Tina Kotek is urging federal officials to help Oregon farmers and ranchers respond to, and rebound from, wildfires at the same scale and speed those officials delivered in Republican-controlled states hit by natural disasters this year. Kotek sent her letter just one day after the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved firefighting assistance grants for three Oregon fires but denied assistance that Kotek requested for two others. Kotek in her letter requested a wildfire disaster designation for 14 counties, which would allow farmers and ranchers access to emergency loan and disaster relief programs. Kotek asked that USDA appoint one contact for Oregon fire recovery to coordinate interagency work, “so the state works one door rather than six.” Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom and can be reached at info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.