A rapidly growing wildfire south of Vale, Oregon prompted Level 3 evacuations in Malheur County on Monday, June 22, as the Lytle Fire grew to an estimated 2,000 acres with extreme fire behavior and no immediate containment.

Fire Details

The Lytle Fire is burning approximately three miles south of Vale, Oregon in brush and grass on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Vale District. Extreme fire behavior including running, flanking, and short-range spotting has challenged suppression efforts since the fire's ignition. The blaze is listed in the National Interagency Fire Center's June 23 situation report as a new large fire in the Northwest geographic area.

The fire is burning in the high desert terrain of eastern Oregon's Malheur County — a landscape of sagebrush, dry grass, and juniper that ignites readily under summer heat and low humidity. According to fire managers, there has been a reduction in reported acreage due to more accurate aerial mapping, though the fire remained highly active.

Evacuations

The Malheur County Sheriff's Office issued Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations for areas south of Vale directly threatened by the fire's advance. The Sheriff's Office posted to social media urging residents: "Leave without delay. It is unsafe to stay and threatens the safety of you, your family, and emergency responders."

Structures are threatened and road closures are in effect in the vicinity of the fire. Residents in the evacuation zone are urged not to return until the Sheriff's Office officially lowers evacuation levels.

Regional Context

The Lytle Fire ignited during a stretch of hot, dry, and breezy weather that has gripped eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. The National Weather Service office in Pendleton issued Red Flag Warnings on both June 20 and June 23 for portions of the Columbia Basin of Oregon, citing northeast winds with gusts near 30 mph and relative humidity values dropping below 20 percent.

Malheur County, one of Oregon's largest and most fire-prone counties, sits along the Idaho border in the state's far eastern corner. The area has seen above-normal fire potential all season as drought conditions have deepened across the region.

Responding Agencies

The BLM Vale District is leading response on the Lytle Fire with support from Oregon Department of Forestry and local cooperators. The nearby communities of Vale, Nyssa, and Ontario may experience smoke impacts as the fire continues to burn.

Stay Informed

  • Follow the Malheur County Sheriff's Office on social media for evacuation zone updates.
  • Visit InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov for official fire information.
  • Check AirNow.gov for current air quality readings in the Vale and Ontario areas.
  • Do not re-enter evacuation areas until officially cleared by the Sheriff's Office.