{{Short description|2018 wildfire in the U.S. state of Oregon}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = Boxcar Fire |partof=the [[2018 Oregon wildfires]] | image = 2018 06 23-20.15.43.025-CDT.jpg | caption = Boxcar Fire on June 23, 2018 | cost = | injuries = | fatalities = | reference = <ref name="InciWeb">{{cite web|title=Boxcar Fire|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5862/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Bureau of Land Management|accessdate=24 June 2018|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624150324/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5862/|url-status=dead}}</ref> <!-- ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL FIRES --> | date = {{Start date|2018|6|21}} – {{End date|2018|7|6}} | location = [[Maupin, Oregon|Maupin]], [[Oregon]], [[United States]] | coordinates = {{coord|45.16|-121.071|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = USA Oregon | pushpin_map_caption = Location of fire in Oregon. | area = {{Convert|100207|acre|km2|0}} | buildings = | cause = | landuse = | perps = | motive = }} The '''Boxcar Fire''' was a [[wildfire]] one mile southeast of [[Maupin, Oregon]] in the [[United States]]. The fire started on June 21, 2018 due to a lightning strike and subsequently burned {{Convert|100207|acre|km2|0}} due to dry, windy conditions in Central Oregon. The fire was one of 70 wildfires started in Oregon due to lightning strikes over a two-day period. The Boxcar Fire was the largest out of three major fires burning in the region, which included the [[Jack Knife Fire]] and South Junction Fire. The fire was contained in late June.
==Events==
The Boxcar Fire was started by a lightning strike around 7:45 a.m. on June 21, 2018, one mile southeast of [[Maupin, Oregon]] during a heavy bout of lightning strikes that impacted Central Oregon of the course of two days, which caused almost 70 wildfires.<ref name="IW623">{{cite web |title=Update June 23, 2018 1100 Boxcar Fire - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5862/43416/ |website=inciweb.nwcg.gov |accessdate=24 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
Fueled by grass and brush, the fire has spread south and east due to gusty winds. By June 23, the fire had expanded to {{Convert|23000|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name="IW623"/> Of the areas burned, {{Convert|22000|acre|km2|0}} were private land.<ref name="InciWeb"/> Sections of [[U.S. Route 197]] were closed due to efforts by fire crews to contain the blaze.<ref name="IW623"/> Bakeoven Road was closed for burnout operations.<ref name="ClosureBake623">{{cite web |title=Bakeoven Road closed during burnout operation afternoon of June 23 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5862/43420/ |website=inciweb.nwcg.gov |accessdate=24 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
The fire merged into the South Junction Fire on June 24 and was at 47 percent containment. By the next evening, the fire had grown to {{Convert|99170|acre|km2|0}}.
As of June 27, the fire had burned {{Convert|100207|acre|km2|0}} and was contained days later.<ref name="InciWeb"/><ref name="Sickinger">{{cite web |last1=Sickinger |first1=Ted |title=Risk of big, costly Northwest wildfire season is high |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2018/07/risk_of_major_wildfire_season.html |website=OregonLive.com |date=6 July 2018|accessdate=7 July 2018}}</ref>
==Impact==
The Boxcar Fire impacted the community of Maupin and nearby traffic, causing areas of Highway 197 to be closed.<ref name="IW623"/>
===Tourism===
Harpham Flat Campground was burned by the fire, as well as the accompanying day use area, even though it was reopened to the public with no structural damage. Access areas to the [[Deschutes River (Oregon)|Deschutes River]] were closed due to the fire, yet the river itself remained open for boating and recreation. Camping was discouraged by authorities in areas between Trout Creek and Maupin, impacting four campgrounds. Fourteen miles of camping areas along the John Day River were closed.<ref name="IW624">{{cite web |title=Update June 24, 2018 Boxcar Fire - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5862/43430/ |website=inciweb.nwcg.gov |accessdate=7 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Usgovpd}}
==External links== {{Portal|Oregon}} * {{Commons category-inline|Boxcar Fire}}
{{Oregon wildfires}}
[[Category:2018 Oregon wildfires]] [[Category:June 2018 in the United States]] [[Category:Wasco County, Oregon]]
{{Oregon-stub}} {{Wildfire-stub}}