Huge Oregon Wildfire Sparks Mass Evacuations – Mapped
A huge Oregon wildfire has caused the evacuation of over a thousand homes and businesses just outside the central Oregon community of La Pine, around 190 miles south of Portland.
The fire was estimated to be 2.7 square miles in size Tuesday night, according to Central Oregon Fire Information posted on the social media site X. The fire was growing and not contained.
Gusty winds fueled the rapidly growing wildfire, with northerly winds of 17 mph. The temperature in La Pine yesterday averaged 84.2 ℉.
Evacuation alerts were issued to 1,100 homes and businesses, said Lt. Jayson Janes of the Deschutes County Sherriff's Office. He said about 50-60 people sought refuge at a local high school serving as an evacuation center.
A billowing plume of black and gray smoke loomed over businesses including grocery stores and strip malls. It was not clear whether any structures had burned.
Smoke rises from a wildfire near La Pine, Ore., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Jim Pharris/AP
In this photo provided by the Deschutes County Sherriff's Office, smoke rises from a wildfire near La Pine, Ore., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Sgt. Kyle Kalambach/Deschutes County Sherriff's Office/AP
In this photo provided by the Deschutes County Sherriff's Office, smoke rises from a wildfire near La Pine, Ore., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Sgt. Kyle Kalambach/Deschutes County Sherriff's Office/AP
Gov. Tina Kotek invoked an order allowing the fire marshal to mobilize resources to help fight the blaze.
"It's part of the risk of living in an area like this. It's beautiful, but it's wild," said resident Jodi Kerr, the owner of Meandering Maker Mercantile.
Kerr was packing up her home decor and gifts store in La Pine so she could evacuate.
She said it's hard to think about the people who have spent years building businesses and then be concerned about losing it all overnight.
The fire started about one mile south of La Pine, and its cause was under investigation.
Central Oregon Fire Management Service firefighters used heavy construction equipment called dozers to battle the wildfire and establish control lines around the blaze.
Aircraft dropped fire retardant to slow the flames.
La Pine High School was serving as a temporary evacuation point while La Pine Rodeo Grounds was hosting a livestock and small animal shelter.
TV station KTVZ reported that several U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and trails had been evacuated and closed.
The fire is one of several that have broken out in recent days.
In Southern California, about 2,500 San Diego residents were under evacuation orders as fire crews used aircraft to attack a blaze that broke out Tuesday afternoon near Torrey Pines State Beach.
Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. An evacuation center was set up at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Another fire in Northern California destroyed two structures and threatened the community of Palermo.
The fire spread over about 1 square mile on Monday evening but was static Tuesday.
The cause of the blaze — dubbed the Apache Fire — was under investigation.
A large region of the western U.S. remains at extreme risk of wildfires, including Oregon, California and Arizona.
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