A huge Oregon wildfire has caused the evacuation of over a thousand homes and businesses just outside the central Oregon community of La Pine, around 190 miles south of Portland. The fire was estimated to be 2.7 square miles in size Tuesday night, according to Central Oregon Fire Information posted on the social media site X.
The fire was growing and not contained. Gusty winds fueled the rapidly growing wildfire, with northerly winds of 17 mph. The temperature in La Pine yesterday averaged 84.
2 °F. Evacuation alerts were issued to 1,100 homes and businesses, said Lt. Jayson Janes of the Deschutes County Sherriff's Office.
He said about 50-60 people sought refuge at a local high school serving as an evacuation center. A billowing plume of black and gray smoke loomed over businesses including grocery stores and strip malls. It was not clear whether any structures had burned.
Gov. Tina Kotek invoked an order allowing the fire marshal to mobilize resources to help fight the blaze. "It's part of the risk of living in an area like this.
It's beautiful, but it's wild," said resident Jodi Kerr, the owner of Meandering Maker Mercantile. Kerr was packing up her home decor and gifts store in La Pine so she could evacuate. She said it's hard to think about the people who have spent years building businesses and then be concerned about losing it all overnight.
The fire started about one mile south of La Pine, and its cause was under investigation. Central Oregon Fire Management Service f.
