Most Septembers, the 185-acre Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center in Salem is home to the legendary state fair. This year, fire evacuees have camped out at the site, both in buildings and in trailers on the lots surrounding them.
Dennis T., an Air Force veteran who lives in Lyons, has been staying at the fairgrounds. He was woken up in the middle of the night by his two daughters, who told him it was time to evacuate. In order to get his son out of the house, he told him he was having chest pains. “He was really upset with me when we got up to the hospital parking lot and he found out I was lying to him,” Dennis says. “But I got him out of Lyons!”
Dennis T.’s vehicle, packed with survival gear. His home survived the fires.
Santiago S. lost his house in the fire. But in the fairgrounds, he’s found community.”We can’t go to church now because Covid, so i really miss my church Family,” he says. When he first arrived, he saw a hand-painted sign offering “Prayers,” and found a church group to attend. “We’ve had [meetings] the last two days now.” The other people remember each others names, offer supplies — “the generosity is just incredible,” he says. “It’s a joy. But it’s also a sadness, because why can’t we treat each other this way all the time?”
Boxes of supplies at the Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Oregon, where the parking lot is now dotted with RVs full of people fleeing the fires.
Jamie A. (left) and Jennifer W. drove roughly five hours to bring from Port Angeles, Washington, to fire evacuees in Salem, as well as to family who had been affected.
Indoor shelters set up at the Jackson County Expo, not far from the California border. The expo reserved the indoor accomidations for fire evacuees who are at higher risk.
Dave R. was heading out for a smoke when a neighbor told him to leave as quickly as he could — the fires were coming. “I got my cell phone, the clothes on my back, and my car,” he says. “Everything else got burned up.” While the assisted living complex where he lived said he would be welcome back when was they rebuild, that could take at least a year. For now, he’s spending his time at the Jackson County Expo Red Cross shelter making a list of all his lost property, in an attempt to get some kind of governmental compensation.
Dave R.’s belongings on his cot at the Red Cross shelter in the Jackson County Expo grounds. This is about all he has left after the fires.
A makeshift air purifier made by taping furnace filters inf ront of a fan, set up in one of the indoor evacuation shelters. For a time in early September, Oregon’s air quality was so poor that it was used to test air quality.
Ted T. had three minutes to gather his things and evacuate his apartment in Talent when the fire spread north from Ashland. He was able to grab his backpack, but his seven-month old chihuahua, Dior, got away. “She got scared and ran,” he says. “I never got her out. She perished in the fire.” At the Jackson County Expo Red Cross shelter, another evacuee gave him a puppy, whom he named Teddy.
Cots set up by the Red Cross on the Jackson County Expo grounds. In addition to housing, the Red Cross offered first aid care and three meals a day to those staying there, and the Oregon Department of Human Services was there to sign people up for assistance.
A water fountain near sleeping quarters in the Jackson County Expo is taped off, due to Covid-19.
Judy C., who lost her mobile home in Phoenix, Oregon. She has been driving around the state trying to find shelter and assistance. Here, she sits here on her cot inside a shelter set up by the Red Cross on the Jackson County Expo grounds.
Tents from fire evacuees inside a shelter set up by the Red Cross on the Jackson County Expo grounds in Central Point, Oregon.
Gino V., a fire evacuee, getting a free haricut at the Jackson County Expo grounds from Kelly G., a local volunteer.
Karrie C. with her puppies inside a shelter on the Jackson County Expo grounds. Thought she lives in Idaho, she had been visiting a friend in Southern Oregon, and had planned to drive to the coast. The night before they were set to leave, they were evecuated. Her friend lost his home to the fire.
A worker for a mobile canteen set up at the Jackson County Expo grounds.