In Malheur County, 12 miles north of Juntura, the Bendire Complex is steadily burning and is now 15,000 acres in size. Gov. Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act just before 3:30 a.m., mobilizing fire crews from across the state to protect the threatened structures.
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“The fire behavior analysis today estimated the rate of spread at four miles per hour, which is extremely fast”.
Fire managers said the fire has had a good safety record for an operation which at its peak employed 1,900 people in what can be risky work. As of this morning, the fire, which has been burning east of Glide for two weeks as well, was 85 percent contained, with 214 personnel on hand. Both regionally and nationally, fire officials are at the highest level of preparedness: level five.
At one point, the highway was closed for more than 160 miles between Ontario and Pendleton. Thursday evening, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office added Black Mountain, Rancheria Creek and Denny Creek to the list of mandatory evacuations. Clay Penhollow, spokesman for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, says a double-wide home was destroyed, and evacuation orders were issued for several areas.
Moore said the rugged terrain is making it hard for fire crews on the ground.
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The medical unit’s primary complaints have been a significant number of firefighters dealing with poison oak and bee stings, fire bosses said.
