Big Blazes, Big Bucks: Fighting fires in Eastern Oregon costs hundreds of millions
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON — The ongoing wildfire season in Eastern Oregon is proving to be a costly battle, with multiple large fires requiring extensive resources to combat their spread, which have collectively burned hundreds of thousands of acres.
All fire costs are as of August 6 and come from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC):
The Falls Fire in the Malheur National Forest is the most expensive, with firefighting costs reaching $52.1 million. This fire has scorched 146,444 acres and continues to threaten numerous structures, prompting evacuations and road closures.
The Battle Mountain Complex, which includes two fires burning near Ukiah, has incurred $51.2 million in firefighting expenses. The fires have burned 181,941 acres, with moderate fire behavior still observed.
The Lone Rock Fire near Condon has cost $34.6 million and burned 137,222 acres. This fire, which started on county land, has exhibited minimal fire behavior recently but continues to pose a risk to the surrounding area.
The Durkee Fire has burned 294,265 acres in Baker and Malheur counties. The firefighting effort for this fire has cost $21.3 million. Structures, infrastructure, and sage-grouse habitat are under threat, necessitating evacuations and area closures.
The Cougar Creek Fire, located in Washington near the Wallowa County line, has burned approximately 16,500 acres and racked up $20.1 million in firefighting expenses. This fire continues to threaten local communities and infrastructure.
The Crazy Creek Fire, burning near Paulina, has cost $10.1 million and consumed 12,000 acres. Active fire behavior threatens residences and sage-grouse habitat, prompting evacuations and area closures.
The Winding Waters Complex, consisting of two fires in Wallowa County, has burned approximately 30,000 acres and has incurred costs of around $6.5 million. Although fire behavior has been minimal, it continues to necessitate road and area closures to ensure public safety.
The Courtrock Fire, burning near Monument, has required $6.1 million in firefighting resources. This fire has consumed 20,018 acres, threatening numerous structures and leading to evacuations in the area.
The Badlands Complex, which includes multiple fires burning in eastern Baker County, has seen expenses reach $7.8 million while burning 5,200 acres. This complex poses threats to local structures and sage-grouse habitat, resulting in area closures.
The Telephone Fire, situated 16 miles northeast of Burns, has cost $5.6 million and burned 53,100 acres. With active fire behavior and numerous structures at risk, evacuations and road closures have been implemented in the surrounding areas.
The Sand Fire, situated five miles southeast of Izee, has also contributed to rising costs, amounting to $1.5 million with 2,300 acres burned. The fire poses threats to local structures and has resulted in area closures.
The Poison Creek Fire, located 10 miles southeast of Seneca,has incurred costs of $971,000 and burned 1,800 acres. Active fire behavior has led to evacuations and road closures in the area.
The Cliff Mountain Fire, located 25 miles east of Joseph, has cost $21,000 and burned 4,000 acres. While minimal fire behavior has been reported, it poses a threat to local energy infrastructure.
In total, these regional fires have burned approximately 550,081 acres at a combined cost of $221.2 million, and it’s only the beginning of August. Other smaller fires are also burning in the region, further stressing resources and challenging firefighting efforts. Funding for these wildfires comes from a combination of federal, state, and local government resources, along with emergency funds and grants to cover firefighting costs.
