GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A highway through the Ochoco Mountains of Central Oregon remained closed by a wildfire Wednesday, but the threat to about 10 scattered homes and ranches eased.
Fire officials said Wednesday the Bailey Butte fire — part of the Waterman Complex — had burned more than 2,000 acres west of Mitchell and was moving south into the Ochoco National Forest.
A stretch of U.S. Highway 26 remained closed west of Mitchell, but the evacuation notice for homes along West Branch Road eased to the lowest level.
Two other fires near Service Creek and Kimberly bring the Waterman Complex to more than 4,000 acres. The three fires are in timber, grass and brush. They are expected to grow in the hot and windy weather.
