- The Lower Dry Creek Fire near Milton-Freewater, Oregon, has burned approximately 8,095.6 acres with 57% containment as of July 17, 2026, destroying six homes and 40 outbuildings.
- Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders have been issued for multiple zones, affecting an estimated 1,700 residents, including the entire town of Weston.
- The Oregon State Fire Marshal invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the third time in 2026 to mobilize additional resources, with 195 personnel responding.
- At least six homes have been reported destroyed; a speech camp at Meadow Wood Lane was evacuated as a precaution.
- Multiple other fires are burning across Oregon, including the 11,551-acre East Evans Creek Fire near Medford.
- As of July 19, 2026, all evacuation levels for the Lower Dry Creek Fire have been removed, according to the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office.
- On July 19, the Northwest Incident Management Team 7 took command of four lightning-caused wildfires on the Umatilla National Forest, including the Hagan Fire, which prompted new evacuation orders in Umatilla County.
Rapidly Growing Wildfire Prompts Urgent Evacuations
A fast-moving grass fire, dubbed the Lower Dry Creek Fire, ignited southwest of Milton-Freewater in Umatilla County on the afternoon of July 15, 2026. Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, the fire exploded from an estimated 10 acres to 6,753 acres within hours, triggering widespread evacuation orders and road closures. As of Friday morning, the fire is 20% contained. By Friday evening, updated mapping put the blaze at 8,095.6 acres with containment boosted to 57%.
According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, the fire was estimated at 5,000 acres with 5% containment on Wednesday night, July 15. The fire is human-caused, and red flag warnings and heat alerts were in effect.
Evacuation Zones and Shelter Information
Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations have been ordered for the city of Weston and numerous zones including MIF-073-A, UMC-071-A, UMC-071-B, UMC-071-E, UMC-071-F, UMC-075-A, UMC-075-B, UMC-075-C, UMC-075-D, UMC-077-A, UMC-117-A, UMC-117-C, UMC-117-D, UMC-117-E, UMC-117-G, UMC-123, UMC-151-A, UMC-151-C, and WEW-115. Level 2 (Be Set) orders are in place for zone UMC-117-B and areas northeast of Highway 204. An evacuation shelter has been established at Pendleton Sunridge Middle School (700 SW Runnion Ave, Pendleton, OR 97801). A second shelter at Milton-Freewater Community Building (109 NE 5th Ave, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862) is also open. The American Red Cross shelter at Sunridge Middle School has since closed.
As of Wednesday night, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office expanded Level 3 orders to additional areas: from Schrimpf Rd to Kirk Rd and Kee’s Cemetery Rd to Highway 204; Highway 204 to Basket Mountain Rd and Highway 11 to Kirk Rd; north of Wildhorse Rd, south of Highway 204, east of Wildhorse Rd and west of Lupine Lane; north of Couse Creek Rd, south of Walla Walla River, east of Highway 11 and west of Foster Rd area; and Walla Walla River Rd and Couse Creek to Harris Park and Walla Walla River Rd along Lincton Mountain Rd till about 5 miles north of Highway 204, including Harris Park. Level 2 (Be Set) orders are in place northeast of Highway 204 to Basket Mountain Rd between Kirk Rd and Hodgens Rd.
Some evacuations were reduced Friday morning. Current Level 3 zones include: UMC-071-E (east of Pine Creek and south of Lower Dry Creek Road); UMC-071-F and UMC-071-B (west of Highway 11, including Steen Road and York Road north of Highway 11); UMC-117-C (Highway 204 and Steen Road area); UMC-117-D (Couse Creek Road); UMC-117-E (north and east of Highway 11); UMC-075-B (north of Basket Mountain Road); UMC-075-C (Coe Road and Cache Hollow Road). Level 2 zones include UMC-123 (South Fork Walla Walla River Road), UMC-075-A (Lincton Mountain Road), and UMC-077-A (Walla Walla River Road). Level 1 (Be Ready) zones include UMC-151-C, UMC-151-A, WEW-115 (north of Wildhorse Road, south of Highway 204, east of Schrimpf Road and DeGraw Road, west of Weston Mountain), MIF-073-A (west of Couse Creek, east of Highway 11, south of Sykes Boulevard, north of Alderbanks Vineyard), and UMC-117-B (south of Basket Mountain Road, north of Highway 204, west of Hodgson Road, east of Schiewe Lane).
As of July 19, 2026, the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office announced that all evacuation levels for the Lower Dry Creek Fire have been removed. Residents are allowed to return to their homes, but should remain cautious of fire crews still working in the area.
Local Impact: Structures Lost and Community Response
Reports from the scene indicate that at least six homes have been lost, with damage assessment teams confirming one more destroyed primary residence and 40 destroyed outbuildings. Vehicles were not included in that tally. A speech camp at Meadow Wood Lane was evacuated as a precaution, with children transported to Elgin High School. Parents are advised not to travel on Highway 204 due to fire activity. The fire has also caused a power outage in the town of Athena, forcing the relocation of an earlier shelter from Athena High School to Pendleton Sunridge Middle School.
The fire has severely threatened rural communities and agricultural lands, burning through unharvested wheat fields and destroying local fiber optic internet lines. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Firefighting Progress and Overnight Plans
Crews took advantage of favorable conditions Friday to secure additional fire line, extinguish hot spots near structures and continue mop-up work inside the perimeter, according to an evening update from the Oregon Department of Forestry and partners. Overnight, firefighters planned to focus on the south and southeast edges and to remove remaining heat between Little Dry Creek and Upper Dry Creek. Officials warned that smoke could affect nearby communities, noting crews were staffing the incident around the clock to watch for flare-ups and hot spots.
Unified Command involves the Oregon State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) Red Incident Management Team, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), East Umatilla Rural Fire and Rescue, and local Milton-Freewater fire departments. Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, and FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) to support response operations. Nearly 200 personnel, backed by 15 engines and heavy bulldozers, have been working to establish defensible space around homes and build containment lines. Operations over the weekend will focus on expanding up to 100 feet of defensible space around threatened structures, falling dangerous tree snags, and cooling hot spots in heavy timber areas where heat can remain for extended periods and potentially reignite.
Regional Wildfire Crisis
The Lower Dry Creek Fire is part of a larger outbreak of wildfires across Oregon. The East Evans Creek Fire near Medford has grown to 11,551 acres, while new fires in Gilliam and Wheeler counties have added thousands more acres to the state's fire burden. The Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked to support firefighting efforts, with 195 personnel responding to the Lower Dry Creek Fire. Some resources were reassigned Friday, with the Multnomah County Task Force demobilized to assist on the Rowe Complex in Wheeler County and additional Oregon Department of Forestry crews shifting to new fires in the region.
On July 19, the Northwest Incident Management Team 7 took command of four lightning-caused wildfires on the Umatilla National Forest: the Paradise Fire (about 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla), the Hagan Fire (about 9 miles southwest of Tollgate), the Horse Ridge Fire (about 5 miles northeast of Meacham), and the Ninemile Fire (4 miles southwest of Tollgate within the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness). The team is using full suppression tactics to protect human safety, structures, municipal watersheds, railroad corridors, private timber and range lands, and recreation opportunities. A command post is being established in Walla Walla, with an operating base closer to the Hagan and Horse Ridge Fires.
In response to the Hagan Fire, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Operation Center, in cooperation with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, issued new evacuation notices effective immediately. Level 1 (Be Ready) zones include UMC 151-F, 151-H, 151-G, 151-D, 155-A, 155-B, 157, 215-A, 215-E, and 1406007-B, covering an area from the intersection of Wildhorse Road and Abel Road, north to Highway 204, and east to National Forest Road 37-15. Level 2 (Be Set) zones include UMC 149-C, 149-B, 215-D, 1406015-D, 1406015-C, and 1406015-A, covering Bingham Road from the CTUIR boundary to Meacham Creek, and areas south of Wildhorse Road between Reed Road and Hawley Road, extending east to Abel Road and Bell Road. Level 3 (Go Now) orders are in effect for the Bingham Road and Umatilla River Corridor and Hagen Creek area. Officials urge residents to exercise extreme vigilance due to limited access, few evacuation routes, heavy vegetation, and potential communication gaps.
Background: A Challenging Fire Season
Oregon has faced an active wildfire season in 2026, with multiple conflagrations taxing state and local resources. The invocation of the Emergency Conflagration Act for the third time this year underscores the severity of conditions. Forecasts call for continued hot, dry weather with thunderstorms, which could further elevate fire danger. A National Weather Service red flag warning for wind and low humidity was in effect from 2 p.m. Friday through 10 p.m. Saturday, signaling heightened risk for rapid fire growth.
The fire has been primarily fueled by dry wheat fields, tall grass, brush, and heavy timber. Driven by high-speed winds and erratic updrafts from passing thunderstorms, the fire exhibited extreme fire behavior, including rapid spread and short-range spotting. The intense heat generated by the fire even resulted in pyrocumulus clouds.
Conclusion
Residents in affected areas are urged to follow evacuation orders immediately and monitor official channels for updates. The cause of the Lower Dry Creek Fire remains under investigation. For the latest evacuation information, consult the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office Facebook page or the Genasys evacuation map.