You may have seen a certain twitter journalist beloved by white supremacist groups blaming people with "out of state plates" for starting Oregon fires.

I and other OPB reporters have spoken with multiple eyewitnesses who saw downed powerlines start many of the fires.

There has been one arrest for alleged arson in the Almeda fire near Medford. The arson occurred after the fire was already burning, and eventually that area was overtaken by the original fire.

Nothing else is confirmed. Check your sources. Don't spread rumors.

And for an example of how fast these rumors spread: OPB reporter @MrOlmos was approached by two men with rifles in Molalla while he was interviewing a couple and independent photojournalists were taking pictures.

They were accused of being Antifa. For reporting.

This self-proclaimed journalist claims to have sources in law enforcement that are telling him about these fake arsonists. I highly, HIGHLY doubt this account.

Law enforcement has explicitly said there is 0 evidence for politically-motivated arson. EXPLICITLY.

If you recall, like... oh, the last 100 days, it should be very clear that PDX-area law enforcement, at least, has no compunctions about publicizing politically motivated fires.

Let me be clear, folks: arson is a leading cause of wildfires every year.

A 2017 study by UC Boulder researchers and published in PNAS found that 21% of wildfires are arson.

People do terrible things for irrational reasons. Four fires in 3 1200 miles is not a pattern.

Cos apparently it needs saying: the Sweet Creek fires were started two weeks ago. Stories about arson-caused wildfires are normal.

I get it - this is an insane time, and people look for patterns. It's human nature.

Sometimes, there is no deeper meaning to tragedy, except what we give it. Oregon is amazing. I was born and raised here. This is my home, and it is burning, and we'll only recover if we do it together. I love Oregon and the people who live here more than anything. Yeah -- you too

I've received such an outpouring of love from across the country these last few weeks. Writing about these fires 10+ hours a day is exhausting, but you all keep me going.

Stay together, stay strong, trust each other, and we'll get through this.

I love you all. Follow all evacuation orders. Stay safe. Good night.

(yes I go to bed at 8 now, I've been reporting on fires since 5AM every day and I'm basically your wine-drinking grandma. Toodles.)