MISSION – A wildfire that burned about 1,500 acres on Tuesday afternoon along Old Emigrant Hill Road was under control as of Wednesday morning, with fire crews continuing containment, according to the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department (UTFD).
Fire crews responded on June 16 at about 1:30 p.m. to a vegetation fire on the Umatilla Indian Reservation that rapidly grew to roughly 1,500 acres of fee and trust land. Firefighters battled sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph, with gusts estimated up to 40 mph, as they worked to contain the flames.
UTFD Chief James Hall said firefighters have established control lines that are containing the fire and what is currently burning is fuel inside those lines. He added that fire suppression would continue throughout the day and probably over the next few days.
The fire is now active near Mission Creek, near St. Andrews Church. Hall is advising the public to stay off Old Emigrant Road and away from the area to allow suppression operations to continue.
Hall said officials expect to use drone flights to ascertain how many acres burned.
No structures were damaged in the fire, and only one firefighter was injured, Hall said. A U.S. Wildfire Services firefighter was taken to St. Anthony Hospital for heat exhaustion within the first hour of the fire suppression support. He was evaluated and later released, Hall said.
Hall added that no livestock losses were reported and that about 80 head of livestock were moved out of the area.
Kimberly Hughes, emergency management coordinator for CTUIR, said the incident level was raised to Level 3 at 4 p.m. and later downgraded to Level 1 at 10:30 p.m. As conditions changed through the evening, officials returned to Level 1 operations.
No evacuation center was opened, though staff were placed on standby, Hughes added. The Umatilla County Emergency Operations Center and the Union County Emergency Operations Center were activated to provide support.
So far, two households have been evacuated, although officials have not yet released an official count.
Helicopters are dipping into McKay Reservoir and air tankers are scooping water nearby as firefighters work to suppress the blaze. The Oregon Department of Forestry said the aircraft needs clear space to operate and is asking the public to stay out of active water-use areas.
In addition, Shannon Dunfee, environmental coordinator and public affairs officer for the Umatilla National Forest, said drones are not allowed in wildfire zones, noting that unauthorized drones force firefighting aircraft to be grounded.
“If you fly, we can’t,” Dunfee said. “When firefighting aircraft must be grounded, wildfires can grow in size, which greatly hampers firefighting efforts, threatens lives, homes, property and natural resources.
Dunfee urged the public to know the rules before flying drones near wildfire areas.
Multiple agencies responded to battle the wildfire, including the UTFD, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northeast Oregon District, U.S. Wildland Fire Services and several Area 9 Fire Defense Board mutual-aid partners.
Assisting agencies included Pendleton Fire Department, East Umatilla County Fire and Rescue, Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, Boardman Fire Rescue District, South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District, Echo Fire Department and the CTUIR Public Works Department.
Crews deployed dozers, two airtankers, three helicopters, Type 6 brush trucks, water tenders and wildland-urban interface engines to contain the fire.
In addition, a unified command structure included the UTFD, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Hall estimated that roughly 100 firefighters responded to the incident.
As the fire intensified, Hall assumed command of the structural protection group, overseeing efforts to protect homes and other structures under challenging conditions.
Fire suppression and mop-up operations are expected to continue throughout the day and likely for several more days.
Contributed by Travis Snell
