Officials in Oregon reacting to drought and wildfire risks Union County commissioners unanimously agreed to declare a drought emergency and, effective June 15, an early start to the fire season. Credit: U.S. Drought Monitor Author: Associated Press Updated: 1:08 PM PDT June 9, 2021 SALEM, Ore. — In northeast Oregon's Union County, the snowpack is so thin that it has completely melted away in measurement sites. Rivers are running lower, spelling bad news for farmers. The wildfire risk is high. Given these conditions, the county on Wednesday declared a drought emergency and an early start to the fire season. The conditions in Union County, home to 27,000 people spread out over 2,000 square miles, mirror those in much of the West Coast, where drought is above or near record levels, creating increased wildfire risk and hurting farmers, ranchers and fish species.