Fire season is calming down in the Northwest. Officials have dropped their preparedness level to 4. The region was at level 5 for 31 days-- an all time record.
More than 8 thousand firefighters were battling 21 large fires in Oregon and Washington at the height of this fire season. Linda Hecker is with the Northwest Fire Coordination Center in Portland. She says things are calming down, which has allowed officials to reduce the region's preparedness level.
Hecker: "The next couple of days are going to be a test for the fires because we're expecting wind coming in with this weather system and so that's going to test any existing fires that are out there."
Hecker says crews are staying vigilant because the season isn't over yet-- but weather conditions should be more favorable. Officials expect a heavy demobilization of firefighters by mid-week.
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