<p>Hundreds of homes have been lost to massive and unprecedented Oregon wildfires with a potentially historic number of fatalities feared in the northwestern US state, governor Kate Brown said Wednesday.</p>.<p>More than 300,000 acres are burning across Oregon including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place.</p>.<p>"This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state's history," Brown told a press conference.</p>.<p>Along with neighbouring California and Washington states, Oregon has been scrambling to contain rapidly spreading wildfires since the weekend due to unprecedented heatwaves followed by intense, dry winds.</p>.<p>"I want to be upfront in saying that we expect to see a great deal of loss, both in structures and in human lives," said Brown.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/extreme-heat-from-wildfires-turns-california-into-a-furnace-884282.html" target="_blank">Extreme heat from wildfires turns California into a furnace</a></strong></p>.<p>Early reports said towns and cities including Detroit, Blue River, Vida, Phoenix and Talent had been "substantially destroyed," she added.</p>.<p>"Hundreds of homes have been lost. And we continue to carry out mass evacuations across the entire state."</p>.<p>Weather conditions had not improved Wednesday, threatening more towns and cities and helping to ignite new fires.</p>.<p>Dry vegetation has increased the risk of further "unprecedented" spread, with "significant damage and devastating consequences across the entire state" already suffered in the past 24 hours.</p>.<p>Brown said she had enacted an emergency fire act for the entire state, granting immediate powers and resources to fire officials, and requested federal assistance.</p>.<p>Neighboring California has already seen 2.5 million acres burn -- an annual record, with almost four months of the year remaining -- and at least eight deaths reported.</p>
<p>Hundreds of homes have been lost to massive and unprecedented Oregon wildfires with a potentially historic number of fatalities feared in the northwestern US state, governor Kate Brown said Wednesday.</p>.<p>More than 300,000 acres are burning across Oregon including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place.</p>.<p>"This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state's history," Brown told a press conference.</p>.<p>Along with neighbouring California and Washington states, Oregon has been scrambling to contain rapidly spreading wildfires since the weekend due to unprecedented heatwaves followed by intense, dry winds.</p>.<p>"I want to be upfront in saying that we expect to see a great deal of loss, both in structures and in human lives," said Brown.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/extreme-heat-from-wildfires-turns-california-into-a-furnace-884282.html" target="_blank">Extreme heat from wildfires turns California into a furnace</a></strong></p>.<p>Early reports said towns and cities including Detroit, Blue River, Vida, Phoenix and Talent had been "substantially destroyed," she added.</p>.<p>"Hundreds of homes have been lost. And we continue to carry out mass evacuations across the entire state."</p>.<p>Weather conditions had not improved Wednesday, threatening more towns and cities and helping to ignite new fires.</p>.<p>Dry vegetation has increased the risk of further "unprecedented" spread, with "significant damage and devastating consequences across the entire state" already suffered in the past 24 hours.</p>.<p>Brown said she had enacted an emergency fire act for the entire state, granting immediate powers and resources to fire officials, and requested federal assistance.</p>.<p>Neighboring California has already seen 2.5 million acres burn -- an annual record, with almost four months of the year remaining -- and at least eight deaths reported.</p>