AP – Gusty winds fuelled a rapidly growing wildfire just outside the central Oregon community of La Pine in the United States and prompted evacuations on Tuesday.
The fire was estimated to be 6.9 square kilometres (km) in size on Tuesday night, Central Oregon Fire Information posted on the social media site X. The fire was growing and not contained.
Evacuation alerts were sent to 1,100 homes and businesses, said Lieutenant Jayson Janes of the Deschutes County Sherriff’s Office. He said about 50-60 people sought refuge at a local high school serving as an evacuation centre.
It was not clear whether any structures had burned.
Governor Tina Kotek invoked an order allowing the fire marshal to mobilise resources to help fight the blaze. A billowing plume of black and gray smoke loomed over businesses including grocery stores and strip malls.
Jodi Kerr was packing up her home decor and gifts store in La Pine so she could evacuate.
“It’s part of the risk of living in an area like this. It’s beautiful, but it’s wild,” said Kerr, the owner of Meandering Maker Mercantile.
She said it’s hard to think about the people who’ve spent years building businesses and then be concerned about losing it all overnight.
The fire started about 1.6km south of La Pine. It’s cause was under investigation.
