Oregon Wildfires Pass a Million Acres and Close Part of I-84

Dozens of large wildfires are burning across Oregon, covering more than 1 million acres of mostly rangeland, the Oregon Department of Forestry said Monday, July 27, according to Jefferson Public Radio and NPR. The Fox Fire forced the Oregon Department of Transportation to close about 70 miles of Interstate 84 between Baker City and Ontario near the Idaho line; the freeway later reopened with one westbound lane, and sections may close again with little notice.

Residents of the Warm Springs Reservation evacuated, where the merged Bench and Beachcomb fires covered about 40,200 acres and burned six homes, and other communities in central and eastern Oregon were under evacuation notices. Highways including U.S. 20 between Burns and Ontario and U.S. 26 east of Prineville were also affected. Oregon is coming off its driest and warmest winter on record, with little snowpack and very dry fuels, NPR reports; lightning started many of the fires, and more was forecast.

Travelers can check road conditions at TripCheck.com or by calling 511, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued air quality advisories for the smoke.