McLain Creek Fire in Eastern Oregon Declared a Conflagration

Firefighters are packing up to head out for the first big wildland fire in Oregon this summer.

File photo courtesy: somkejumpers.com

(SALEM) - Governor Theodore Kulongoski declared the McLain Creek fire in northeast Oregon east of Halfway as the state's first conflagration of 2006.

The declaration cleared the way for State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire.

The request to invoke the Oregon Conflagration Act was made by Baker County Commission Chairman Fred Warner Jr.

The fire has burned more than 1,500 acres of grass and timber and threatens 60 homes in the community of Pine Creek. No evacuations have yet been ordered. The fire is also burning along a three mile stretch of highway 86 near Halfway.

There are no reports of injuries or structures lost.

Two task forces of consisting of 33 structural firefighters and their associated equipment from Umatilla, Morrow and Malheur counties are on scene assisting wildland firefighting crews.

Hood River County Task Force #1 and Washington County Task Force #1 have also activated and will be on scene Wednesday morning, July 26th.