The National Weather Service warned Wednesday night that “life-threatening flash flooding” was likely to occur on wildfire burn scars in Malheur County because of heavy rainfall from thunderstorms. The warning for the Cow Valley fire area was issued at 7:22 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, followed…
COW VALLEY FIRE: Reporters for the Enterprise documented the unfolding community crisis as a wildfire turned into one of the largest conflagrations in recent Malheur County history. Here in one place is our coverage of the fire since shortly after it was reported.
COW VALLEY FIRE: A chronicle of how the wildfire developed that upended life in Malheur County. Investigators have. not yet said whether the fire was accidental or deliberate.
Fire officials will brief the community at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, on the status of the Cow Valley Fire at the Vale Senior Center. The fire remained essentially unchanged in size Tuesday morning.
One task force of firefighters was sent home Snday and two more will ship out Monday as crews work around the clock to slow the growth of the Cow Valley Fire.
PHOTOS: Here are scenes as the community rallied with firefighters from across the state in a massive effort stop the Cow Valley Fire. The fire started on rangeland about 45 miles north of Vale on Thursday, July 11. The gallery includes more than 30 photos.
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office on Sunday, July 14, dropped the evacuation alert for most of Vale but put Westfall on a "get set" alert as the Cow Valley Fire continues to grow.
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Cow Valley Fire continues to grow but evacuation levels remain unchanged from Saturday. The threat of lightning continues into this evening.
COW VALLEY FIRE: The area from Brogan to Willowcreek along Highway 26 is now at Level 2 – be set to leave at a moment's notice – while a Level 1 order has been issued for all of Vale and Westfall.