Oregon fire marshal sends firefighters, gear to Baker County’s Durkee Fire as more out-of-state crews arrive

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – On Friday, the Oregon State Fire Marshal sent structural protection resources to the Durkee Fire in Baker County through Immediate Response. The fire was reported Wednesday night off Interstate 84 near the community of Durkee. It has grown substantially since it was first ignited, prompting new Level 3 evacuation notices.  

As of Friday morning, the lightning-sparked fire was estimated to be 2,699 acres and zero percent contained. Find the latest on the Cow Valley and Durkee fires on their Facebook page.

On Friday, the Boneyard Fire in Grant County was put under the conflagration declared for the nearby Lone Rock Fire and is being managed by the OSFM’s Red Incident Management Team. The OSFM sent structural task forces to protect homes near the town of Monument. That fire is extremely active and continues to pose a threat to nearby communities. The fire was reported to be 3,123 acres as of Friday midday. 

"Wildfires continue to tax resources and conditions remain at critical levels, without much relief in the forecast," an OFSM news release stated. The Oregon State Fire Marshal requested and received three strike teams from California.  

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) sent three strike teams with 15 fire engines and 80 firefighters. These added structural protection resources are assigned to the Falls Fire in Harney County. The firefighters and equipment are from local government fire agencies from Alameda, Calaveras, Kern, Merced, Nevada, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, and San Joaquin counties. This is made possible through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

“Our partnerships with California and Washington are strong,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Over the years, we’ve worked side-by-side to provide aid in times of need. These partnerships are invaluable. I want to say thank you to both California and Washington. Oregon will have your back if you need support in the future.”  

Since July 9, the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked for five fires, causing a significant strain on resources. The OSFM is working in lockstep with its wildland partners at the Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, tribal partners, the U.S. Forest Service, and others.  

The Oregon fire service has been resolute over the past 10 days. They’ve supported 23 task forces consisting of 305 firefighters, 92 engines, and 23 water tenders to protect communities while still maintaining staffing and equipment levels in their home districts. 

"I want to assure Oregonians that we are doing everything we can to respond to this wildfire emergency,” Ruiz-Temple said. “We have been working around the clock to protect communities across the state impacted by these wildfires.” 

The OSFM is asking Oregonians and visitors to pay close attention to the critical fire danger and take steps to avoid sparking another fire. With another round of lightning and gusty winds expected in the coming week, it is more important than ever to take these precautions.