Oregon's two U.S. senators are demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the Trump administration denied firefighting-assistance grants for two of the state's most significant 2026 wildfires — even as more than a million acres burned and over 33,000 Oregonians remained under evacuation orders.

The Denials

FEMA denied Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) requests from Governor Tina Kotek for the East Evans Creek Fire in southwestern Oregon and the Rowe Creek Complex in Wheeler and Wasco counties — both major incidents requiring substantial suppression resources. FEMA indicated that neither fire met the criteria for a major disaster declaration, which is required to unlock FMAG funding under the current administration's interpretation.

The denials came even as a third FMAG — for the Grasshopper Fire near Wamic on the Mt. Hood National Forest — was approved on July 27, marking the third such declaration for Oregon fires in 2026.

Senators Respond

Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden sent a formal letter to FEMA pressing for a detailed explanation of the agency's decision-making process. Among their requests:

  • The quantitative eligibility metrics used under federal regulations for FMAG determinations
  • Identification of who within DHS and FEMA is involved in FMAG decisions
  • Any guidance issued to those officials regarding approval criteria
  • An explanation of what criteria changed between 2025 and 2026
  • What data FEMA relies on beyond state-provided information
  • A state-by-state tally of FMAG approvals and denials over the past decade

The senators argued that FEMA's own policy manual language states an FMAG designation is warranted when a fire "threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster" — language they say clearly applies to both denied fires.

"FEMA has also indicated that the East Evans Creek Fire and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex were denied an FMAG because they did not meet the criteria for a major disaster declaration," the senators wrote. They requested a response by August 10, 2026.

Broader Context

Oregon is facing an unprecedented fire season. As of July 27, at least 86 active fires were burning more than 1 million acres across the state, with more than 33,000 Oregonians under evacuation orders. The state has activated the Oregon National Guard, requested international assistance, and is coordinating resources across dozens of simultaneous incidents.

The FMAG program is specifically designed to provide rapid federal resources before a wildfire escalates into a declared major disaster — making the administration's denial of grants for active, large fires particularly controversial. Critics argue the denials leave Oregon holding costs that would otherwise be shared with the federal government, even as the fires burn on federal lands.

The FMAG Program

Fire Management Assistance Grants are federal funds that help state and local governments cover costs of fighting fires that threaten to cause major disasters. They are typically requested early in a fire's development and can help pay for personnel, equipment, and other suppression costs. Oregon has relied on FMAGs in previous years to offset the escalating costs of increasingly severe fire seasons.

The denial of FMAGs during an active, ongoing crisis raises significant questions about the future of federal-state cost-sharing arrangements for wildfire response — an issue that is likely to receive continued attention in Congress as the 2026 fire season progresses.