In response to the escalating Copperfield Fire in Klamath County, Governor Tina Kotek has called upon the Emergency Conflagration Act, stepping up state intervention as local capabilities are overrun by the flames. The decision, made on the evening of September 1, 2024, follows a request from the Klamath County Fire Defense Board, acknowledging the dire need for additional support and the state fire marshal's agreement on the necessity of such a call to action.

Currently, Oregon grapples with 21 uncontained large fires, employing an all-hands approach as it leverages partnerships with numerous agencies to combat the devastating wildland fires. Assistance is not merely a matter of dispatching equipment and personnel, but also of aligning with local communities to better understand the specific state and federal resources required, as outlined by Governor Kotek's office.

The governor's powers, under ORS 476.510-476.610, facilitated her determination that the Copperfield Fire poses a significant threat to life, safety, and property, surpassing what local fire services can manage. Consequently, the declaration mobilizes the state fire marshal to coordinate with the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System, reinforcing efforts on the front lines of Klamath County's fire defense.

For those requiring further details, Governor Kotek's Executive Order 24-23 pertaining to the Copperfield Fire can be accessed at the following link here. As the situation escalated, the Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management Team, since the previous Sunday, began a unified command alongside the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3, to streamline the management of the crises.