Oregon lawmakers were convening Thursday for a special session to discuss emergency funding to pay out millions in unpaid bills stemming from the state’s 2024 record wildfire season. As wildfires still rage in California,

The emergency spending will free up the Oregon Department of Forestry and Office of State Fire Marshal — the two state agencies that predominantly tackle wildfires — to pay contractors who sent machinery and manpower to battle this year’s blazes and support firefighting teams, but have sat unpaid for months.

Oregon lawmakers on Thursday approved more than $218 million to cover eye-popping bills that the state’s fire fighting agencies incurred during record-breaking blazes this summer and fall. They approved the funding during a special session which lasted just over three hours Thursday afternoon.

The Oregon Department of Forestry still owes hundreds of vendors more than $98 million for costs incurred during this year's wildfire season.

The Oregon Department of Forestry had more than 1,800 outstanding invoices totaling $98 million at the beginning of December.

Oregon lawmakers will hold a brief special session Thursday to allocate funding to the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office.

The Capital Chronicle has launched a $10,000 end-of-year fundraising campaign to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and there’s a long legislative session in 2025.