PORTLAND — Cool days and rainstorms signaled a long-awaited shift this week: Fall is finally on its way.
That’s good news for crews battling wildfires around the state. For months, dozens of fires have been fueled by a hot, dry summer, prompting evacuation notices and scorching hundreds of thousands of acres.
Rain and cool, cloudy weather have slowed fire growth in recent days, allowing firefighters to make significant progress containing several large blazes. But even as the first day of fall approaches Friday, forestry officials warn the state isn’t in the clear just yet. Fire season still has about another month to go.
This week’s rain is a good start, said Jim Gersbach, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Forestry. But only sustained periods of heavy rain will end the fire season, he said. That typically doesn’t happen until mid-October.