BLM Vale District, RFPA crews tackle new 12,000-acre lightning-sparked wildfire near Harper in Eastern Oregon

(Update: New size estimate)

HARPER, Ore. (KTVZ) -- "Significant resources" responded Wednesday to a new lightning-sparked wildfire, the Little Valley Fire near Harper in Eastern Oregon, which quickly grew to 12,000 acres and was threatening two structures.

The fire was reported around 1 p.m. (Mountain Time) after a storm cell moved through the area, BLM Vale District Public Affairs Specialist Larisa Bogardus said. It was estimated at 4,000 acres by late afternoon and an aerial mapping put the size at 12,000 acres.

"We're calling in a Type 3 incident management team," as planes and helicopters still were dropping retardant and water Wednesday evening, Bogardus said.

Three Vale Rangeland Fire Protection Association engines and three BLM engines were initially dispatched to the blaze, as the storm cells also caused structural and other damage in southeast Oregon and in Nyssa, Idaho.

Four large air tankers (LATs) and five single-engine air tankers (SEATs) were dropping retardant while a Type 2 helicopter dropped water from the nearby Malheur River. One RFPA and one BLM bulldozer were on scene as well.

ODOT said the fire caused a brief closure of U.S. Highway 20 near milepost 231, and advised drivers on TripCheck to use caution in the area.

A second fire, on Morgan Mountain near Huntington, Ore., was quickly contained at 30 acres.

For additional information, contact Bogardus at 541-523-1407 or lbogardus@blm.gov.