By Tarek Anthony
oregonlive.com
SALEM, Ore. — More than 1 million acres continued to burn across Oregon on Tuesday as firefighters took advantage of a rare stretch of thunderstorm-free weather to battle dozens of active wildfires across the state.
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Here is an update on the largest fires burning statewide:
Bench fire
The Bench and Beachcomb fires merged into a single, fast-growing blaze that had burned more than 45,000 acres on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in central Oregon by Tuesday. The fire destroyed six homes and five other structures Sunday night into Monday, fueled by strong winds, officials said.
Strong winds Monday pushed the fire across both sides of the Deschutes River and Lake Billy Chinook, driving it toward more populated areas and threatening multiple communities on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Level 3 (go now)evacuation orders remain in effect across much of the reservation north of Lake Billy Chinook and west of Madras. Officials have opened shelters for residents at the Old School Cafeteria in Warm Springs and St. Patrick Catholic School in Madras. A large-animal shelter remains open at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madras.
Pacific Power shut off electricity at three locations on the reservation, affecting fewer than 50 residents.
Crews battled 90-degree heat and strong winds Monday as officials warned there was a “high potential” for further fire growth.
Rowe Creek complex
More than 1,300 personnel are battling the Rowe Creek complex, which encompasses nearly a dozen fires across central Oregon and is anchored by the roughly 71,000-acre fire formerly known as the Brewer fire east of Madras.
The Brewer fire merged Monday with the Green Mountain and Crosswhite fires, bringing the combined burn area to more than 294,000 acres. The merged blaze is now known as the Rowe Creek complex-west zone.
Officials have closed more than 20 miles of U.S. 26 east of Prineville, from milepost 34.8 to milepost 66, because of fire activity. The highway is a key route connecting Prineville and John Day and beyond into Idaho.
Crews are focused on protecting homes east of Prineville, including in the Mill Creek, Johnson Creek and Marks Creek areas. Evacuation orders remain in effect across large portions of Crook and Jefferson counties, though relatively few residents are affected.
Operations Chief Rob Hutchens said crews received two additional firefighting crews from California on Tuesday morning as firefighters continued efforts to protect homes along the southern edge of the fire.
Air quality also remained a concern across the Prineville area Tuesday with Air Quality Index readings measuring at 152 out of 500 — considered to be unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The blaze is 33% contained.
Akawa Butte fire
The lightning-caused Akawa Butte fire continues to burn more than 27,000 acres north of Sisters.
Despite hot, breezy conditions Monday, crews made progress extinguishing hot spots and clearing lingering heat up to 100 feet inside the fire line.
Operations Chief Cody Lokan said Tuesday morning that crews had contained the northeastern corner of the fire, which had been burning on remote public land.
Operations Chief Steve Chapman said crews would remain focused Tuesday on cleaning up burned material in the fire’s southwestern area, where homes are most concentrated.
Chapman said firefighters use water and hand tools to mix burning material into what crews call a “mud pie” to ensure it does not reignite.
“It’s kind of like being a kid sometimes, so it’s kind of fun,” Chapman said.
Oregon State Fire Marshal teams will spend their last night on the fire Tuesday, Chapman said, as crews begin transitioning cleanup efforts back to wildland firefighters.
Officials will hold a community meeting at Sisters High School at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to provide residents with the latest updates.
Power remains shut off along Wilt Road northeast of Sisters to ensure firefighter safety.
Shelters remain open at Sisters High School for evacuees and at Pole Creek Ranch for large animals.
The fire is 6% contained.
Big Grass fire
Oregon’s largest wildfire, the Big Grass fire, has burned more than 300,000 acres across eastern Malheur County and into southwestern Idaho.
Level 3 (go now) evacuation orders remain in effect for the Pleasant Valley, South Mountain and Jordan Valley areas.
The fire is burning primarily on sparsely populated Bureau of Land Management land in the Owyhee region, limiting its impact on homes and communities.
Harney County
In southeast Oregon, the Second Flat fire has burned nearly 92,500 acres east of Burns in Harney County.
Because the fire is burning in a sparsely populated area, evacuation orders affect relatively few residents. Air quality remains unhealthy, however, with Air Quality Index readings reaching 187 on Tuesday. Residents are encouraged to avoid outdoor activities and keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke from entering their homes.
Elsewhere in Harney County, the Jackass and Bald Mountain fires have collectively burned about 54,000 acres as of Tuesday and remain largely uncontained.
The Coleman Creek fire, which spans eastern Harney County and western Malheur County, has burned more than 146,000 acres.
A shelter for residents affected by the Coleman Creek fire has been established at Crane Union High School.
Hagen fire
The Hagen fire in Umatilla County continues to cause unhealthy air quality across Pendleton and much of northeast Oregon. The blaze had burned nearly 30,000 acres east of the Umatilla Indian Reservation as of Tuesday, with evacuation orders remaining in place across the area.
Though Level 3 (go now) evacuation orders affect few residents, an evacuation shelter has been established at Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton, where Air Quality Index readings reached 154 out of 500 on Tuesday, a level considered unhealthy.
Residents are encouraged to limit time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from entering their homes.
Powder River, Fox and Tartar fires
Areas of eastern Oregon near Baker City remain blanketed in heavy smoke and hazardous air as three nearby fires continue to burn.
The Powder River fire, the oldest of the three, has burned more than 21,000 acres near Richland and was 84% contained Tuesday.
Crews have benefited from several days without severe thunderstorms and continue cleanup operations in the area.
South of the Powder River fire, the Fox fire has burned more than 58,000 acres along the Snake River and the Idaho border, becoming authorities’ main priority in the area. The blaze prompted the closure of 80 miles of Interstate 84 on Monday because of dangerous conditions, though the highway has since reopened.
Officials said Tuesday that winds are again expected to push smoke and fire activity toward the interstate and urged motorists to slow down as firefighters work along the roadway.
Across the Snake River in western Idaho, the Tartar fire had burned 12,100 acres as of Tuesday and was 15% contained.
Air quality in Baker City measured 157 on the Air Quality Index on Tuesday, a level considered unhealthy. Ontario recorded some of the state’s worst air quality, with a reading of 195.
Residents are encouraged to limit time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from entering homes.
More than 150 residents remain without power after Idaho Power shut off electrical lines to reduce the risk of additional fires.
Hay Creek complex
The Hay Creek complex, which encompasses numerous fires burning across north-central Oregon, is now 90% contained after burning more than 193,000 acres.
The largest fire in the complex, the Hoag fire, burned about 50,000 acres along the John Day River in Sherman County but is now 100% contained.
A community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Condon Veterans Memorial Hall. Officials will also hold a drop-in question-and-answer session at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Shaniko Hotel.
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