Dozens missing as firefighters battle two large Oregon fires

This photo taken by Talent, Oregon resident Kevin Jantzer shows the destruction of his hometown as wildfires ravaged the central Oregon town (Kevin Jantzer via AP)

Hundreds of firefighters battled two large wildfires on Friday that threatened to merge near the most populated part of Oregon as the governor said dozens of people are missing in other parts of the state.

The state’s emergency management director Andrew Phelps said officials are “preparing for a mass fatality event” and that thousands of structures have been destroyed.