Burnt Creek Fire evacuation zones updated in Wallowa County
By Griffin Beach on Friday, July 24th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ENTERPRISE — (UPDATE 7/24 @ 8:20 p.m. from the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office)
PREVIOUS: The Burnt Creek Fire remains 0% contained with 2,530 acres burned, as crews continue to battle challenging terrain and difficult weather conditions.
Firefighters are working to limit the spread north toward Joseph Canyon, with hotshot crews building containment lines east of Oregon Highway 3 down into the Davis Creek drainage area. Air support is conducting water drops to assist ground forces.
Officials noted a 2025 fuels treatment operation from the confluence of Davis and Swamp creeks south to the Chico Trail as helping to slow the fire’s progress.
Crews are preparing contingency lines along Miller Ridge in case the fire crosses Swamp Creek.
On the south end of the fire, winds pushed spot fires over the bulldozer line, and crews are moving containment lines back to the Chico Trail system.
Officials expressed concern over critical fire weather conditions heading into the weekend. Forecasts indicate a 60% chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, which could bring rainfall but also lightning and erratic winds. Friday is expected to be hot and dry with northerly winds ahead of a dry cold front arriving Saturday.
In addition, a temporary closure area has been enacted due to current fire activity. As written by the U.S. Forest Service in a recent update:
A temporary fire-related forest closure order has been implemented for the area surrounding the Burnt Creek Fire in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
The closure is intended to protect public safety and provide firefighters with the space needed to safely conduct suppression operations. Members of the public are asked to respect all closure signs and avoid entering the affected area.
If you have plans to recreate, camp, or travel in the area, please check current forest closures and fire conditions before leaving home.
We appreciate the continued cooperation of our community as firefighters and emergency personnel work to contain the fire and protect lives, property, and natural resources.
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Photo from Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
