Oregon lawmakers are convening for a special session to discuss emergency wildfire funding after a record wildfire season in the state.

The Oregon Department of Forestry still owes hundreds of vendors more than $98 million for costs incurred during this year's wildfire season.

The emergency spending will free up the Oregon Department of Forestry and Office of State Fire Marshal — the two state agencies that predominantly tackle wildfires — to pay contractors who sent machinery and manpower to battle this year’s blazes and support firefighting teams, but have sat unpaid for months.

Oregon lawmakers on Thursday approved more than $218 million to cover eye-popping bills that the state’s fire fighting agencies incurred during record-breaking blazes this summer and fall. They approved the funding during a special session which lasted just over three hours Thursday afternoon.

The Capital Chronicle has launched a $10,000 end-of-year fundraising campaign to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and there’s a long legislative session in 2025.

Oregon lawmakers will hold a brief special session Thursday to allocate funding to the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office.