VIDEO: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden promised Wednesday that federal help is headed to Southern Oregon to confront our wildfire problems. He said he's shepherded legislation that will stop a long-standing practice of raiding fire prevention coffers to pay for wildfire suppression. "The fire prevention funding got the short end of the stick," he said before about 300 residents who showed up to a town hall at North Medford High. "That will end with a law that will be put into effect in the next couple of months. "A spending bill passed by Congress last week secured $100 million this fiscal year to help suppression efforts and reduce fire borrowing prior to the legislation supported by Wyden taking effect in 2020. Another $7 million has been set aside to train the National Guard in how to handle fires. Wyden said the need for help is immediate in Oregon after two summers of wildfires and smoke. “We all know that in every corner of the state we’re concerned about fires this summer,” he said.