UPDATE (August 7, 10:44 am): A final update on the 294,265-acre Durkee Fire from the Southern Area Gold Team has been released as the crew transitions control of the wildfire back to local units on August 7 at 9 pm.
The fire is now 95% contained and crews have been hard at work on suppression efforts to get the wildfire completely contained.
Weather conditions on August 7 are elevating fire risk with low humidity and above average temperatures in the fire area.
The Southern Area Complex Incident Management Gold Team as well as hundreds of firefighters from across the country are extending their thanks to the communities in the fire area for being welcoming and accommodating.
Incident Commander Michael Davis with SAIM also wrote that he feels confident that the incoming Type 4 management team will continue to make progress on the Durkee Fire following the August 7 transition.
UPDATE (August 6, 10:00 am): More accurate measures of the Durkee Fire, as well as containment efforts by fire crews, indicate that the wildfire is now 294,265 acres and sits at 90% containment.
Today, crews will continue to patrol for residual hotspots and work on other operations with additional firefighters and aircraft waiting in case conditions change rapidly.
The Durkee Fire is set to be transitioned back to local units at 9 pm (MDT) on Wednesday, August 7.
Updated evacuation information for the fires can be found on the Malheur County Sheriff's Office and Baker County Sheriff's Office Facebook pages.
UPDATE (August 5, 9:19 am): The Durkee Fire remains at 294,690 acres as crews have continued using drones to identify and extinguish hotspots. The Fire is now 86% contained.
Containment efforts have progressed smoothly, but there is a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon to increase fire activity.
UPDATE: As of Sunday, Aug. 4
The Durkee Fire has now reached over 294,000 acres of burned area. The progress for the Durkee Fire containment has reached 80% containment.
The larger reported fire size is due to improved mapping and verifying containment lines. Firefighters used infrared data and drones to find and extinguish scattered hotspots. They also removed unnecessary equipment and began repairing dozer lines in some areas.
The Baker County Sheriff's Office has closed Burnt River Canyon Road to non-local, non-emergency traffic.
UPDATE: As of Saturday, Aug. 3
Containment is now at 68% with over 439 personnel working the blaze.
Closures:
• The Baker County Sheriff's Office has closed Burnt River Canyon Road to non-local, non-emergency traffic.
• I-84 and other highways: Please go here for current road closures as the situation is dynamic and subject to change.
• A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Malheur County and all Bureau of Land Management lands in Malheur and Baker counties.
• The temporary flight restriction has been reduced over the Durkee Fire.
UPDATE(August 2, 9:53 am): Containment efforts have been continuing successfully on the 293,882-acre Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon. The wildfire is now 63% contained.
A community information meeting for the Durkee Fire is scheduled for 7 pm (MTN) at the Churchill School 3451 Broadway St., Baker City, OR.
UPDATE (August 1, 12:30 pm): As firefighters continue making progress on the Durkee fire, containment increases slightly to 58%.
To keep residents in the know, a public meeting will be held Friday August 2 at 7pm (MTN) at the Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St., in Baker City, Oregon.
UPDATE (July 31, 11:19 am): The Durkee Wildfire grew slightly overnight, now measuring in at 293,882 acres, but containment efforts have been progressing smoothly and wildfire conditions have improved to the point that some evacuations are being lifted. The fire is currently 52% contained.
Evacuation levels for areas near the wildfire have been updated. Most notably, evacuaton levels for Huntington, portions of Rye Valley, and Pleasant Valley have been removed. Many areas have been reduced to a level 2. More evacuation information can be found on the Malheur County Sheriff's Office and Baker County Sheriff's Office Facebook pages.
As evacuations are cleared, traffic in the area of the Durkee Fire will likely see an increase. Drivers are being asked to be conscious of the fire operations in the area and use caution when driving near fire crews and equipment.
On July 31, fire crews will focus their efforts on securing containment lines, mopping up hotspots, and cold trailing. Air operations are also planned to fight the flames on the northern border of the fire.
UPDATE (July 30, 8:15 p.m.): On Monday afternoon a cold front with a small amount of rain moved into the area or the Durkee Fire. After considering the weather conditions and level of fire activity, changes have been made to the evacuation levels throughout Baker County.
Multiple areas have been reduced to a Level 2 (BE SET) or are no longer under any evacuation level. Additionally, evacuation levels for Huntington, portions of Rye Valley and Pleasant Valley have been removed.
UPDATE (July 30, 10:24 am): The Durkee Fire is now 51% contained as fire crews continue to fight the flames.
Though rain on July 29 was beneficial to firefighting efforts, it was not enough to extinguish heat on the fire.
The reported increase in the size of the fire is due to more accurate mapping and not to actual fire spread.
Today, firefighters will seek out opportunities to continue operations on the fire's north side if weather permits. If not, crews will clean up containment lines and finish constructing the direct fireline.
UPDATE (July 29, 11:50 am): Fire crews were able to keep the Durkee Fire in check despite winds on July 28. The fire remains at 288,690 acres with firefighters now working to strengthen containment lines on the north side of the fire.
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office and Baker County Sheriff's Office have issued evacuation orders for multiple areas during the Durkee Fire. The latest evacuation information can be found on their Facebook pages.
UPDATE: As of July 28th 2024
Today firefighters will continue working on spot fires near I-84 and on a pocket of active fire in Shirttail Creek. They also will continue to connect and secure containment lines on the fire’s north side and finish prepping line on the 11 Road. On the fire’s west side, firefighters will continue to hold, mop up and patrol containment lines.
A public meeting on the Durkee Fire will be held at the Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St., Baker City, OR at 6:30 p.m. PDT on Monday July 29, 2024.
UPDATE: As of Saturday, July 27
The Durkee Fire continues to spread across 288,690 acres, with 49% containment.
Weather conditions and dry fuels continue to promote fire growth in the Durkee Fire area. Yesterday, containment lines were extended from River Bend on the I-84 corridor to the southern edge of the fire.
NW Team 6 will hand over command to SE Gold Team at 6am PDT tomorrow, July 28, 2024, while remaining in unified command with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The OSFM is monitoring the situation, and structural threats are decreasing.
The Durkee Fire, a megafire over 100,000 acres in size, is located between the Cow Valley Fire to the southwest and the Badland Complex to the northeast. Its perimeter stretches 169 miles, similar to driving from Vale to Umatilla, Oregon.
Aerial resources are being allocated between the Badland Complex, Durkee Fire, and Vale BLM due to high demand and limited availability. So far, over a million gallons of water and retardant have been used on the fire.
UPDATE(July 26, 10:15 am): Fire crews working to control the Durkee Fire made some progress yesterday, reaching 20% containment for the wildfire.
The Durkee Fire saw slight growth on July 25 and now measures in at 288,690 acres.
The Durkee Fire is now the largest in the nation and is considered a megafire.
UPDATE(July 25, 4:02 pm): The Durkee Fire, now the largest wildfire in the country, is 20% contained according to Cow Valley and Durkee Fires Information.
UPDATE(July 25, 2:30 pm): All evacuation recommendations for the Durkee and Cow Valley fires have been lifted in Malheur County only.
Fire danger is still very high in the area, and the Malheur County Sheriff's Office is telling community members "DO NOT BURN."
UPDATE(July 25, 1:32 pm): The Baker County Sheriff's Office has announced that the evacuation notices have been reduced to a level 1. The BE READY alert for the southern outskirts of Baker City have been lifted completely as well.
The map below was shared by the sheriff's office at 12:57 pm and displays updated updated evacuation information for Eastern Oregon.
UPDATE (July 25, 10:02 am): Yesterday, fire crews responding to the Durkee Fire were faced with extreme fire conditions as heavy gusts caused the fire to grow to 268,492 acres.
I-84 closures in Eastern Oregon caused by the Durkee Fire have been lifted according to ODOT.
Containment remains at 0% as fire crews continue their full suppression efforts. Fire operation priorities for July 25 include containment in Bridgeport, Shirttail Creek Road and Rye Valley areas as well as mop up around structures in the fire area.
Hazardous air warnings are still in place in the areas surrounding the Durkee Fire. For current smoke information, visit airnow.gov.
UPDATE: The Durkee Fire has now crossed Burnt River Canyon Ln into Dark Canyon Rd as well as the I-84 at milepost 345.
Baker County has also updated their evacuation map with more Level 3 GO NOW areas highlighted (available below).
UPDATE: The Idaho Transportation Department has announced the closure of all large commercial traffic traveling on SH-71 between Cambridge and the Oregon state line due to the Durkee Fire in Eastern Oregon.
There is no estimate for when the restrictions will be lifted.
The I-84 remains closed between Ontario and Baker City.
UPDATE: A virtual community meeting on the Durkee Fire has been scheduled for 7:30 pm.
The meeting will cover information on the spread of the Durkee Fire, and with the I-84 closures continuing, officials decided a virtual meeting was the best option for the community meeting.
More information on how/where to watch a recording of the meeting will be posted to the Durkee Fire Facebook page.
UPDATE: I-84 closures related to the 244,858-acre Durkee Fire were lifted for a short period of time on July 24 before the Oregon Department of Transportation announced more closures along the roadway. As of 12:30 pm, the road is closed from Pendleton to Ontario due to unpredictable fire activity in the area.
There is currently no estimate for when the closure will be lifted. ODOT says travelers should be prepared for additional closures and are advised not to rely on the I-84. If you must drive in the area, ODOT is recommending the use of US-20 instead.
Updated closure information is available on TripCheck.com. Closures could be put in place depending on fire growth.
Evacuation orders remain in place for the surrounding area. Absolutely no residents should be in level 3 evacuation areas at this time. Evacuation levels can be found on this map from the State of Oregon Fires website.
Fire suppression efforts have continued, but incident meteorologists are anticipating lightning and sustained winds later in the day on July 24 which could spread the flames further.
Official fire information for the Durkee Fire warns that the weather will lead to extreme fire growth in the area. Thunderstorms are expected to bring 75 mph gusts and lightning to Eastern Oregon.
UPDATE: I-84 eastbound is now open in eastern Oregon. The highway was closed for most of the day Tuesday due to the Durkee Fire burning near Farewell Bend/Exit 353.
This fire remains active and travelers should be prepared for more I-84 closures. Other eastern Oregon highways are closed or impacted as well.
UPDATE: The I-84 eastbound is now closed from Pendleton (Exit 216) to Baker City due to fire risk from the 239,255-acre Durkee Fire. The Oregon Department of Transportation is allowing local eastbound passenger traffic on the roadway, but only from Exit 216 to Baker City.
The I-84 remains closed in both directions between Baker City and Ontario (Exit 374). The closures are expected to last throughout the day.
The community meeting for updates on the Durkee Fire, which was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, has been moved to a fully virtual meeting due to I-84 closures.
UPDATE: The Durkee Fire has continued to spread in Eastern Oregon, swelling to 239,255 as of 1:11am on July 23.
Low visibility due to heavy smoke has slowed aerial operations, but water and fire-retardant deliveries are continuing alongside other suppression efforts.
The I-84 is currently closed in both directions between Baker City (exit 302) and Ontario (exit 374) due to the Durkee Fire. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, flames are rapidly approaching the highway in multiple areas. ODOT is warning drivers not to rely on GPS for directions and consider using alternative routes to avoid the fire.
Eastbound traffic is also closed on the I-84 from La Grande (exit 265) to Baker City (exit 304) while OR 201 North is closed in both directions from Exit 356 to Weiser Spur. The closures are expected to last through the day.
UPDATE, as of 9 p.m., July 22: The Durkee fire was quite active on Monday due to continued winds and high temperatures, spreading to over 220,000 acres.
Firefighters are planning to complete strategic burn operations from Huntington Road to Lockette to 1-84. This aims to help get ahead of where to fire is moving and protect infrastructure and communities.
Deputies performed Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation notifications to residents in the area of Plano, Vandecar and Manning Creek Roads. Multiple structures are threatened at this time.
I-84 is closed to all traffic between Pendleton and Ontario. The road will close for the next three to five nights starting at 7 p.m. with all lanes open again by 5 a.m. the following day, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. If other highways need to be closed in the area, they will be closed during the same time.
A full closure will allow fire crews to safely conduct large-scale fuel reduction burnouts.
RELATED: Hot, anxious, difficult night for those displaced by the Durkee Fire in Eastern Oregon.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, July 17 a lightning strike started flames in eastern Oregon, and the fire has continued to spread through the area.
The Durkee Fire, burning 5 miles southwest of Durkee, now covers 173,758 acres in east Oregon after two extremely active fire days over the weekend according to Durkee and Cow Valley Fires Information.
The fire is currently 0% contained as over 550 personnel from fire crews work to attack the flames on the ground and in the air.
With the nearby Cow Valley fire continuing to burn as well, eastern Oregon is experiencing two wildfires that span over 100,000 acres.
Fire officials say the smoke from the east Oregon fires will continue to blow through the area, with the city of Burns expecting very unhealthy air quality and nearby John Day and Baker City expected to have unhealthy air conditions.
Smoke-filled air conditions are expected to continue through Tuesday, July 23.
The Haines Stampede Rodeo has announced that the rodeo grounds has been made available to house animals and livestock for residents evacuating near Baker City. Those interested can call the one of the numbers on their Facebook post.
UPDATE: As of 10 p.m., July 21
The Red Cross of Idaho and East Oregon and its partners have opened an evacuation shelter in Ontario, Oregon, for those displaced by the Durkee wildfire.
The Red Cross shelter is located at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, 795 N.W. 9th St., and will provide a safe place to stay, meals, information, emotional support and access to other community resources. There is also room for livestock and RVs.
I-84 is closed to all traffic between Baker City (Exit 302) and Ontario (Exit 374) due to a wildfire south of Durkee, near milepost 330. Delay your travel or use alternate routes, stay on main highways. Closure is expected to last through the night. Crews will evaluate the situation in the morning. Go to TripCheck.com for updates. More Info Here [tripcheck.com]
Level 3 evacuation has been issued to Huntington and the surrounding area. For Huntington residents that need transportation, a bus will be available at Lions Park.
Level 3 evacuation has also been issued to Rye Valley and the surrounding area.
This evening at approximately 7:04 p.m. thunderstorms moved through the area which caused the fire column to collapse, sending wind gusts in excess of 50 mph in all directions. These gusts have the potential to drive the fire toward town.
The fire has NOT crossed I-84 at this time, but has the potential to.
UPDATE: As of 4 p.m., July 21
The Durkee fire burning has been stopped on the south end in the Willowcreek area, however a “GO” level evacuation order remains in effect while crews confirm there is no fire activity in the area.
On the North end of the county, the fire is continuing to make its way west. The areas north and west of Malheur Reservoir from Willowcreek Road up Alder Creek Road to the Malheur County line and beyond have been increased to a level 3 evacuation status.
Areas to the west of Alder Creek Road are being upgraded to a Level 2, or “Get Set”, evacuation level.
The Vale District of the BLM Oregon & Washington has been working in partnership with other first responders since day one on both the Durkee fire. BLM Units from Idaho and Nevada have also sent a surge of resources. Late last week, Idaho BLM sent four engines and one bulldozer, and Nevada BLM sent four engines, one water tender, and one bulldozer.
In addition to these critical resources from Nevada and Idaho BLM, there is a local Vale District Engine and many individual Vale BLM employees assigned to the Durkee fire.
UPDATE: As of 10 a.m., July 21
Yesterday was a very active day for the Durkee Fire. The fire spread mostly to the southeast, with some growth also seen to the north and west. A total of 24 aviation resources were involved in firefighting operations, making it one of the largest aerial responses in the country! Unfortunately, there was an incident where a privately-owned drone entered restricted airspace. Thanks to the swift actions of fire personnel, the drones did not disrupt aircraft operations, allowing firefighting efforts to continue both on the ground and in the air.
Firefighters conducted controlled burning operations on the southern edge of the fire along Dry Creek Road. This helped create a barrier to slow the fire's advance. They have successfully prevented the fire from spreading further south towards Brogan, although it did reach Malheur Reservoir last night.
Today, another day of extreme fire activity is expected. Firefighters, along with local Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs), will continue to work around the fire perimeter where it is safe to do so. They are focusing on building firelines from Malheur Reservoir to Amelia Butte and slowing the fire's progress where it crossed Burnt River. Weather conditions are also expected to change today.
Personnel: 434 | Fire size: 116,431 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0%
UPDATE: As of 4 p.m., Saturday, July 20
The Durkee fire has spread over 100,000 acres and advanced to the south making it all the way to the east side of Brogan last night. The fire crossed Lockett Road Saturday morning, making it all the way to 10th Ave East near Willowcreek. Residents from 10th Ave East south to Vale, from Vale around Foothill Drive to Heinz Blvd., to Jacobsen Gulch Road to I84 are all advised to evacuate.
If you live within the Cities of Ontario or Vale, or within irrigated cropland areas, this does not apply to you. If you reside near or on the rangeland, it does apply to you.
Level 2 evacuation or “Get Set” is advised for areas north of Willowcreek Road at Basin Creek and east of Basin Creek north into Baker County and east to Birch Creek.
Fire crews are battling winds and environmental factors that make it incredibly difficult to keep up with. Winds are expected from the Northeast throughout the day on Saturday.
If you need shelter accommodations, call Malheur County Dispatch at (541) 473-5125.
UPDATE: As of 11 a.m., Saturday, July 20
Yesterday, the Durkee Fire showed intense activity as it moved south/southeast beyond Huntington Road, running parallel to a ridgeline near Highway 26. It advanced east of Brogan in its southern direction and crossed Burnt River to the north. Fourteen aircraft dropped retardant and water to support ground crews. Overnight, strong winds of 20-25 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, fueled the fire's growth, especially in grasslands with juniper where flames reached six feet in height.
Today, firefighters will continue to engage the fire cautiously due to extreme fire behavior. Structure protection remains a primary focus, with resources such as the Oregon State Fire Marshal assisting in preparations. Aerial strategies will be emphasized in areas where ground support is unsafe.
The Durkee Fire is burning in rugged terrain with juniper and sage fuels, known for rapid spread. With temperatures expected to rise and winds persisting at 20-25 mph throughout the day, coupled with drier-than-usual conditions, the fire is likely to remain active and continue advancing.
The Durkee fire is rapidly moving south towards Brogan. It has crossed Durbin Creek Road and is now advancing along the ridge line north of Hwy 26. Residents on the north side of Hwy 26 near Thomaselio Road and Hill Road are urged to evacuate immediately. This is at the highest level of preparedness, classified as "GO."
Firefighters are contending with strong winds and challenging environmental conditions, which are hampering their efforts.
Areas between Lockett Road and Hwy 26 should maintain a level 2 preparedness, labeled "Get Set." Ensure your travel supplies are prepared and your pets are ready to evacuate within 10 minutes of notice. Have your plans in place, but wait for further instructions before leaving unless you require additional time to evacuate.
For shelter assistance, please contact Malheur County Dispatch at (541) 473-5125. Dispatch is experiencing high call volumes, so please reserve calls for shelter needs or emergencies only. We will issue a follow-up alert when it is safe to return to the area.
