BAKER COUNTY, Ore. — One week after the Durkee Fire started by lightning in eastern Oregon, residents in Rye Valley are starting to find some relief.
The Durkee fire kept Rye Valley and Huntington on level 3 evacuation notice – meaning Get Out Now! – for several days. Residents said the fire would come from one side one day, and another side the next.
“You know it’s coming, but you don’t know when and you don’t know what to do,” said Matt Schacht, a Rye Valley resident who had flames surrounding his property.
Schacht said it’s been a community effort in Rye Valley – with all hands on deck. He said he helped his neighbors when the fire was closer to their homes, and then his neighbors helped him when the fire moved closer to his.
Luckily, Schacht said his home is OK and still standing.
“I feel pretty lucky cause a lot of people weren’t so lucky,” Schacht said. “I didn’t have any animals hurt and my house is still standing.”
While there is not an official report of any structures lost yet, Schacht said he knows many of his neighbors did lose animals.
While fire officials said the Durkee Fire is now 20% contained, Schacht said they are still on high alert.
“It’s still not over,” Schacht said.