Wildfire Triggers Evacuation and Highway Closure in Oregon

In Oregon, a significant section of Interstate 84 faced closure on Monday due to a wildfire, leading to the evacuation of a small town. The Fox Fire prompted the shutdown of a 70-mile stretch between Baker City and Ontario, near the Idaho border. The highway reopened later in the day, as confirmed by the Oregon Department of Transportation. This interstate extends from Portland, traversing the Columbia River Gorge and eastern Oregon, reaching into Boise.

The transportation authorities noted the wildfire remains active, and potential intermittent closures could occur. The Western U.S. has experienced numerous wildfires this summer, after months of dry conditions and erratic weather. Federal officials reported a fourth firefighter died from injuries sustained in a recent rapid wildfire near the Colorado-Utah border.

The Fox Fire lies approximately 12 miles northeast of Huntington, Oregon, near the state line with Idaho. Huntington, a town of 500 residents, is under a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order, requiring immediate evacuation. As of Monday, the fire had consumed 72 square miles and was uncontained, fueled by hot, dry, and breezy conditions.

Huntington Mayor Chuck Guerri described the fire’s proximity to the town’s edge, noting firefighters’ success in subduing it. Firefighters came within 250 feet of the closest home before gaining control. Guerri stated, “We did send the alarm and went around knocking on doors on the east end of town to try to get people out of here, because it was coming in pretty quick.”

The town’s fire chief sustained injuries over the weekend when his fire truck overturned while responding to the blaze. He was flown for medical treatment. Guerri mentioned ongoing monitoring of the fire, especially since the surrounding area consists of grassy rangeland. “We want to make sure that they can keep that contained out there and not turn into something else,” Guerri added.

With limited visibility impacting aircraft, firefighting efforts included creating bulldozer lines around Huntington near an existing railroad to safeguard critical infrastructure. In addition, a rural section of U.S. Route 20 was closed in eastern Oregon, stretching nearly 70 miles between Burns and Vale, again due to wildfire activity.

Meanwhile, the Akawa Butte Fire in central Oregon, about 5 miles from Sisters, received priority status for firefighting. This small city, home to around 3,000 people, remains under partial evacuation orders. Authorities reported reduced fire activity but warned residents to stay prepared.