Oregon governor issues emergency declaration over wildfires
In neighboring California, the Creek Fire is 52,000 acres and 0% contained.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act as wildfires continue to spread throughout the state.
There are at least 35 active fires, with more than 368,029 acres burning in the state, according to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.
“Wind continues to fuel the wildfires, with devastating consequences across Oregon,” Brown said in a statement Tuesday night. “People’s homes, lives & land are at risk.”
The Oregon fires, including the Beachie Creek, Lionshead, Holiday Farm and Alameda fires, have forced thousands to evacuate.
“For people and families in the evacuation areas, please listen to local calls to evacuate as needed — these lifesaving measures can protect the lives of you and your loved ones, as well as our firefighters,” Brown said.
The Beachie Creek Fire is 132,450 acres and is 0% contained, while the Lionshead Fire is 91,754 acres and is only 5% contained.
In neighboring California, fires are also proving to be just as unrelenting. More than 14,000 firefighters are currently battling the blazes across millions of acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The destructive Creek Fire near Fresno, California, is burning at least 152,833 acres and was 0% contained as of 4 a.m. ET. The Creek Fire, the cause of which is still under investigation, has destroyed 65 structures and has forced many evacuations in Fresno County due to what authorities call an “immediate threat to life.”
Santa Ana wind gusts between 40 to 50 mph overnight continued to fan the flames in Southern California.
The El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino, California, is 19% contained and has burned 11,259 acres. The Valley Fire near San Diego is 17,565 acres is 11% contained.
At least 36 structures have been destroyed by the Valley Fire, with nine others damaged. Two injuries have been reported. The fire has forced several nearby communities to evacuate.
More than 10,000 acres are burning near the Angeles National Forest due to the Bobcat Fire, which is 0% contained. Residents and forest visitors have been evacuated from Big Santa Anita Canyon, Mt. Wilson, San Gabriel Canyon, and Monrovia Canyon.
The Sheep Fire near the Plumas National Forest is 29,570 acres but is 90% contained. Authorities say this fire was caused by lightning.
So far this year, the state has had 7,606 fires and 2.3 million acres burned. In 2019, California had 4,927 fires and 118,000 acres burned, according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Santa Ana winds will be calming this afternoon. All wind advisories and warnings have been discontinued, but red flag and critical fire danger warnings continue today up and down the West Coast, from Seattle to Los Angeles.
Two hundred wildfires across nine western states are currently burning.
ABC News’ Melissa Griffin, Jen Harrison and Leah Larosa contributed to this report.
