Alder Spring Fire in central Oregon grows to 2,500 acres; Cove Palisades evacuated
(This story has been updated to include additional information)
The Alder Springs Fire grew to 2,500 acres by the morning of June 17 and brought evacuation orders in areas northwest of Redmond including parts of Cove Palisades State Park at Lake Billy Chinook.
The fire ignited the afternoon of June 16 and grew quickly amid windy conditions, prompting Gov. Tina Kotek to invoke the Emergency Conflagration Act to send crews to fight the blaze and protect nearby homes.
Alder Springs becomes the third large blaze of the young fire season, following the still active Rowena and Ferry fires.
The Deschutes Campground at Cove Palisades State Park was evacuated the night of June 16 and remains closed, parks officials said. Crooked River Ranch was also threatened by the fire.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation orders have been issued for the area and can be found on this map: tinyurl.com/2j5zkecb.
No homes have been lost to the fire so far.
'Today, firefighters will be working to secure the perimeter where accessible and safe to engage,' Central Oregon Fire Information said reported. 'The highest priority will be accessing Carcass Canyon to prevent additional spotting to the east, across the Deschutes River. Firefighters will work, along with the support of aerial resources, to secure the fire east of the Deschutes River that is threatening Crooked River Ranch.'
The fire is expected to grow, with the forecast calling for 'challenging conditions for firefighters with hot, dry weather with westerly winds pushing the fire towards values at risk,' COFI said in its morning report for June 17.
The Rowena fire in the Columbia River Gorge near I-84 had burned 3,570 acres and was 37% contained.
Level 1 and 2 evacuations still remain in effect. Level 3 evacuations were lifted. A map for evacuations can be found at bit.ly/4jSeP3C
As of the morning of June 17, the Rowena Fire Facebook page said crews were mopping up in the north, southeast and western parts of the fire.
At least 56 residential structures and 91 other structures have been burned in the fire.
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th St. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open; however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway. Drivers are asked to be aware of crews when in the area.
Mayer State Park remains closed.
The Ferry Fire that started in Sherman County reached 10,458 acres and was 85% contained.
According to the Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update, the only remaining evacuation warnings include Level 1 "be ready" in the immediate vicinity of the fire area due to ongoing fire patrols.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park remained closed.
The John Day River from the J.S. Burress Park Boat Ramp to Tumwater Falls was closed.
All BLM lands within a 2-mile radius of the John Day River from Ferry Canyon (approximately river mile 54) downstream to the mouth of the river at I-84 was closed.
Mariah Johnston is an outdoor journalism intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach her at mjohnston@gannett.com.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon wildfires: Cove Palisades evacuated for Alder Spring Fire
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