Oregon ranchers face steep losses in devastating wildfire season

Think Out Loud

Wildfires have burned more than a million and a half acres in Oregon so far, with the season still not over. Eastern Oregon has been especially hard hit by massive fires this summer, including the Durkee Fire which ignited last month and has burned nearly 300,000 acres. Ranchers in Eastern and Central Oregon face growing uncertainty and mounting economic losses to their livelihoods. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association started a fund to raise money to help ranchers who’ve lost cattle or pasturelands for grazing.

Matt McElligott is the president of the OCA and the owner of LM Ranch in Baker and Grant Counties. He shares with us the impact of the wildfires on ranchers and the long road to recovery some of them face.