Cow Valley Fire now burning more than 70,000 acres, threatens dozens of homes in Malheur County
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, July 12th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Northeastern Oregon News
UPDATE (3:20PM) – ODOT reports that U.S. 26 is now open between Ironside (milepost 231) and Brogan (milepost 254). Crews will monitor the area through the night. Please drive with caution and check TripCheck for the latest road status updates.
Officials report that the Cow Valley Fire at is now burning nearly 74,000 acres.
UPDATE (2:30PM) – ODOT reports that U.S. 26 remains closed between Ironside (milepost 231) and Brogan (milepost 254) due to a wildfire. The wind has shifted direction, causing low visibility along the edge of the road. Crews are continuing to assess the situation. The closure is expected to continue into the evening and possibly longer. Please avoid the area and check TripCheck.com for the latest road status updates. More Info Here
MALHEUR COUNTY – (Information from Vale BLM) The Cow Valley Fire is burning on private and public lands 9 miles east of Ironside, Ore., on both sides of Hwy. 26. At 9 p.m. MT Thursday, it was estimated to be 20,000 acres in size.
Hwy. 26 is closed between Ironside (milepost 231) and Brogan (milepost 254). Motorists are advised to avoid the area and check TripCheck.com for the latest road status updates.
The fire is moving toward Malheur Reservoir and is threatening 30 to 50 homes in the Brogan area. Malheur County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to prepare themselves in case an evacuation order is issued. For the most current evacuation information, go to the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
Vale Rural and Ontario Fire Departments are providing structure protection. Two abandoned structures have been destroyed. An Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office Task Force is mobilizing.
Earlier in the day, power was shut off to approximately 50 homes earlier due to the fire’s threatening nearby power lines. RFPA personnel were helping ranchers move cattle out of the path of the fire.
Ironside Rural Fire Protection Association was first on scene when the fire was reported on private property early Thursday. It has since crossed onto Vale Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands.
At one point, 16 aircraft were assigned to the fire, dropping water and retardant throughout the day. Seven engines and four dozers were battling the blaze on the ground, as were firefighters from Vale and Burnt River RFPAs and Sand Hollow Fire District.
A second fire was reported two hours earlier in the same area. The Bonita Road Fire is burning 9 miles southeast of Ironside, Ore., on the south side of Hwy. 26. It was last estimated to be 1,837 acres.
Red Cross and its partners are opening a shelter at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, 795 N.W. 9th St. in Ontario. The fairgrounds can house large animals and has space for RVs. All Red Cross services are free.
The cause of both fires is under investigation.
