, at least on the 16
million acres protected from fire by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the
period just before and after the eclipse actually saw fewer human-caused wildfires than
normal.
Emergency
management planners had estimated as many as a million visitors might come to
Oregon for the eclipse. The timing – right at the peak of wildfire season in
mid-August – could not have been worse from the viewpoint of wildfire
officials. That raised fears that the best viewing locations in the path of
totality – fire-prone central and eastern Oregon – would see a spike in
wildfires just when resources would be stretched thinnest.
management planners had estimated as many as a million visitors might come to
Oregon for the eclipse. The timing – right at the peak of wildfire season in
mid-August – could not have been worse from the viewpoint of wildfire
officials. That raised fears that the best viewing locations in the path of
totality – fire-prone central and eastern Oregon – would see a spike in
wildfires just when resources would be stretched thinnest.
Those concerns
prompted ODF to support a vigorous wildfire prevention campaign in conjunction
with:
prompted ODF to support a vigorous wildfire prevention campaign in conjunction
with:
·
Keep Oregon Green
Keep Oregon Green
·
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
·
Oregon State Parks
Oregon State Parks
·
Travel Oregon
Travel Oregon
·
Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon Department of Transportation
·
Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal
Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal
·
Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police
·
American Red Cross
American Red Cross
·
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service
·
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The campaign
included 19 billboards; messaging signs along highways, Portland airport and
malls; TV and radio ads; placemats in restaurants; and websites, Facebook and
other media platforms.
included 19 billboards; messaging signs along highways, Portland airport and
malls; TV and radio ads; placemats in restaurants; and websites, Facebook and
other media platforms.
“We asked
visitors to enjoy the eclipse but be careful not to start a wildfire,” says
Keep Oregon Green President Kristin Babbs. “
visitors to enjoy the eclipse but be careful not to start a wildfire,” says
Keep Oregon Green President Kristin Babbs. “
Although fewer
people than the expected one million traveled to the path of totality, the hundreds
of thousands who did come should have led to increased fire starts. Instead, it
appears the campaign’s messaging worked. There was no increase in wildfires on
ODF-protected land around the time of the eclipse. Not only that, but during
the week before and the week after the eclipse, wildfire starts statewide on those
lands were actually lower. There were just 62 human-caused wildfire starts during those two
weeks compared to 77 starts in 2015, and much lower than the 89 starts in 2016.
Human-caused wildfire starts were also lower than the 10-year average of 70.
people than the expected one million traveled to the path of totality, the hundreds
of thousands who did come should have led to increased fire starts. Instead, it
appears the campaign’s messaging worked. There was no increase in wildfires on
ODF-protected land around the time of the eclipse. Not only that, but during
the week before and the week after the eclipse, wildfire starts statewide on those
lands were actually lower. There were just 62 human-caused wildfire starts during those two
weeks compared to 77 starts in 2015, and much lower than the 89 starts in 2016.
Human-caused wildfire starts were also lower than the 10-year average of 70.
In the most
fire-prone part of the path of totality – central Oregon – there were only
three wildfire starts during the two-week influx of eclipse visitors. That was
the lowest number for that period since 2008. And it was only half the 10-year
average of six wildfire starts on ODF-protected land in central Oregon during
those same two weeks.
fire-prone part of the path of totality – central Oregon – there were only
three wildfire starts during the two-week influx of eclipse visitors. That was
the lowest number for that period since 2008. And it was only half the 10-year
average of six wildfire starts on ODF-protected land in central Oregon during
those same two weeks.
“We’re happy
visitors and Oregonians heeded messages to obey fire restrictions and campfire
bans, and to not pull off highways onto dry grass to view the eclipse,” says
Babbs. “Every wildfire we prevented was one less destroying resources and
putting smoke in the air.”
visitors and Oregonians heeded messages to obey fire restrictions and campfire
bans, and to not pull off highways onto dry grass to view the eclipse,” says
Babbs. “Every wildfire we prevented was one less destroying resources and
putting smoke in the air.”
The careful behavior
around the time of the eclipse is even more impressive when viewed against the
increase in human-caused wildfires during the 2017 fire season. On
ODF-protected land, the number of human-caused wildfires from the start of the
year through Sept. 30 was 684, well above the 10-year average of 611. So while
humans in 2017 have caused about 12 percent more wildfires than the 10-year
average, they caused fewer around the time of the eclipse.
around the time of the eclipse is even more impressive when viewed against the
increase in human-caused wildfires during the 2017 fire season. On
ODF-protected land, the number of human-caused wildfires from the start of the
year through Sept. 30 was 684, well above the 10-year average of 611. So while
humans in 2017 have caused about 12 percent more wildfires than the 10-year
average, they caused fewer around the time of the eclipse.
Given the heavy
demand on firefighting resources this summer in Oregon and across the West, the
dip in new fires around the eclipse was a relief to fire officials. They were
already fully engaged before the eclipse with a dozen or more large wildfires
on both sides of the Cascades. After eclipse visitors left, more fires started.
Through Sept. 30, the Northwest Interagency Coordinating Center has reported a
total of more than 70 large wildfires in Oregon.
demand on firefighting resources this summer in Oregon and across the West, the
dip in new fires around the eclipse was a relief to fire officials. They were
already fully engaged before the eclipse with a dozen or more large wildfires
on both sides of the Cascades. After eclipse visitors left, more fires started.
Through Sept. 30, the Northwest Interagency Coordinating Center has reported a
total of more than 70 large wildfires in Oregon.
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