Oregon Wildfires: Devil's Butte Fire grows 3,000 acres overnight, destroys 2 firetrucks
The Devil's Butte Fire grew several hundred acres overnight to about 3,000 acres by Tuesday morning northwest of Condon in Eastern Oregon.
As crews continue working to contain wildfires across the state, this lightning-caused fire first ignited Monday but has grown rapidly, burning wheatfields, rangeland and two fire trucks.
The fire has not prompted any evacuation orders but did close Highway 206 from Condon to Wasco on Monday — it reopened to through traffic early Tuesday morning. Officials said visibility could be limited near the fire because of smoke.
The fire was close to Cottonwood Canyon State Park, but has since moved away from it, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said.
Two fire trucks from South Gilliam Fire Department and North Gilliam Fire Department were destroyed after being overrun by wind-driven fire, according to a press release from the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office. Resources are being used from several local and state departments including the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Land Management.
For more fire information visit the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office Facebook page at facebook.com/GilliamCountySheriff/.
Map: Wildfires and smoke in Oregon
Boulder Fire
Southeast of Mount Hood, the Boulder Fire grew to 237 acres Tuesday and closed multiple campgrounds near Boulder Lake.
The wildfire ignited Saturday near the Boulder Lake Trailhead, about nine and a half miles southeast of Government Camp. It continues to burn dead debris in steep slopes and rugged terrain, the U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Tuesday.
Several campgrounds and nearby recreation sites are under evacuation or closed because of the fire – including Boulder Lake campground, Little Boulder Lake, Bonney Meadow campground, Badger Lake campground, Camp Windy, and Post Camp campground.
Since Saturday, a mix of local resources from the Mount Hood National Forest have been fighting the flames with the support of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The Northwest Incident Management Team 10 assumed command of the fire on Monday. In all, a crew of 229 personnel, six engines, four fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters were on scene.
An aircraft with infrared capabilities provided better mapping data for fire managers Monday night. Crews planned to set up a temporary helibase, similar to a small airport, at Pine Hollow. Helicopters are also operating out of Dallesport, the release added.
“Firefighters will be working along the fire’s eastern flank to tie established handlines to Boulder Creek, a natural containment feature,” the news release read. “As additional heavy equipment arrives to the fire, crews will make further progress on improving roads for access as well as for containment of the fire along the western flank.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Alder Creek Fire, John Day Basin
The fire in the John Day River basin is still being held at 1,550 acres. Tuesday morning, efforts have officially been transferred to local teams as the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 was demobilized.
Tunnel 5 Fire
Officials gave a final update on the 529-acre fire Monday after efforts were shifted to local teams. The fire was 80% contained and all Skamania County evacuation orders were lifted.
Skamania County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook added that they plan to host a community meeting for those affected by the fire. More information on the in-person and Zoom meetings can be found on the original post.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fire reported outside Sisters
The small fire near Lower Three Creek Sno Park outside Sisters in Deschutes National Forest has been completely contained by firefighters late Monday. In all, the fire was mapped at .48 acres.
Check back later for updates on this story.
Abigail Landwehr is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at alandwehr@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Devil's Butte Fire grows to about 3,000 acres, destroys 2 firetrucks
