Burnt Creek Fire nearly out; others still active
Published 4:00 pm Monday, August 10, 2026
By Wallowa.com
The Burnt Creek Fire was 87% contained as of Aug. 9, 2026. The U.S. Forest Service said Monday this will be the final update on the fire.
ENTERPRISE — Containment of the Burnt Creek Fire north of Enterprise was at 87%, the U.S. Forest Service reported Monday, Aug. 10.
It remains at 4,169 acres. This will be the final fire information update on the blaze unless there is a significant change in fire activity, the Forest Service said.
The lightning-caused fire first reported July 17 has burned mostly in timber-covered acreage. There are five fire crews deployed to the blaze, with three ambulances, one medical team, three engines, one bulldozer and three water tenders on site. Crews are holding and monitoring along the fire’s perimeter, which remains east of Oregon Highway 3. Firefighters are nearly completed with backhauling equipment no longer needed there to support other fires in the region.
Two other smaller fires in Wallowa County include such as the Paradise Fire is currently estimated at 3,155 acres and is zero percent contained. Fire activity for the Paradise Fire is expected to remain active.
The Eggo Fire on the Zumwalt Prairie northeast of Enterprise consumed more than 4,000 acres of grazing land and is more than 80% contained.
Both those fires are believed to be lightning caused.
Paul Karvoski, Wallowa County’s emergency services manager, said there are no roads leading into the Paradise Fire, so the county is not taking it on.
“There’s no roads that let us get in from our side,” he said.
He added that most of the damage on the Eggo Fire has been to grazing land and fences.
No structures have been reported lost in any of the fires, Karvoski said.
According to the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program, air quality from Enterprise to Elgin can expect to have worse conditions in the afternoon and evening, where unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality is expected. Looking ahead, this same general pattern will continue with better quality to the west and north and worse south and east. For more up-to-date information, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.
The weather forecast has light west to slightly northwest winds, with gusts up to 16 mph through Sunday evening. Temperatures are expected to reach the high 80s with a minimum humidity of 10-15%.
Restrictions in forest lands remain in Phase C, with no campfires. Only liquid fuel or gas stoves are permitted. Internal combustions engines are limited to motor vehicles. Off-road travel is prohibited and drivers should avoid roads with dry grass or other flammable vegetation.
The Burnt Creek Closure remains in effect on National Forest lands. All evacuation orders have been lifted. Roads and lands within the closure perimeter remain closed to public access, including the Chico Trail and Chico Trailhead. Highway 3 remains open, but travelers should use caution due to increased fire traffic.
The Paradise Fire area emergency closure, which is in Northwest Wallowa County and extends into Southeastern Washington, was effective July 22 to Oct. 1, for public safety and to facilitate firefighting operations.
The closure is effective from the intersection of FSR 64 and Mill Creek Watershed Boundary follow FSR 64 to its junction with FSR 65. Continue west on FSR 65 to intersection with Mill Creek Watershed, then follow boundary of Millcreek Watershed North and then South to FSR 64. Also included in the closure is FSR 64 from its junction with FSR 46 to its junction with FSR 65. FSR 65 from its junction with FSR 64 to intersect with Mill Creek Watershed.
For the latest fire information on Burnt Creek, visit Inciweb, email 2026.burntcreek@firenet.gov or call 541-394-3109. For the Paradise Fire, in the Umatilla National Forest, email sm.fs.umainquiries@usda.gov or call 541-278-3716.
For information on legal issues before or after disasters, a new website with support of Oregon courts, the state bar and several nonprofit legal services providers has a section on disaster-related legal issues: oregonlawhelp.org/topics/disasters.
