‘Human-caused’ fast-moving Oregon ‘megafire’ burns over 200 square miles with just 16% contained
A massive “megafire” spreading across eastern Oregon has torched more than 200 square miles — and was sparked by humans, according to state fire officials.
The Cow Valley Fire has been raging since Thursday and has engulfed over 133,000 acres. As of Tuesday evening, it has only been 16% contained, according to the Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard.
One person is confirmed injured, and two residences and five structures have been destroyed.
The state fire marshal mobilized task forces from Umatilla, Multnomah, Marion, Lane and Clatsop counties over the weekend to control the “fast-moving wildfire,” which rapidly spread due to strong winds and triple-digit temperatures, KOIN reported.
Officials confirmed that the blaze was “human-caused,” but the exact catalyst is still under investigation.
By Tuesday, the northern edge of the fire was partially contained and the growth was “minimal,” fire officials said in an update on social media.
“Today, resources on the western edge of the fire are looking for more opportunities to go direct,” they wrote.
“The eastern and southern edges continue to hold, and crews will work to improve the line. A structure group is in place, ready to defend critical infrastructure.”
A level two evacuation alert, meaning residents should be ready to flee at any time, remains in effect for the Westfall area, including the Bonita, Indian Valley and Clover Creek areas.
Evacuation levels have lifted for residents of Highway 26 Corridor near Willow Creek, Jaimeson, and Brogan and the area just northwest of Vale.
Officials said that residents living on the Wildland/Urban Interface northwest of Vale, a city of about 2,000 people about 75 miles west of Boise, Idaho, may be impacted by the fire but the city is no longer in danger.
A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Malheur County, and authorities have issued a temporary flight restriction over the affected area.
There are 33 active wildfires in Oregon with 257,000 acres burned.
