Larch Creek Fire in Wasco Co. jumps to 7K acres overnight; evacuation notices issued
WASCO COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) - Evacuation notices have been issued for a large wildfire burning in Wasco County.
The Larch Creek Fire, which sparked between Dufur and Tygh Valley at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, is estimated at about 7,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. It is burning with a moderate-to-high spread, in grass and timber. Containment is at 0%, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).
The fire, which quickly grew overnight, is burning southeast of Winslow Road in Township 2S Range 13E, which is west of Highway 197.
Highway 197 will be closed on and off between Maupin and Dufur due to wildfire activity.
It has been confirmed that the fire was human-caused.
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations in place.
See previous coverage:
Evacuations meaning:
- Level 3 - GO NOW - Remains residences from Friend Rd, East to Elliott Rd and Hwy 197, South to Badger Creek Rd, West to Mc Corkle Grade Rd.
- Level 2 - BE SET - Remains from Fairgrounds Rd, East to Hwy 197, North to Shadybrook Rd, South to Fairgrounds Rd.
- Level 1 - BE READY - Remains rom Badger Creek Rd/Fairgrounds Rd, South to Rock Creed Dam Rd/Wamic Market Rd, West to Threemile Rd, East to Hwy 197. **NEW AREA** Elliott Rd, East to Kinglsey Rd./Dufur Gap Rd., North to Friend Rd. and South to Level 3 border.
For the latest on evacuations, go to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page.
The Wasco County Fairgrounds is a temporarily designated evacuation point for livestock. A Red Cross Evacuation Shelter is opening at South Wasco County High School.
SEE ALSO:
The area is under a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather. ODF said that with high temperatures, low humidity, and difficult terrain, suppression efforts require diverse attack methods.
Temperatures reached 107 degrees, and gusty winds are expected to continue into Wednesday.
“The heat wave that has gripped Oregon significantly increased the fire danger across the state. The continued hot, dry conditions and gusty winds are a dangerous combination,” Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Travis Medema said. “I am asking everyone to do what they can to prevent sparking a wildfire.”
Tuesday night, Governor Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the fire, which allows the state fire marshal to mobilize state resources to protect life and property. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has sent four task forces and an incident management team to the Larch Creek Fire.
“Our biggest concern right now. We don’t want it to grow another 7100 acres or move another seven miles so trying to hopefully keep that down as much as we can,” said Gert Zoutendijk, the public information officer for the Oregon State Fire Marshall Green Incident Management Team.
No structures have been reported lost as of Tuesday night.
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