MALHEUR COUNTY, Ore. — The Durkee and Cow Valley fires in Eastern Oregon have burned more than 350,000 acres total as of late Monday evening. Level 3 evacuations are still in effect in Baker and Malheur Counties.
The Durkee Fire is not contained at all and has burned nearly 224,000 acres. Lightning sparked the fire on July 17.
The Cow Valley Fire is 78% contained, with more than 133,000 acres burned. Investigators determined the fire, which started on July 11, was human-caused, but the specific cause is still under investigation.
While the two large fires share a section of perimeter, they have not joined or merged and are separate fires.
While structures are threatened, there are no reports of any structures burned, according to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.
The whole town of Huntington is under level 3 evacuation – meaning “Get out now.” Huntington is home to about 510 people.
“As a matter of fact I was asleep, and my significant other woke me up and said, ‘level three – get out now!’ It was kind of a throw everything in the suitcase and get out,” said Shelly James, a Huntington resident.
The Red Cross set up a shelter for evacuated residents in Ontario at the Malheur County Fairgrounds – where they are providing food, water, cots to sleep on and a place for livestock.
There is ground and air attack on the fires. The fires are also receiving one of the largest aerial responses in the country, according to Cow Valley and Durkee Fire public information officials.
Huntington City Recorder Siobhan Boxberger said she was also evacuated, but decided to stay back to keep the town informed on their Facebook page and help her community in whatever ways she could.
“This is one of the benefits of living in a small community -- when something like this hits the fan we come together,” Boxberger said.
Baker County said they are expecting more dry thunderstorms and high winds Monday night. If you are evacuated, Baker County said they recommend getting yourself and your animals out safely first, then grabbing important documents and medications if there is time.