Another new NE Oregon wildfire spreading quickly, prompts Conflagration Act
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Town Gulch Fire in Baker County.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing its Blue Incident Management Team and four structural task forces. The fire is burning in timber and steep, rocky terrain with temperatures in the mid-90s.
The fire sparked on Monday eight miles northwest of Richland, Oregon and quickly grew. On Tuesday, the fire grew significantly and started threatening structures, prompting the conflagration act and the Oregon State Fire Marshal structural protection resources.
“As the Oregon fire season continues, we face another fire in tough terrain and conditions,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Our teams are working hard to protect structures, doing their best to keep fires away from communities. We are asking everyone to stay vigilant to prevent sparking a wildfire.”
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. You can also find information on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Facebook page.
All Oregonians should do everything they can to be wildfire aware. Find tips to prevent wildfires here.
About the Emergency Conflagration Act
The Emergency Conflagration Act is invoked by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, allowing the state fire marshal to mobilize state resources to wildfires to protect life and property.
The Conflagration Act is invoked following ORS 476.510-476.610 when Governor Kotek determines threats to life, safety, and property exist because of the fire, and the threats exceed the capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.
Other new fires continue to emerge in Eastern Oregon.
The Warner Peak Fire was a lightning-caused fire detected shortly after 6 p.m. Monday. It started on the upper slope of the west escarpment south of Hart Canyon above Hart Reservoir, 4 miles east of Plush, on the Sheldon Hart National Wildlife Refuge.
The fire grew to approximately 1,500 acres overnight due to the wind, remote location and rough terrain with no containment. Currently the fire is moving east along the ridge between Stockade Creek and Goat Creek making access difficult for crews, officials said late Tuesday.
Due to a lack of road access, rappelers and helitack crew are being utilized on the west slope to look for opportunities to insert additional firefighters.
Multiple resources from throughout 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 closed currently.
There are no structures threatened and no evacuation at this time.
For more information on restrictions please visit: https://www.scofmp.org/ or online on Facebook at facebook.com/SCOFMPFireInfo.
