PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon is expected to receive more than $28.5 million in federal grants aimed at protecting communities that are vulnerable to wildfires.

The funding comes from the U.S. Forest Service's Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, which selected 58 projects across 22 states and two tribes to invest in. The program awarded Oregon and Washington state a combined total of $57 million . The money awarded to Oregon will help fund six projects across the state that largely focus on reducing wildfire risk.

During this year's wildfire season, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration act seven times in response to wildfires around the state. Kotek had determined that those wildfires exceeded the firefighting capabilities of local personnel and equipment, and the

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