Level 3 evacuations remain active in Central Oregon as crews battle two wildfire complexes
By Griffin Beach on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
CENTRAL OREGON – Wildfires burning through Central Oregon have been organized into two separate complexes.
The Hay Creek Complex consists of fires burning through Gilliam, Sherman, and Wasco counties: the Hoag, Hopkins, Porcupine Ridge, and Wilcox fires.
Officials said moderated winds and lower temperatures Sunday led to a reduction in fire activity. The Hoag and Hopkins fires showed little growth, while the Porcupine Ridge Fire was burning south from Armstrong Canyon toward Buckhorn Road and Wehrli Canyon Loop Road. The Wilcox Fire remained active in Pine Hollow Canyon.
Crews worked into the night taking advantage of favorable conditions for fuel reduction between active fire edges and control lines. On Monday, firefighters searched for hot spots along the edges of the Hoag and Hopkins fires while working to secure perimeters on the Porcupine Ridge and Wilcox fires.
Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations remain in effect for an area west of Oregon Highway 19 south of Arlington due to the Hoag Fire, alongside several Level 1 (“Be Ready”) and Level 2 (“Be Set”) evacuation notices.
The Rowe Creek Complex encompasses fires across a large swath of Sherman County, the Cherry Creek Fire in Jefferson County, and the Deep Canyon Fire in Wasco County, which continues to threaten the town of Antelope.
Antelope remained under a Level 3 evacuation notice Monday afternoon. State Highways 293 and 218 have reopened after closing for much of the weekend.
The largest fire in the complex, the Crosswhite Fire, has burned more than 128,000 acres, while the Deep Canyon Fire stands at just over 8,000 acres.
A large area south of Fossil remains under Level 3 evacuations. A community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at Wheeler High School.
The forecast looked more favorable Monday, with increased cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and lighter winds expected.
Crews battle fires overnight in the Rowe Creek Complex, from the Rowe Creek Complex Facebook page.
