Oregon’s tough wildfire season has pushed spending to the point the state Department of Forest is tapping its special insurance policy for the second year in a row.
The Bulletin reported that state wildfire costs exceeded the $20 million deductible last July, and spending is now two-thirds of the way through the $25 million Lloyd’s of London insurance policy.
Department spokesman Rod Nichols says the premium this year doubled to $2 million.
Wildfires have already burned three times the 10-year average in Oregon, and the department expects the upward trend to continue as the changing climate brings more drought, longer burning seasons and higher temperatures.