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Time to brush up on campfire safety, as severe drought raises risks of wildfire
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) With parts of Oregon and Washington in a drought that ranks among the driest 10% of years since 1895, it’s more important than ever for campers to help prevent wildfires this summer.
Last year, outdoor visitation surged during the pandemic, and recreation officials are expecting another busy year. In 2020, 81% of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) were caused by people. This exceeded the average over the last ten years, during which only 61% of wildfires were human-caused. Many of these wildfires began as escaped campfires.