The Cow Valley Fire in Malheur County has rapidly expanded, now engulfing 73,727 acres. This intense blaze is currently uncontained and has already destroyed two structures while threatening between 30 to 50 homes in the Brogan area. The fire has also necessitated the closure of Highway 26 between Ironside and Brogan, significantly impacting travel and safety in the region.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office announced on Friday morning that they are dispatching several task forces and the Red Incident Management Team to the affected area to safeguard residents and their properties. Two task forces from Umatilla and Multnomah counties were deployed overnight on Thursday, and additional support from Lane and Marion counties is en route.
Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple expressed grave concerns about the prevailing weather conditions, which are forecasted to worsen over the weekend. "The extreme weather across Oregon is alarming, particularly for Eastern Oregon," she stated. "Given the numerous human-caused wildfires we've seen in recent weeks, I urge everyone to exercise extreme caution, especially with the anticipated lightning."
We've posted updates on the #LarchCreekFire and the #CowValleyFire to our incident information blog.
— Oregon State Fire Marshal (@OSFM) July 12, 2024
We have structural protection resources from the Oregon fire service mobilized to both wildfires.
READ MORE: https://t.co/u5EbPEEJts
(📸 Larch Creek Fire ) pic.twitter.com/6TzKV2s8hp
According to the Vale Bureau of Land Management District, the fire's rapid expansion has been driven by strong winds, triple-digit temperatures, and low humidity. An infrared flight was scheduled for Friday morning to obtain an accurate measurement of the fire's size, with updates to be provided once the data is available. The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch, citing the potential for abundant lightning and wind over the next few days, which could further complicate firefighting efforts.
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In a coordinated response, the OSFM’s Red Incident Management Team will work alongside Northwest Team 6, a federal complex incident management team, to combat the fire.
For those affected, Malheur County Emergency Management and the Red Cross have established a shelter at Girvin Hall within the Malheur County Fairgrounds. Residents in need of information about the shelter can contact 208-519-6675.
Evacuation notices will be issued by the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office as necessary. To keep the public informed, a dedicated Facebook page has been set up for fire updates.
In response to the escalating situation, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on Friday morning. This action authorizes the state fire marshal to mobilize state resources to protect life and property. Under the provisions of ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Kotek determined that the fire poses significant threats to life, safety, and property, which exceed the capacities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.
