One More Wildfire Explodes In Eastern Oregon

“It was a hellstorm up here”, the sheriff told KXLY-TV.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office said firefighters defended homes Tuesday in the Canyon Creek area south of John Day.

The alert for the fire about 150 miles east of Portland was based on the danger to people and homes and the closure of a highway that is a major artery for the region and cuts through the fire perimeter, said Carol Connolly, spokeswoman for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

The Rock Creek fire is one of more than 200 blazes now burning across the province, for a total of 1,722 wildfires since April.

Warm, dry weather could pose a challenge to firefighters trying to stop the blaze tearing through timber, brush and tall grass in the Sierra National Forest.

Most of the fires right now were sparked by lightning and crews are especially anxious about the areas in and around Grand Forks and Rock Creek where a couple of fires are burning right now.

“There may be fire-weakened tree hazards overhead or stump-hole hazards on the ground, which can cause serious injury, so it is always best to be aware of your surroundings, be on the lookout for such hazards and use extreme caution if hiking or camping in the vicinity”.

Authorities have released the names of the three firefighters who were killed when they were overrun by flames in Washington state.

Zbyszewski also followed in his father’s footsteps. He was due to return to school next week.

The province has spent $219 million fighting fires so far this year, including $657,000 on a contract for the iconic Martin Mars water bomber. I wish it was me.

“We want our visitors to understand that even though a recently burned area may look like a safe place to explore, it isn’t”, Hiatt said. In particular, the Malheur National Forest has one of the most diverse groups of woodpecker species anywhere in the country, which feed on insects found in the decomposing wood.

The most badly hurt among the survivors Wednesday was Daniel Lyon, 25, a reserve police officer in Milton, who suffered burns over 60 percent of his body and was in critical condition at a hospital in Seattle.

Wheeler’s mother said he was a fourth-generation firefighter and died doing what he loved. It was his first summer on the fire lines.

Three firefighters who set out to battle the Twisp Fire on Wednesday fell victim to a wildfire that was unpredictable and fast, an inferno that was hard to dodge, officials said.

This version has been updated to correct the name of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.