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As wildfires burst through, ranchers fight to protect their herds and homes

caption: The Rattlesnake Creek Ranch outside of Burns, Oregon, has been under siege from fire this summer, like many ranches across the West.
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The Rattlesnake Creek Ranch outside of Burns, Oregon, has been under siege from fire this summer, like many ranches across the West.
Courtesy of Sabrina Maki

Fueled by dry weather and high temperatures, wildfires across the Northwest have now burned more than 1 million acres. On Friday, Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide emergency to unlock more firefighting resources. 

As of now, those dozens of fires across Washington and Oregon have put thousands of people under evacuation notice. But for cattle ranchers across the plains of the Northwest interior, moving their families – and their herds – is getting more and more difficult. 

Soundside was joined by Anna King, who has been following a number of ranchers as they work to get their cattle away from fire. King is a Senior Correspondent with Northwest Public Broadcasting and has spent more than a decade covering ranching in the remote corners of the Northwest.

Guests: 

  • Anna King, Senior Correspondent with Northwest Public Broadcasting 
  • Kayce Faulkner, rancher in Burns, OR
  • Matt McElligot, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
  • Mitch Baker, rancher north of Burns, OR

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