Oregon governor calls special session to address wildfire costs [Video]

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced Tuesday that she will call state lawmakers in for a special session next month to address the high cost of this year’s record-breaking wildfire season.

The session will begin Dec. 12 and focus on a request from Kotek for $218 million in additional funding for state agencies that were overtaxed by the cost of fighting the wildfires, according to a news release from Kotek’s office. The fires collectively torched more than 1.9 million acres, far more than any prior year on record.

“The unprecedented 2024 wildfire season required all of us to work together to protect life, land, and property, and that spirit of cooperation must continue in order to meet our fiscal responsibilities,” Kotek said in a statement. “I …