MISSION — After five days of battling a wind-driven wildfire across Old Emigrant Hill Road, fire crews secured containment lines on June 21, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).

The blaze ignited on June 16 at about 1:30 p.m. as a vegetation fire on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and rapidly spread to more than 1,400 acres of fee and trust land, fueled by dry grasses and gushing winds.

The flames intensified that afternoon as sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph pushed across an open field, with gusts estimated up to 40 mph, complicating suppression efforts. Thick smoke plumed over the hilltop, drifting over nearby ridgelines as the fire advanced through grass and brush.

Fire trucks moved through the hillside to reach the blaze as local ranchers rode horseback to move cattle away from the advancing fire, corralling herds into safer ground as trucks climbed the hillside to haul livestock out of danger.

Aerial crews worked alongside ground teams from the afternoon into the evening. Helicopters scooped buckets of water from McKay Reservoir and dropped them on the flames. Airplanes released pink fire retardant along the fire’s edge, preventing the flames from pushing into timber and more heavily forested areas.

Near sundown of the first day, in the distance, silhouettes of firefighters moved through thick, billowing smoke as chainsaws revved and crews cut trees and branches to help slow the fire’s spread.

Umatilla Tribal Fire Department (UTFD) Chief James Hall said no structures were damaged in the fire and only one firefighter was injured.

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 about 80 head of livestock were moved out of the area.

Multiple agencies responded to battle the wildfire, including the UTFD, the ODF’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 Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Public Works Department.

In addition, a unified command structure included the UTFD, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the ODF.

Hall estimated that roughly 100 firefighters responded to the incident. Crews deployed dozers, airtankers, helicopters, brush trucks, water tenders and wildland-urban interface engines to contain the fire.

As the fire intensified, Hall assumed command of the structural protection group, overseeing efforts to protect homes and other structures under challenging conditions. What started as an incident with a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation status was quickly elevated to a Level 3 “Go” order around 4 p.m.

However, only two households were evacuated, although officials have not yet released an official count.

One family waited a half mile down the road from its cabin as crews were stationed in front of it to protect the structure.

Cabin owner Lindsey Huntington said she worried about the cabin and the surrounding mountains and trees but also felt gratitude for the people who responded to protect it.

“I was probably more just overwhelmed with gratitude from everybody that showed up,” she said. “It almost made me cry. My grandma came up here every day. She loved this place.”

She said the property has been in her family for more than a century and described the cabin as “a longtime family gathering place.” She said she felt torn about leaving during the evacuation but expressed gratitude for the crews and volunteers working to defend structures in the area.

Kimberly Hughes, CTUIR Emergency Management coordinator, said the incident was downgraded to Level 1 at 10:30 p.m.

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.

After the flames settled

The following day, June 17, fire suppression and mop-up operations continued. Crews worked over the next several days until officials declared the fire 100% contained.

ODF officials also issued an advisory after unauthorized drones flew in the wildfire area, preventing aerial firefighting crews from operating and forcing them to remain grounded.

Shannon Dunfee, environmental coordinator and public affairs officer for the Umatilla National Forest, said drones were prohibited in wildfire zones because unauthorized flights can 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 and threatens lives, homes, property and natural resources.

ODF officials also noted that firefighting aircraft require clear airspace to operate safely and urged the public to stay out of active water-use areas.

Dunfee urged the public to know the rules before flying drones near wildfire areas.

However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service conducted a drone flight on June 19 as part of the firefighting effort. The agency is licensed and certified to perform infrared detection and mapping, and ODF officials said the operation was a routine safety measure.

Dunfee said fire managers flew a heat-detecting drone over the Old Emigrant Fire area to identify any remaining hot spots and support full containment efforts.

Oregon’s wildfire season typically begins in mid-May and continues until late September, when seasonal rains arrive. Drought, snowpack and local weather conditions can extend or shorten the season, especially in Southwest and Eastern Oregon.

According to the ODF, 652.76 protected acres burned in Umatilla County in 2025, a significant decrease from the 39,907.83 acres burned in 2024.

Lightning was the leading cause of wildfires in the county over the past two years, accounting for 17 fires, or 44% of the total. Debris burning caused eight fires, or 21%, while equipment use and recreation each accounted for six fires, or 15%. Miscellaneous causes and smoking were linked to one fire each, representing 3% apiece.

The Old Emigrant Fire burned an estimated 1,424.6 acres and was declared 100% contained on June 21. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.