Oregon's fire marshal has stepped down as a deadly rash of wildfires ravage his state, the Oregonian reports. Details remain foggy, but an insider suggests Fire Marshal Jim Walker wasn't up to the job. He allegedly handed over daily management of the crisis to his chief deputy, Mariana Ruiz-Temple, and lost the confidence of State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton, who accepted Walker's offer of resignation. The job has now fallen on Ruiz-Temple's shoulders: "Mariana has led with grace, transparency and courage," said Gov. Kate Brown. "She embodies the experience Oregon needs to face this crisis, in this moment." For more on the fires:
- The numbers: In a word, staggering. Some 94 major West Coast fires have struck mostly forested and rural areas across several states, primarily California, (25), Washington (16), Oregon (13), and Idaho (10), but big cities like Los Angeles and Seattle are choking on the unhealthy air. The fires have killed 33 people and burned 4.6 million acres as of Sunday, CNN reports.