Wildfires in Oregon: Updates on Evacuations, Fire Growth, and Conditions

Lightning Strikes Ignite Wildfires Across Oregon, Prompting Evacuations

Late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, Oregon experienced a total of 1,050 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, sparking numerous wildfires across the state. The lightning strikes were widespread, with the bulk concentrated in southern Oregon and about 200 strikes hitting the Cascade Range and foothills in Marion, Linn, and Lane counties.

Despite the lightning activity, minimal precipitation accompanied the strikes, allowing several small wildfires to grow following record-setting heat earlier in July. However, conditions on Wednesday were slightly more favorable for slowing fire spread, with higher humidity and less significant winds expected.

One of the fires, known as the Trail Fire, east of Diamond Lake in Douglas County, prompted level 2 and 3 evacuation notices. The fire reached 100 acres in size, leading to “Go Now” evacuations for the Pacific Crest Trail and several other trails in the area.

In Central Oregon, the Round Mountain Fire on Deschutes National Forest grew to 25 acres, with nearby Incident 445 reaching about 5 acres. Evacuations were issued north of Wickiup Reservoir, with level 3 orders in place for specific forest service roads.

Further south in Oregon, multiple fires were reported, including the Rogue River fires near Galice, the Donomore Fire near the California border, and the Big Craggies Fire near Gold Beach. These fires presented challenges due to their remote locations and difficult access for firefighting crews.

In Harney County, the Falls Fire destroyed 10 residences and forced evacuation orders, with the fire reaching 91,269 acres and 0% containment. The fire behavior was expected to be influenced by multidirectional winds from possible thunderstorms.

Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Falls and Lone Rock fires in Harney County, mobilizing resources to protect life, safety, and structures. Additionally, the Malheur County Emergency Management lifted evacuation readiness conditions for areas affected by the Cow Valley megafire.

As wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, residents are urged to stay informed about evacuation orders and fire restrictions in their areas. The situation remains dynamic, with firefighting efforts ongoing to contain and suppress the blazes.