Current:Home > NewsRail Ridge wildfire in Oregon consumes over 60,000 acres; closes area of national forest -Streamline Finance
Rail Ridge wildfire in Oregon consumes over 60,000 acres; closes area of national forest
View
Date:2025-04-18 07:00:31
The Rail Ridge Fire in central Oregon has set over 61,000 acres ablaze and is 0% contained.
The wildfire was discovered on September 2, according to USA TODAY's data. It's located in Dayville, around 240 miles southeast of Portland.
There are two forests, the Umatilla National Forest and the Ochoco National Forest, that surround the fire, which is primarily fueled by tall grass and brush.
As of 1:33 a.m., the fire has not been contained and has caused over $115,000 in damages. But only four houses are in the area where the fire is burning.
Storm tracker:National Hurricane Center tracking 3 tropical disturbances in Atlantic
What caused the fire?
The fire was caused by lightning.
Several lightning strikes caused multiple fires, which combined and became the Rail Ridge Fire, according to Central Oregon Fire's website.
Rail Ridge wildfire map
Forest closures
Rail Ridge and another fire, PR778, led to the Malheur National Forest closing areas of the forests from September 3 to December 31, 2024, according to a press release published by the United States Department of Agriculture.
"To protect public health and safety, fire managers have closed the area described below due to fire activity and fire suppression operations," it stated.
Another fire in Oregon
The closure comes as another fire, the Copperfield Fire, brought level 3 “go now” evacuation orders east of Chiloquin and north of Klamath Falls, around 250 miles southwest of the Rail Ridge fire.
The fire quickly grew as strong winds on Monday fanned the flames.
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions, this is a rapidly evolving incident,” Teresa Williams, forester for the Klamath-Lake District, said. “We’re grateful to have the help of the incident management teams in managing and working to contain this fire and protect our communities.”
An evacuation map can be found here. The evacuation center was located at the Klamath Falls Fairgrounds.
National wildfire map
Near-record heat to bring high fire danger late this week
Temperatures across Oregon are forecast to spike near record levels and bring much higher wildfire risk later this week.
Temperatures are forecast to rise above 90 Wednesday and even crack 100 degrees Thursday and Friday. The hot and dry conditions, in addition to winds in the Cascade Mountains, could lead to high fire danger and growth.
However, no extreme east winds similar to 2020 or 2022, which led to major fire destruction and power shutoffs, are currently projected.
One interesting note: the last time the Willamette Valley saw temperatures crack 100 degrees in September was Sept. 2, 2017. That was the same day the Eagle Creek Fire ignited in the Columbia Gorge.
Other fires in central Oregon
- Wiley Flat Fire
- Oak Canyon Fire
- Shoe Fly Fire
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz.
veryGood! (72123)
Related
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Selena Gomez Is Serving Up 2 New TV Series: All the Delicious Details
- Standing Rock: Tribes File Last-Ditch Effort to Block Dakota Pipeline
- Kristen Bell Suffers Jujitsu Injury Caused By 8-Year-Old Daughter’s “Sharp Buck Teeth
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Actor Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia. Here's what to know about the disease
- Michigan bans hairstyle discrimination in workplaces and schools
- One Direction's Liam Payne Shares He's More Than 100 Days Sober
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Sen. John Fetterman is receiving treatment for clinical depression
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Amid Boom, U.S. Solar Industry Fears End of Government Incentives
- Family caregivers of people with long COVID bear an extra burden
- Meghan Markle Is Glittering in Gold During Red Carpet Date Night With Prince Harry After Coronation
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Vanderpump Rules Finale: Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss Declare Their Love Amid Cheating Scandal
- Meghan Markle Is Glittering in Gold During Red Carpet Date Night With Prince Harry After Coronation
- 5 dogs killed in fire inside RV day before Florida dog show
Recommendation
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
An Obscure Issue Four Years Ago, Climate Emerged as a Top Concern in New Hampshire
18 Top-Rated Travel Finds That Will Make Economy Feel Like First Class
Family caregivers of people with long COVID bear an extra burden
Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
'Dr. Lisa on the Street' busts health myths and empowers patients
Here's why you should make a habit of having more fun
They could lose the house — to Medicaid