Wildfires destroy at least 29 homes in Oregon, Washington

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — At least 29 homes have been destroyed by wildfires in Oregon and Washington as 49 uncontained wildfires continue to burn throughout the region.

As of Thursday, the 2024 wildfire season has burned 950,315 acres in Oregon and 125,933 acres in Washington. The largest fires are the Falls, Lone Rock, Cow Valley and Durkee “megafires” burning in Eastern Oregon. A megafire is a wildfire that is 100,000 acres in size or larger, according to the U.S. Interagency Fire Center.

The Falls Fire burning 13 miles northwest of Burns is currently the most destructive fire of the season, destroying 13 homes. The Cow Valley and Durkee Fires burning northwest of Ontario, Ore., have destroyed four homes in total. The Battle Mountain Complex burning west and south of Ukiah, Ore. and the Black Canyon Fire burning in the Wenas Valley area of Yakima County, Wash. have each destroyed three homes.

While the 2024 wildfires have consumed enormous areas of land, the fires are far less destructive than Oregon’s 2020 Labor Day Fires. The 2020 fires killed 11 people and destroyed more than 4,000 homes. Oregon and Washington’s 2024 wildfire season has resulted in no deaths, so far.

The Oregon Fire Marshal’s Structural Groups and Task Forces and the Wildland Firefighter Resources are working 24/7 to protect the threatened homes that are still standing, the Falls and Telephone Fires Information Unit told KOIN 6 News. The American Red Cross is offering disaster relief to victims of Oregon and Washington’s 2024 wildfires.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.