Major Oregon interstate closed for 70 miles as firefighters tackle wildfire

Major Oregon interstate closed for 70 miles as firefighters tackle wildfire Authorities warned that intermittent closures remain possible as the wildfire is still active in the area - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A major interstate highway in Oregon was forced to close on Monday as a wildfire prompted the evacuation of a small town, one of dozens of blazes currently raging across the state. Interstate 84 was shut for approximately 70 miles (113 kilometres) between Baker City and Ontario, close to the Idaho state line, due to the Fox Fire. The Oregon Department of Transportation confirmed the closure, though the vital thoroughfare, which connects Portland through the Columbia River Gorge to eastern Oregon, reopened later in the day. Authorities warned that intermittent closures remain possible as the wildfire is still active in the area. The Fox Fire is burning near the Oregon-Idaho state line, roughly 12 miles (19 kilometres) northeast of Huntington. The town, home to around 500 residents, was placed under a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order, instructing inhabitants to leave immediately. Driven by hot, dry, and breezy conditions, the fire has already scorched nearly 72 square miles (186 square kilometres) and remained 0% contained as of Monday. This summer has seen challenging wildfires sweep across the Western US, exacerbated by months of arid weather, record low snowfall in some regions, heatwaves, and unpredictable winds. The severe conditions were underscored by the announcement on Saturday that a fourth firefighter had died from injuries sustained last month while battling a fast-moving blaze near the Colorado-Utah border. Huntington Mayor Chuck Guerri said the fire flared up early Monday morning near the east side of town, estimating it got within 250 feet (76 meters) of the nearest home before firefighters got a handle on that portion of the blaze. The smoke was so thick you could taste it, he said. “We did send the alarm and went around knocking on doors on the east end of town to try to get people out of here, because it was coming in pretty quick,” he said. “But we had some good crews here, and they got it knocked down pretty quickly." Officials are continuing to keep a close eye on the fire beyond other parts of the town, which is surrounded by grassy rangeland, he added. “We want to make sure that they can keep that contained out there and not turn into something else." With aircraft potentially grounded due to limited visibility from the smoke, firefighters were building bulldozer lines around Huntington near a railroad that also runs through the area to protect critical infrastructure, authorities said. Elsewhere in eastern Oregon, the state transportation department's website showed a rural stretch of U.S. Route 20 was also closed Monday due to wildfire for nearly 70 miles, between the small cities of Burns and Vale. In central Oregon, the Akawa Butte Fire was deemed a top priority for firefighting in recent days due to its proximity — about 5 miles (8 kilometers) — to Sisters, a small city of about 3,000 people. While authorities said Sunday that fire activity had decreased across much of the blaze, part of the town is still under an evacuation notice, with residents told to be prepared to leave if necessary. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments