Oregon's Wildfires: What You Should Know

Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest continue to push smoke into the Portland metro region, causing air quality alerts and decreased visibility in some areas. According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC), there are 17 active fires currently burning across Oregon and Washington. Here are the 12 Oregonians should know about:

Indian Creek — Started July 4

• Wahtum and Indian Springs Campgrounds are closed.
• Eagle Creek Trail is open for 4.8 miles from the trailhead near I-84 to the Wilderness boundary.
• The Pacific Crest Trail, Punch Bowl Falls and High Bridge remain open; however Tunnel Falls is closed.

Whitewater — Started July 23

The Whitewater fire is burning more than 5,400 acres in Southeast Marion County, east of Detroit Lake in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area of Santiam Pass. Believed to have been caused by lightning, the fire has closed the following trails:

• Willamette NF — Bingham Ridge, Minto Mountain, Pamelia Lake, Woodpecker Ridge, Whitewater Creek, Cheat Creek, Triangulation Peak, Leone Lake, South Breitenbush and Crown Lake.
• Deschutes National Forest — Bear Valley/Rockpile Lake, Cabot Lake, Jefferson Lake and Brush Creek.

Rebel — Started Aug. 4

Perhaps the most recently started, little information is currently available about the Rebel fire 13 miles south of McKenzie Bridge in the Willamette National Forest, east of Eugene. It's estimated to have grown to 150 acres since it began last week. Its cause is still under investigation.

Spruce Lake — Started July 29

Started by lightning late last month, the Spruce Lake fire has grown to more than 5,000 acres on the western boundary of Crater Lake. Crews has achieved 13 percent containment of the fire's perimeter, but officials expect the fire will likely grow over the next 48 hours if thunderstorm forecasts come to fruition. Closures at Crater Lake and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest can be found here for Crater Lake, and here for Rogue River.

Blanket Creek — Started July 25

Located south of Crater Lake and east of Prospect, the Blanket Creek fire is complicated by its northern counterpart, the Spruce Lake fire. Both wildfires are burning several thousand acres on either side of Highway 62. Caused by lightning, the Blanket Creek fire is burning 4,600 acres and is 31 percent contained.

Cinder Butte — Started Aug. 2

Though it was first reported just last week, the Cinder Butte Fire is already 60 percent contained, according to the NWCC. It's currently burning more than 52,000 acres along the border of Harney and Lake counties, just west of Burns, Malheur Lake, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge along Highway 20. Officials expect to control this fire by Wednesday.

Chetco Bar — Started July 12

Located in the Cascade Range, near Heather Mountain in Curry County, the Chetco Bar Fire is currently burning more than 4,500 acres. Marked as 12 percent contained, this fire is expected to burn through October. Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest fire restrictions apply.

Devils Lake — Started July 31

Mostly contained at 82 percent, the Devils Lake Fire is currently burning 1,700 acres in Klamath County, five miles southeast of Bly, Oregon. Crews expect to have this fire completely under control Monday.

Indian Lake — Started Aug. 4

A human-caused wildfire, the Indian Lake Fire is currently burning about 220 acres and is just over 50 percent contained. Other than being 18 miles west of La Grande, Oregon, there is little information available about this fire.

Clarks Creek — Started Aug. 5

Another Eastern Oregon wildfire, the Clarks Creek Fire is located 18 miles Northeast of La Grande and is burning about 300 acres. Also caused by a human, this fire is zero percent contained as of Monday.

Bear Butte — Started Aug. 4

Burning about 500 acres northwest of Baker City, Oregon, near Anthony Lakes, the Bear Butte Fire has closed the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. First reported around 2 p.m. Friday, the fire is roughly 10 percent contained. Its cause is still under investigation.

Morgan Creek — Started Aug. 3

Quickly handled by Eastern Oregon fire crews, the Morgan Creek Fire started Thursday and is already 100 percent contained, having only burned 2,200 acres 38 miles southeast of Baker City.

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