Labor Day Fires, 2020.
Van Cooley / OPB
In 2020, Oregon experienced one of the most devastating wildfire events in its history. Eleven people lost their lives. More than 4,000 homes were destroyed. Entire communities were displaced. Oregonians came together to rebuild, reimagine and reclaim their communities.
On this fifth anniversary, OPB is bringing you a special weeklong series of stories that reflect on what happened, what’s changed and what comes next.
Starting August 26 and continuing through Labor Day, we’ll publish new stories daily across digital, radio, video and social platforms. You’ll hear from survivors rebuilding their lives, scientists studying fire recovery and communities creating new infrastructure. Journalists who covered the fires then and are still covering their aftermath will document what the devastating fires mean for the region now.
