As an Oregonian, it's hard to believe the sheer number of fires currently ravaging our beautiful state. The Town Gulch Fire in Baker County, now estimated at a staggering 10,000 acres, is just one of the latest in a series of relentless blazes. According to KTVZ, Governor Tina Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the rapid growth of this fire.
On Tuesday night, the Baker County Sheriff's Office issued new evacuation orders for areas surrounding the Town Gulch Fire. For the most current evacuation levels, residents are urged to follow the sheriff’s office on Facebook and sign up for emergency notifications through Baker County ALERT.
WILDFIRE UPDATE ⚠️ 🔥 Town Gulch Fire Exhibits Rapid Growth, Prompting Additional Evacuations
— Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) August 7, 2024
BAKER CITY, Ore. (Aug. 6, 2024) – Baker County Sheriff's Office has issued additional evacuation levels for areas around the Town Gulch Fire. Residents should sign up to receive… pic.twitter.com/STp9xLPxuO
The American Red Cross of Idaho and East Oregon has opened an evacuation shelter at the Lions Club of Halfway. Despite minimal overnight fire growth, the hot, dry, and windy conditions on Tuesday caused the fire to spread rapidly. By midafternoon, it had grown to about 800 acres and continued its expansion, ultimately reaching 10,000 acres.
Fifteen aircraft were involved in suppression efforts on Tuesday, conducting both water and retardant drops. Additional ground resources arrived, bringing total personnel to 112. Intense fire behavior led to all resources focusing on structure protection. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing its Blue Incident Management Team and four structural task forces to assist in managing this rapidly evolving fire.
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The fire sparked on Monday eight miles northwest of Richland, Oregon, and quickly grew. On Tuesday, the fire's significant growth led to the threat of structures, prompting the invocation of the conflagration act and the mobilization of structural protection resources.
Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple emphasized the challenges posed by the fire season, stating that teams are working hard to protect structures and communities. She urged everyone to stay vigilant to prevent sparking new wildfires.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations for areas around the Town Gulch Fire. For evacuation information, follow the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Facebook page.
All Oregonians are urged to be wildfire aware and find tips to prevent wildfires. The Emergency Conflagration Act allows the state fire marshal to mobilize state resources to wildfires to protect life and property. It is invoked when threats to life, safety, and property exceed the capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.
Other new fires continue to emerge in Eastern Oregon. The Warner Peak Fire, detected shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, has grown to approximately 1,500 acres due to wind, remote location, and rough terrain. Currently, the fire is moving east along the ridge between Stockade Creek and Goat Creek, making access difficult for crews.
Rappelers and helitack crew are being utilized to look for opportunities to insert additional firefighters due to the lack of road access. Multiple resources from the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership are on scene with additional resources on order. Post Meadows Campground and BarnHardy Road at Blue Sky on the Refuge are currently closed. There are no structures threatened and no evacuations at this time. For more information on restrictions, visit the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership website or their Facebook page.
