Four Oregon megafires still burning after nearly 50 days
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon’s wildfire season continues to devastate parts of the state as four megafires remain burning after nearly 50 days.
A megafire, according to the U.S. Interagency Fire Center, is a wildfire that reaches a size of at least 100,000 acres. Of the 109 fires currently burning in Oregon, the Durkee, Falls, Lone Rock, and Monkey Creek fires have each reached this status.
The longest-running megafire is the Falls Fire, which sparked July 10 in Harney County and quickly grew into a wildfire of devastating proportions. So far, the fire has destroyed 13 homes and 15 other buildings, injured 17 people, and killed one firefighting air tanker pilot.
Falls Fire
Start Location: Harney County
Time Burning: 56 days
Size: 151,689 acres
Containment: 100%
Lone Rock
Start Location: Gilliam County
Time Burning: 53 days
Size: 137,222 acres
Containment: 99%
Durkee
Start Location: Baker County
Time Burning: 49 days
Size: 294,265 acres
Containment: 99%
Monkey Creek
Start Location: Morrow County
Time Burning: 48 days
Size: 115,269 acres
Containment: 48%
The 2024 wildfire season is the largest since 2020, with a little less than one month of summer remaining. So far, these fires have consumed enormous areas of land, particularly in Eastern Oregon, but the fires are far less destructive than the 2020 Labor Day Fires.
The 2020 fires killed 11 people and destroyed more than 4,000 homes. Meanwhile, Oregon’s 2024 fire season has caused one death and destroyed 36 homes, according to the State of Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard.
However, fire season isn't over yet, as a rare forecast of 100-degree temperatures for September is slated to hit on Thursday and possibly Friday, with the heat being paired with east winds, which fueled the 2020 Labor Day fires.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our wildfire coverage.