Burns and Hines Fire Departments deploy on mutual aid to extinguish Lake County blaze
By Mindy McKerrall on Thursday, August 20th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
HARNEY COUNTY-Local firefighters returned home safely Monday morning after providing vital mutual aid support to defeat a wildfire in neighboring Lake County over the weekend.
On the afternoon of Sunday, August 16, the Burns Fire Department and Hines Fire Department were dispatched via mutual aid to assist Silver Lake Fire and Rescue RFPD with the emerging Picture Rock Fire. Responding units included Burns Engine 103, Hines Tender 1, and a dedicated command vehicle.
Crews arrived on scene Sunday evening to join local and regional agencies on the front lines. Working through the night alongside ground teams, local resources faced tough high-desert terrain. Early Monday morning, aggressive efforts from heavy air support successfully halted the forward progress of the flames, allowing responders to bring the incident under control quickly.
With the threat mitigated, crews were released from the scene and arrived back in the Burns-Hines area shortly before noon.
Local fire officials highlighted the operation as a key example of how neighboring districts rely on swift cooperation during peak wildfire season. Mutual aid agreements allow small rural departments to combine resources during sudden incidents, ensuring communities throughout Central and Eastern Oregon remain protected.
