MALHEUR COUNTY, Ore. - A wildfire threatening Succor Creek State Park in Malheur County exploded in size overnight.
After estimating that the the fire ballooned to 50,000 acres by Monday morning, The Bureau of Land Management updated that figure after new mapping to around 31,000 acres Monday afternoon.
The Cherry Road Fire started Sunday afternoon about two miles east of the Owyhee Reservoir and 16 miles west of Homedale. It was estimated to be about 3,500 acres in size Sunday evening.
The BLM said 10 mph winds pushed the fire faster than crews could catch it overnight. Windy weather is forecasted again Monday, with gusts up to 25 mph.
The fire is putting off a large smoke plume than can be seen from the Boise area.
According to the BLM, fire crews have stopped the flames' spread in every direction except on the northern front. Firefighters held the line to the south at Holcomb Cabin Road and east at Succor Creek Road. The fire is bordered on the west side by the Owyhee Reservoir.
The blaze is currently 10 percent contained, and is burning in brush and grass.
Accessing the fire on foot and by vehicle has been difficult due to the steep terrain around the reservoir, officials said.
“Our personnel are putting together a plan today to get line across the north advance of the fire and connect it to the river,” Vale BLM Duty Officer Jon Dentinger said in a press release.
BLM spokesman Larry Moore told KTVB that fire crews are aggressively attacking the blaze with 15 air tankers and multiple engines and hand crews. More resources had been ordered, Moore said, and a Type 2 Incident Command Team will take over the fire Monday evening.
Nearly 50,000 gallons of retardant have been dropped on the fire so far. The fire's cause is unknown.