Over 1,000 firefighters from Oregon and Washington headed to Alaska to help battle a spate of wildfires caused by lightning strikes. At the same time, officials from vulnerable parts of Oregon worry that this state is not doing enough to protect themselves from wildfire risks. According to the Bureau of Land Management, dozens of fires across Alaska are currently burning over 600,000 acres, and lightning strikes have started as many as 11 fires in only three days. Along with firefighters, Oregon is also sending professional fire managers and helicopters. Other government organizations, like the Alaska National Guard, are also being mobilized to assist. One lesser-known casualty of Oregon’s cap and trade bill, which failed in June after a nine day walkout by Republican Senators, was a $6.8 million bill to thin forests in southern Oregon as a method of wildfire prevention.