North Cayuse Fire Threatens Residences East of Pendleton; Evacuations Downgraded After Weekend Emergency

The North Cayuse Fire burning approximately 15 miles east of Pendleton in Umatilla County, Oregon has grown to an estimated 4,000 acres and remains only 9% contained as of July 6, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire is being managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry's Pendleton Unit.

How the Fire Started

Dispatch records indicate firefighters were called to a reported fire near Cayuse Road, several miles east of Pendleton, at approximately 3:30 p.m. on July 4. The fire spread rapidly in timber, brush, and grass under extreme fire behavior conditions including wind-driven runs, torching, and flanking.

Evacuation Orders

The fire triggered Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders over the Independence Day weekend for the Buckaroo Lane area to Iskuulpa. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation announced evacuations on its social media channels, coordinating with local emergency management to ensure tribal community members were safely removed from the area.

As of July 7, evacuation levels have been stepped down to Level 1 "Be Ready" notices for most areas near the fire, a sign that initial fire runs have slowed somewhat. However, officials caution that conditions remain volatile.

Threats to Structures and Infrastructure

Multiple residences are threatened by the North Cayuse Fire. The NIFC situation report notes that road closures are in effect. Federal partners have provided additional suppression resources to assist Oregon DOF crews working the incident.

Fire Weather Challenges

The Pendleton area has been under a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service Pendleton office through July 7 at 10:00 p.m. PDT. Conditions driving the warning include critically low relative humidity, dry fuels, and gusty winds — the same factors responsible for the fire's explosive growth over the holiday weekend.

Monitoring Resources