Wildfires in Oregon: Progress against Durkee Fire while blazes grow elsewhere

By Meagan Cuthill
Oregon Public Broadcasting
August 5, 2024
Category: Forest Fires
Region: United States, US West

OREGON — More than a million acres have burned so far in Oregon’s wildfire season. As August gets underway, here’s an overview of some active blazes. Firefighters are seeing some success in Eastern Oregon. The Durkee Fire, which at one point in July was the largest wildfire in the country and even created its own weather, was 86% contained as of Monday morning. The lightning-caused wildfire has burned nearly 295,000 acres. Crews expect the fire to reach full containment on Thursday. …While growth of the Durkee Fire has slowed, Eastern Oregon could see concerning conditions over the next few weeks. The Eastern Oregonian reports officials are worried about the possibility of more simultaneous large fires in August and September — and the potential for firefighter burnout and exhaustion.

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