BAKER COUNTY, Ore. — Red flag warnings are extending across Oregon through Sunday as it braces for another round of lightning and gusty winds over the next 24 hours, a concern for the state's growing wildfires.
"This latest round of weather is extremely concerning,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a statement Sunday. “Our firefighters are doing everything thing they can to rise to this immense challenge, but they are taxed, and we need our fellow Oregonians’ help. Please take precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire, be familiar with evacuation levels, and have a go-kit ready in case you need to leave your home.”
The agency added that as of Sunday morning, there were 81 active fires that burned 504,692 acres in the state.
Gov. Tina Kotek on Saturday invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Durkee Fire in Baker County, which sparked Wednesday and is around 116,431 acres as of Sunday morning. It remains 0% contained.
Shortly before the weekend, the governor had said that the "wildfire season is off to a very aggressive start," with the Oregon Department of Forestry calling on the public to be vigilant.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has resources assigned to the Lone Rock/Boneyard, Falls, Durkee and Battle Mountain Complex fires.
