GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Two new wildfires that started over the weekend were threatening several dozen scattered rural homes in western Oregon, where forests are critically dry and the weather has been hot.
In the Mount Hood National Forest about 10 miles east of Estacada, fire spokeswoman Carol Connolly said Monday that a human-caused wildfire has burned across nearly 4 square miles, or nearly 2,500 acres. Authorities issued their most urgent evacuation notice for residents of about 40 homes. Several campgrounds and RV parks have already been evacuated.
The city of Estacada was not threatened, but several miles of State Highway 224 were temporarily closed. Estacada is southeast of Portland.
Smoke from the fire has spread across the northern Willamette Valley.
Initial reports indicate someone target shooting caused the fire, Connolly said.
In southwest Oregon, a fire on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest about 15 miles west of Grants Pass grew to nearly 3 square miles, or about 2,000 acres. Bulldozer crews started building fire line on the northeastern flank to protect some scattered homes along the Rogue River in the Picket Creek area, where Josephine County has warned residents to be ready to leave, fire spokesman Scott Blower said.
