The Durkee Fire was a wildfire burning in Baker and Malheur counties in eastern Oregon. The Durkee Fire was the second-largest wildfire in the United States and was the largest wildfire in Oregon's 2024 wildfire season.
Background
A lightning strike on private property in Baker County, Oregon, caused the fire on July 17, 2024, at approximately 9:30 am.[1]
Progression
As of August7,2024,[update] the fire burned 294,265 acres (1,190.85km2) in Baker and Malheur counties[2] and is 95 percent contained. It is considered a megafire. The Durkee Fire is the largest wildfire in Oregon's 2024 wildfire season and the fifth largest in modern Oregon history.[1]
The Durkee Fire was at one point the largest active wildfire in the United States.[3] InciWeb estimated it will be fully contained by August 8.[1]
Effects
As of July24,2024,[update] the fire has destroyed 2 homes and 12 other buildings.[2]
On July 20, the fire prompted the evacuation of Huntington, Oregon, a city home to about 500 people. On July 24, gas service to residents in the town was shut off.[3]
The fire has prompted intermittent closures of Interstate 84 in Oregon (I-84),[4] including from Pendleton to Ontario on July 24.[5] The Durkee Fire is active to the west of I-84, but a separate smaller fire called the Thompson Fire has been active to the east of the road.[6] Additionally, the Cow Valley Fire is to the southeast.[7]
Idaho Power, a major electricity company in the area, warned customers to prepare for outages, and 7,000 of its customers had no power by the afternoon of July 24.[3]
