People affected by the unprecedented series of wildfires this summer in Baker County, including homeowners and ranchers, are invited to a pair of public meetings later in September where they can learn about a variety of aid programs.

The meeting information:

• Sept. 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Durkee Community Hall, 28716 Old Highway 30, Durkee.

• Sept. 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Eagle Valley Grange Hall, 42008 Moody Road, Richland.

The meetings are sponsored by multiple locsl, state and federal agencies, including Baker County soil and water conservation districts, Oregon Department of Forestry, Farm Service Agency, Oregon Deivision of Financial Regulation, Oregon State University, Oregon Department of Human Services and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Jason Yencopal, Baker County emergency management director, said everyone affected by fires, including landowners who had property damaged, and the many ranchers whose grazing land and federal allotments were scorched, are encouraged to attend.

Among the topics that will be covered:

• Programs to help ranchers replace fences and be compensated for lost cattle.

• Information about reseeding burned rangelands.

• Technical assistance for private property owners whose land burned.

• Help with livestock watering and water quality.

• Distribution of donations for ranchers.

• Managing burned timber land.

• Help with insurance issues.

Lightning-sparked wildfires have burned more than 200,000 acres in Baker County this summer.

The largest blaze, the Durkee Fire, was started by lightning on July 17. It burned primarily rangeland in the southern part of the county. The fire burned 294,000 acres in Baker and Malheur counties.

Other major fires included the Badlands Complex, which scored 54,000 acres in eastern Baker County between Interstate 84 and Highway 86, and the Town Gulch Fire, which burned 18,200 acres north of Richland and west of Halfway.

Each of the larger fires burned valuable cattle-grazing land and led to evacuation notices.

The Town Gulch and Durkee Fire destroyed several buildings.