The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) has opened a wildfire assistance fund to help producers who have been impacted by wildfires in 2021.
The Wildfire Stewardship Fund is open for cash donations. Donations can be made online at orcattle.com or by mail to the OCA office at 1320 Capitol Street NE, Suite 150, Salem, OR 97301, with checks made payable to the Stewardship Fund.
OCA was able to provide $45,000 to ranchers who were impacted by last year’s wildfires, which burned over 1 million acres in the state. The association received 12 applications for assistance with a combined request of $258,000 for expenses and losses. Funds were provided to every applicant and ranged from $500-$13,700.
In addition, Grange Co-op has pledged to match up to $5,000 in relief funds raised by customers. All of the company’s retail stores within Oregon are offering the opportunity for customers to round up their transactions to donate to the fund.
As of Aug. 3, the Bootleg Fire in Oregon had burned over 413,762 acres and was 84 percent contained. The fire is the third-largest fire in state history. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
