While fire season in northern California is relatively mild so far, some massive fires are burning in Oregon. What started as eleven fires make up the Rowe Creek Complex in central Oregon, which started July 18th and now total more than 215,000 acres with overall containment of 36%. A little north of that are the 7 fires of the Hay Creek Complex, now 90% contained at 182,000 acres. The Bench Fire and Akawa Fire in Jefferson County total over 73,000 acres. The Second Flat Fire in Harney County is 87,000 acres and 5% contained. The Coleman Creek Fire southwest of Warm Springs Reservoir is 146,000 acres with no containment. The Big Grass Fire in the Jordan Valley of southeast Oregon is 197,000 acres with 5% containment. The 58,000 acre Fox Fire forced the closure of Interstate 84 for 70 miles Monday between Baker City and Ontario in eastern Oregon. I-84 is a key thoroughfare, running from Portland eastward through Boise, Idaho. There are many other large fires across Oregon totaling more than a million acres.
– Steve Gibson