Friday, 17 July 2026, 6:00
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 5,000 acres within hours, triggering widespread evacuation orders and road closures.
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.
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.
Reports from the scene indicate that at least two structures have been lost, including a residential home. 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 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.
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.
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.
