Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared an emergency conflagration Tuesday night for two wildfires burning in Umatilla County.
The declaration allowed the Oregon state fire marshal to mobilize additional firefighting resources, including task forces from Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Lane, Linn and Yamhill counties.
The fires in northeastern Oregon were fueled Tuesday afternoon by strong winds and low humidity.
The Hat Rock Fire burns in Umatilla County, Oregon, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Photo courtesy of the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Hat Rock Fire had burned across 10,000 acres and triggered Level 2 evacuations in the area northeast of Hermiston.
Around 7 p.m., the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were knocking on people’s doors, advising them to be ready to evacuate the areas in Juniper Canyon along Hartle Road, Wallula Road and Hatchgrade Road.
Another fire burning outside Pendleton, called the Mount Hebron Fire, burned about 500 acres and threatened several homes. Level 3 evacuations were temporarily in place, but the sheriff’s office announced Tuesday evening that residents could return to their homes.
Oregon transportation officials closed U.S. 730 between milepost 193 at Cold Springs Junction and the Washington state line in northern Umatilla County due to the fires.
“High winds are creating unpredictable weather conditions that could result in additional closures due to flames, blowing smoke or limited visibility,” a press release from the Oregon Department of Transportation says. “Travelers should continue checking weather and news reports.”
As of Wednesday morning, both fires were mostly contained and crews were monitoring for hot spots and flare ups.
The sheriff’s office said two vehicles and a couple of outbuildings were burned, but no homes were damaged.