MISSION – The Umatilla Tribal Fire Department battled and contained a grass fire on Tuesday, Aug. 27 along South Market Road south of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
UTFD Chief James Hall said that at approximately 4:20 p.m. the UTFD received a call of a fast-moving grass fire that was ignited by a baler on the west side of South Market Road that jumped the road and moved east.
According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, wind speeds were between 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 40 mph.
Crews from the UTFD and Bureau of Indian Affairs initiated attack on the fire, Hall said, as mutual aid was requested and received from multiple surrounding agencies and a task force was assembled to coordinate.
Firefighters evacuated people from approximately five residences before eventually allowing them to return home after the fire was contained around 7:45 p.m.
Hall said three people were treated for smoke inhalation but didn’t require transport to a medical facility for further treatment beyond what emergency medical workers provided.
He added that a Pendleton firefighter received minor injuries with burns to his face and was sent to the hospital. Hall was unsure of the firefighter’s status as of publication.
An outhouse and tractor sustained some damage, but Hall said he wasn’t sure of the extent. Otherwise, no structures were burned in the fire that covered about 180 acres, including some riparian habitat in a creek drainage.
Hall said some hot spots, fire pockets and hay bales were still burning and that firefighters would likely be on scene mopping up into Wednesday morning.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, Interstate-84 near exit 216 was reopened in both directions at approximately 7:15 p.m. after being closed for nearly two hours.
