Firefighters, residents battle flareups in 10,500-acre Miller Road Fire

WASCO COUNTY, Ore. — Right off of Highway 216, not far from the main fire line, hot spots flared up Wednesday afternoon in areas already burned by the 10,500-acre Miller Road Fire.

Crews jumped on them to put them out, as one flared up not far from a fire station.

More than 120 firefighters are working the fire that is burning in grass and brush.

The fire broke out Tuesday about 13 miles southwest of Maupin, sending up a huge plume of smoke. It is 0% contained. Gov. Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, which allows for mutual aid and more resources.

FEMA also authorized federal funds to help. It was the first time this year it declared an assistance grant in Oregon.

There are Level Three (Go Now) evacuation orders in place on the south side of Highway 216 to Highway 197. Other areas are under Level Two (Get set) orders. Dufur High School is open as a shelter and the fairgrounds is open for livestock.

While Highway 216 was still open Wednesday afternoon, the fire was burning on both sides of the road.

Residents and homeowners are also battling the flames alongside firefighters.

“Oh, it was crazy -- frickin fire going everywhere -- smoke, roads blocked off, people calling in back and forth about their houses burning, just a bunch of crazy stuff,” said Lewis Dounda.

He was at a gas station on Highway 216, speaking to a KATU reporter, when a hot spot flared up just a couple of hundred feet away.

Dounda grabbed a bucket of water from the gas station and ran to put the fire out; then fire crews showed up seconds later to make sure it didn’t spread.

Just up the road, a tired homeowner continued the battle to save his home.

"I'm exhausted. My body's cramping. I'm trying to hydrate as much as we can," said Gary Self, a volunteer firefighter.

He has been fighting the fire around his home since Tuesday night. At one point it got so bad he and his family had to evacuate quickly.

“The wind was blowing it to the south, but all of a sudden the wind changed and we had to abandon. I mean, it just went from ‘we got this’ to 20-foot flames rushing at us, and we had to drop our hoses and run,” he said.

Despite the flames coming within feet of his walls, his house did not burn.

He's grateful, especially since he's taking time away from his cancer treatments to fight the fire.

“I got cancer treatments that I’m going through during the week, so I’m supposed to be on the couch with my feet up, but small town, volunteer fire department, we don’t have that option,” he said.

Self said it seems firefighters are trying to play catchup with this fast-moving and fast-growing fire.

"We need help, and we need help now," he said.

Help is on the way. A Multnomah County Task Force, that includes firefighters from Portland, Gresham and Corbett deployed Wednesday to help those already battling the fire.

Additionally, the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office has also mobilized three task forces to help.

People here know they’re in for a long battle, with trees continuing to burn and high winds blowing embers everywhere.

The wind was a big problem Wednesday.

People are concerned about the wind changing direction and moving the fire toward their homes or businesses.

KATU Meteorologist Dave Salesky said winds in Hood River and The Dalles are blowing 35 mph to 40 mph. He said the winds are not going to be letting up, although they’ll slacken a little Wednesday evening.

“But they’re back in the forecast again for tomorrow on Thursday, so again, not good news for wildland firefighters,” he said.

Temperatures Thursday will be in he 80s and low 90s, he said.

Over the next 24 hours, he said the wind will blow the smoke east.

A Red Flag warning is up for most of central Oregon. Lightning strikes have been recorded east of Madras, bringing the possibility of more fires.