Frontage Fire Burns 1,500 Acres Near Huntington, Oregon; Evacuations Issued and Downgraded

A wind-driven wildfire broke out near the Baker County town of Huntington, Oregon, on Saturday evening, June 6, 2026, burning through sagebrush and grass with enough intensity to prompt multi-level evacuations and force a temporary closure of Interstate 84.

The Frontage Fire, managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Vale District, was reported at approximately 8:24 p.m. Saturday, with the ignition site on private land about one mile south of Huntington, a community of roughly 510 residents along the Snake River. By Sunday morning, the fire had burned approximately 1,500 acres and crews were conducting mop-up operations. As of Monday, June 8, evacuation levels have been downgraded for all affected zones.

Evacuations Issued, Then Downgraded

The Baker County Sheriff's Office issued tiered evacuation notices late Saturday night:

Level 3 (Go Now): Farewell Bend State Park, approximately three miles southeast of Huntington
Level 2 (Be Set): Southeast Huntington
Level 1 (Be Ready): The broader Farewell Bend area, including a truck stop along I-84

By 9:20 a.m. Sunday, the sheriff's office had downgraded all evacuation zones to Level 1 as fire crews gained greater control of the perimeter. As of Monday morning, evacuation levels have been further reduced as containment operations continue.

Interstate 84 Closed and Reopened

The Oregon Department of Transportation temporarily closed Interstate 84 between Baker City and Ontario late Saturday night due to fire activity near the highway. The freeway reopened early Sunday morning. Highway 30 also experienced closures as the fire jumped the roadway at several points during peak activity.

What Drove the Fire

Huntington Mayor Chuck Guerri said the fire spread rapidly due to gusty winds and an exceptionally heavy grass load — some grass in the burn area had grown to three feet tall following the second-wettest April on record at the Baker City Airport. Those same wet spring conditions that stoked vegetative growth are now fueling faster fire spread as grasses cure out in early summer heat.

At its closest, the fire burned to within about one-eighth of a mile of the east edge of town. Community volunteers operated tractors and excavators overnight Saturday, cutting a firebreak on the hill above Huntington School to help protect the community. The blaze also damaged approximately a dozen Idaho Power Company utility poles, knocking out electricity to Huntington from around 9:30 p.m. Saturday until about 1 a.m. Sunday.

Fire Cause Under Investigation

Officials have not yet announced a potential cause. Mayor Guerri noted the fire appeared to start well away from any road, and there was no lightning in the area Saturday evening. The investigation is ongoing.

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