South Valley Fire

{{Short description|2018 wildfire in the U.S. state of Oregon}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{update|date=July 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = South Valley Fire |partof=the [[2018 Oregon wildfires]] | image = | caption = | reference = <ref name="Haas1">{{cite web |last1=Haas |first1=Elise |title=Farmers, firefighters band together to save historic barn |url=https://www.koin.com/news/wildfires/farmers-firefighters-band-together-to-save-historic-barn/1341891185 |website=KOIN |accessdate=2 August 2018 |date=2 August 2018}}</ref>  | date = {{Start date|2018|8|1}} – {{End date|2018|8|9}} | location = [[Dufur, Oregon|Dufur]], [[Wasco County, Oregon|Wasco County]], [[Oregon]], [[United States]] | coordinates =  | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | cost = | area = {{Convert|20026|acre|km2|0}} | buildings = | cause = Human | injuries = | fatalities = | landuse = | perps = | motive = }} The '''South Valley Fire''' was a human-caused [[wildfire]] in [[Wasco County, Oregon|Wasco County]] near [[Dufur, Oregon|Dufur]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]]. The fire was one of three fires near Dufur, specifically the [[Long Hollow Fire]] and the contained [[Substation Fire]]. The South Valley Fire burned {{Convert|20026|acre|km2|0}}. It caused the evacuation of 500 people and threatened 200 homes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Urness |first=Whitney Woodworth and Zach |title=South Valley Fire forces 500 people from homes, grows to 20,000 acres |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2018/08/02/fire-wasco-county-oregon-torches-15000-acres-evacuation/889086002/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Statesman Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> It impacted recreational activities along the Deschutes River.

==Events==

The fire started around 1:30 p.m. on August 1, 2018, near [[Dufur, Oregon|Dufur]] in [[Wasco County, Oregon]]. Firefighters determined it was likely started by humans. Due to high winds and fueled by dry grass, fields, and trees, the fire grew fast, burning almost {{Convert|3500|acre|km2|0}} by the evening. Level three (go now) evacuations were put in place, and Governor [[Kate Brown]] call into action the emergency conflagration act as a result of the fire, sending resources. [[U.S. Route 197|Highway 197]] was closed.<ref name="KOIN81">{{cite web |title=Level 3 evacuations expand as South Valley Fire spreads |url=https://www.koin.com/news/wildfires/new-level-3-evacuations-near-dufur-for-south-valley-fire/1339991415 |website=KOIN 6 News |accessdate=2 August 2018 |date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The Bureau of Land Management issued an evacuation for areas along the [[Deschutes River (Oregon)|Deschutes River]], specifically from Sandy Beach to Macks Canyon.<ref name="Lerten">{{cite web |last1=Lerten |first1=Barney |title=New wildfire races across 6,000-acres near Dufur |url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/third-large-wildfire-near-dufur-prompts-evacuations/776172972 |website=KTVZ |accessdate=2 August 2018 |date=2 August 2018}}</ref> By the evening of August 1, the fire had burned an estimated {{Convert|6000|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name="Fox1281">{{cite web |title=More evacuation orders issued as 'terrifying' South Valley Fire grows to 6,000 acres |url=http://www.kptv.com/story/38790993/more-evacuation-orders-issued-as-terrifying-south-valley-fire-grows-to-6000-acres |website=Fox 12 Oregon |date=1 August 2018 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802071409/http://www.kptv.com/story/38790993/more-evacuation-orders-issued-as-terrifying-south-valley-fire-grows-to-6000-acres |archive-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The next day, it had grown exponentially to {{Convert|20000|acre|km2|0}} with 400 people evacuated. A historic barn, built in 1906, was burned by the fire.<ref name="Haas1"/>

Highway 197 reopened the next day, Thursday, August 2, 2018. The fire was contained August 9, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Northwest Interagency Coordination Center |date=2019-04-03 |orig-date=2019-04-03 |title=Northwest Annual Fire Report 2018 |url=https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/content/pdfs/archives/2018_NWCC_Annual_Fire_Report_FINAL.pdf |access-date=2024-06-26}}</ref>

==Impact==

The South Valley Fire was one of three fires to have burned in the area, adding to the heavy smoke and evacuations already in place, particularly around the community of [[Dufur, Oregon|Dufur]]. The fire also impacted recreational activities along the Deschutes River.

===Evacuations===

The following areas were under mandatory evacuation by August 1:<ref name="KOIN81"/><ref name="Fox1281"/><ref name="Lerten"/> * 82000 block of Rail Hollow Road to the forest boundary * All of Winslow Road and Shell Rock Road * South of the above zone all the way south to Friend Road * Dufur Gap Road * Hix Road to Kingsley Road * Hwy 197 to forest boundary * Tygh Ridge Road * The Deschutes River from Sandy Beach to Macks Canyon

==References== {{Portal|Oregon}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:2018 Oregon wildfires]] [[Category:August 2018 in the United States]]