Rowena Fire near The Dalles burns 3,800 acres, destroys 20 homes, threatens 800+

The Rowena Fire, which ignited near Rowena, Oregon, on June 11, has rapidly expanded to over 3,800 acres with zero containment as of Friday morning, destroying at least 20 homes and threatening more than 2,000 structures. Fueled by strong winds up to 40 mph, dry vegetation, and low ground moisture, the fire has forced evacuation orders for over 8,000 residents, including 1,400 under mandatory evacuation, with several highways closed in the area. Fire officials confirmed the fire is human-caused and deployed more than 400 personnel with structural protection and aerial support to combat the blaze, though fire containment remains elusive. The Oregon Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked to mobilize interagency firefighting resources, and evacuation centers have been established by the American Red Cross and local agencies. Residents have described harrowing escapes from the fire, emphasizing the intense heat and rapid spread, while firefighters continue efforts to protect homes and remove hazardous trees ahead of potential returns. Meanwhile, a separate wildfire, the Ferry Fire near the John Day River, has grown to over 9,000 acres with limited containment, prompting additional evacuations and land closures nearby.