Single Publication

Cow Valley Fire Update for Thursday, July 18, 2024

541-208-4371, staffed 7a.m. to 7 p.m. MDT

2024.cowvalley@firenet.gov

Start date: July 11, 2024

Location: 9 miles east of Ironside, OR

Total personnel: 378

Fire size: 133,408 acres

Cause: Human caused, under investigation

Containment: 77%

Vale, OR— Yesterday, thunderstorms occurred over and near the Cow Valley Fire area. No growth was detected, and fire activity has minimized significantly due to successful strategic firefighting operations. Firefighters continued suppression efforts connecting fire lines and extinguishing hot spots. Some Cow Valley resources aided in finding and suppressing new starts from lightning. Firefighters were able to douse one strike area with 1400 gallons of water and are confident it will not grow. 

Today, at 6am, Northwest Team 6 took command of the lightning caused Durkee Fire. It is estimated to be about 3,000 acres, located in Baker County south of the town of Durkee, West of Cottonwood Gulch near Burnt River. Surplus resources from the Cow Valley Fire are being used to help assess and suppress the Durkee fire. 

COW VALLEY FIRE: Firefighters working on the Cow Valley are continuing to patrol and find pockets of heat to extinguish. No fire spread is expected, and fire behavior is characterized as smoldering. 

BONITA FIRE: The Bonita Fire is 2,727 acres and 90% contained. Minimal fire behavior has been observed due to suppression efforts, containment features and fuel consumption. 

WEATHER AND SMOKE: It will be hot and dry today with temperatures ranging between 99-105 and low humidity around 10%. Winds will be north, northwest 5-9 MPH. The current smoke information and the air quality index, visit airnow.gov. 

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES: All evacuation order related to the Cow Valley Fire have been lifted. Check below for updates or on the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuations for the area around Durkee Fire. Visit the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for more information. Baker County Sheriff's Office has closed Burnt River Canyon road to non-local, non-emergency traffic due to the Durkee Fire.

BURN BAN: A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Malheur County, including all BLM lands.  For more information, visit https://www.malheurco.org/category/public-notices/.