Coleman Creek and Second Flat Fire update as of July 31, 2026
By Mindy McKerrall on Friday, July 31st, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
HARNEY AND MALHEUR COUNTY-
Location: Burns Basin
Start Date: 7/25/26
Size: Coleman 204,279 acres, and 0% contained, Second Flat 102,926, and 18% contained.
Cause: Natural/Lighting
Personnel: Second Flat Fire: 278. Coleman Creek Fire: 164
There will be a community meeting tonight at the Harney County Community Center 478 N. Broadway Ave., Burns
Governor Kotek has invoked the Conflagration Act for the Second Flat Fire on July 26. This declaration allows OSFM to mobilize resources throughout Oregon for mutual aid system to support local needs. The Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal is supporting the Second Flat Fire with five structural task forces for the day and night shifts.
Second Flat Fire: Containment lines on the north end of the fire continue to look good due to the hard work firefighters have done. They will continue to do small tactical firing operations to strengthen those lines. Containment lines along Lone Pine Road to the east are also holding strong. Firefighters are also walking the fires eastern edge checking for hot spots. Aircraft was again used on the southern edge of the fire to protect critical infrastructure of the transmission lines in the communities of Burns and Hines.
Coleman Creek Fire: Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up on Highway 20 to prioritize keeping the fire south of the highway. The western edge of the fire’s containment lines continues to hold. Weather conditions may promote fire growth to the southeast. Last night, a tactical burning operation along Squaw Creek Rd. was conducted to keep the fire west of the road.
Additional information, including fire size, and containment will be updated on the 2026 Burns Basin Facebook Page and Inciweb.
Weather: Elevated fire weather conditions are forecast for the weekend as a dry frontal cold passage comes through the area. A fire weather watch will be in effect from Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening. No participation is expected.
Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue with RH values in the low teens to single digits and afternoon winds will remain northerly with gust approaching 15 mph.
Evacuations: Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect and have changed in the Coleman Creek Fire area as it progresses into Malheur County. For an interactive map of evacuations and the current information, visit: Genasys Protect.
