The Durkee Fire was a wildfire burning in Baker and Malheur counties in eastern Oregon. The Durkee Fire was the second-largest wildfire in the United States and was the largest wildfire in Oregon's 2024 wildfire season.
Background
A lightning strike on private property in Baker County, Oregon, caused the fire on July 17, 2024, at approximately 9:30 am.[1]
Progression
As of August 7, 2024, the fire burned 294,265 acres (1,190.85 km2) in Baker and Malheur counties[2] and is 95 percent contained. It is considered a megafire. The Durkee Fire is the largest wildfire in Oregon's 2024 wildfire season and the fifth largest in modern Oregon history.[1]
The Durkee Fire was at one point the largest active wildfire in the United States.[3] InciWeb estimated it will be fully contained by August 8.[1]
Effects
As of July 24, 2024, the fire has destroyed 2 homes and 12 other buildings.[2]
On July 20, the fire prompted the evacuation of Huntington, Oregon, a city home to about 500 people. On July 24, gas service to residents in the town was shut off.[3]
The fire has prompted intermittent closures of Interstate 84 in Oregon (I-84),[4] including from Pendleton to Ontario on July 24.[5] The Durkee Fire is active to the west of I-84, but a separate smaller fire called the Thompson Fire has been active to the east of the road.[6] Additionally, the Cow Valley Fire is to the southeast.[7]
Idaho Power, a major electricity company in the area, warned customers to prepare for outages, and 7,000 of its customers had no power by the afternoon of July 24.[3]
The fire has killed hundreds of cattle.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d "Durkee Fire". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Terry, Lynne (July 25, 2024). "Firefighters in Oregon battle biggest blaze in country, with thousands facing evacuation orders". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Boone, Rebecca (July 24, 2024). "Oregon fire is the largest burning in the US. Thunderstorms and high winds are exacerbating it". Associated Press. Boise, Idaho. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Tuttle, Zoe; Armstrong, Zack (July 23, 2024). "I-84 eastbound lanes reopen after closure due to wildfire in eastern Oregon". KGW. Boise, Idaho. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Urness, Zach; Deins, Elliott; Robledo, Anthony (July 25, 2024). "Oregon wildfire map: Track 38 uncontrolled blazes that have burned nearly 1 million acres". USA Today. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Macuk, Anthony; Raineri, Joe; Cook, Katherine (July 24, 2024). "Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon is the largest fire burning in the US". KGW. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Durkee, Cow Valley, and Bonita Fires Update for Friday, July 26, 2024". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Baker, Graeme (July 26, 2024). "'Firenado' rips through California in year's biggest blaze". BBC. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
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