WASCO CO. — Antelope and Shaniko are under Level 2 evacuation orders as wildfires not only burn nearby, but consume large swaths of Sherman, Gillam, Jefferson and Wheeler counties.
The Deep Canyon Fire, sitting at roughly 8,088 acres seven miles west of Antelope, is one of six separate blazes under the Rowe Creek Complex that have collectively torched 142,936 acres, according to InciWeb. Shaniko is about 10 miles south of the 5,649-acre Wilcox Fire, one of five incidents that altogether have burned 92,211 acres, called the Hay Creek Complex.
Both complexes began following a July 15 lightning storm, sitting at 0% and 27% containment, respectively, as of Monday afternoon. The extent of structure damage so far is unknown.
In response to the Rowe Creek Complex, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on July 17. The Oregon State Fire Marshall Green Team and Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 2 assumed unified command the following morning. Current on-scene personnel totals 551 people, including 16 crews, 6 dozers, 40 engines and 8 aircraft.
For up-to-date information, visit the Rowe Creek Complex Facebook page. A community meeting is planned for those affected tomorrow, July 21, at the Wheeler High School Gymnasium in Fossil, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 10 is overseeing the Hay Creek Complex and also took over command on July 18. Across the five incidents, 359 resources are working. Follow the Hay Creek Fire Facebook page as the situation progresses.
For Wasco County residents, click here for up-to-date evacuation information. Shelter is available at Madras Middle School. Beyond Antelope and Shaniko, other evacuation orders in the county are as follows:
Highway 97 northeast from Shaniko to Sherman County: Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation
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