Rowe Creek Complex Burns About 127,000 Acres Near Fossil, Oregon

Overview

• Multiple lightning strikes on Wednesday, July 15, sparked several fires in the Twickenham and Fossil area that have since been grouped as the Rowe Creek Complex.
• An overnight infrared overflight refined totals to roughly 126,978 acres for the complex with most activity merged into the 113,046‑acre Crosswhite Fire and 0% containment.
• The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office has issued level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation notices for communities near the fires and structural protection teams are working around Rowe Creek Road, Twickenham and Fossil.
• Incident command is unified under the NW2 Complex IMT and the Oregon State Fire Marshal Green IMT, and additional crews, aircraft and a complex IMT have been ordered but remain limited by smoke and heavy regional demand.
• BLM and National Park Service land closures cover sections of the John Day River corridor and John Day Fossil Beds units, a Temporary Flight Restriction is in place, and unauthorized drones could suspend aerial firefighting operations.