Four wildfires reach ‘megafire’ status in Oregon, scorching thousands of acres
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – As firefighters continue to battle smoke and flames throughout Oregon, at least four wildfires in the eastern half of the state have grown into “megafires.”
A megafire, according to the U.S. Interagency Fire Center, is a wildfire that reaches a size of at least 100,000 acres. Of the 100 fires currently burning in Oregon, the Durkee, Cow Valley, Falls, and Lone Rock fires have each reached this status.
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Durkee Fire
Location: Baker County
Size: 145,557 acres
Containment: 0%
Injuries: 2
Structures Destroyed: 2
Cow Valley Fire
Location: Malheur County
Size: 133,490 acres
Containment: 78%
Injuries: 1
Structures Destroyed: 7
Falls Fire
Location: Harney County
Size: 120,919 acres
Containment: 15%
Injuries: 11
Structures Destroyed: 29
Lone Rock
Location: Gilliam County
Size: 116,563 acres
Containment: 40%
Injuries: 3
Structures Destroyed: 0
The 2024 wildfire season so far has burned 618,741 acres in Oregon, according to the
State of Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard. This converts to 966 square miles of scorched land.
The Falls Fire burning in Central Oregon moves along a preexisting burn scar from a 2007 wildfire. (Photo: Mike McMillan/USFS) Crews battle the Cow Valley Fire on Jul. 14, 2024. (Oregon State Fire Marshal) A truck drives along the fire line of the Cow Valley Fire burning in Eastern Oregon. (KOIN 6) The Oregon Fire Marshal announced Tuesday that the Falls fire in now 85,348 acres in size. (Oregon State Fire Marshal) (Courtesy: Nicholas Alexander) (Courtesy: Nicholas Alexander) The Lone Rock Fire in Gilliam County, July 14, 2024 (Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office) (Courtesy: Nicholas Alexander) (Courtesy: Nicholas Alexander) (Courtesy: Nicholas Alexander)
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has already declared a wildfire state of emergency, freeing up deployment of the National Guard along with firefighters and structural equipment from California and Washington.
“To be very honest, our wildfire season is off to a very aggressive start,” Kotek said in a briefing last week, adding that this summer could be “a long wildfire season.”
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Extreme heat and dry conditions have contributed to the state’s heightened wildfire risk as thunderstorms spark throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, officials with the Oregon Department of Forestry say several wildfires have also been caused by humans.
In fact, the Forest Service reported that at least 100 wildfires in Oregon and Washington were caused by people throughout June and early July.
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“We are asking the public for help keeping human-caused fires off the map,” said Kyle Williams, Deputy Director of Fire Operations with ODF. “We have our hands full already and more lightning coming. We can address that as long as our resources are not busy dealing with other human-caused fires.”
State officials urge residents to sign up for local emergency alerts and familiarize themselves with evacuation levels.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our wildfire coverage.
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