The Larch Creek Fire in Wasco County, Oregon, rapidly expanded to over 10,000 acres on Thursday morning, according to reports from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon State Fire Marshall. The fire, which started on Tuesday afternoon near Friend, Oregon, southwest of Dufur, has shown zero containment so far.

Driven by high winds, scorching temperatures, and dry conditions, the Larch Creek Fire crossed Highway 197 and continued its aggressive growth to the east. The fire had already surpassed 6,000 acres by the end of Tuesday and quickly spread to over 9,100 acres by Wednesday after jumping across Highway 97.

Despite its significant size, no homes have been reported damaged by the fire. However, some outbuildings were consumed by the flames. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion amidst the challenging conditions, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees.

Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, mobilizing state resources to combat the fire. Multi-agency crews, including the Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team, the Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Team, and the ODF, have been tirelessly battling the flames on the ground and from the air. Helicopters and planes have been deployed to drop water on the fire, while firefighters work to establish containment lines.

Travelers in the area are advised to check Trip Check for updates as Highway 197 may be closed or have traffic control measures in place to facilitate fire suppression efforts.

Evacuation levels have been elevated swiftly as the fire continues to grow. The Wasco County Sheriff's Office, together with the Unified Command, escalated evacuation notices to the following levels:

- Level 3 GO NOW: From Friend Rd, East to Elliott Rd and Hwy 197, South to Badger Creek Rd and Fairgrounds Rd, West to McCorkle Grade Rd, and the city of Tygh Valley. Hwy 197, east to the Deschutes River, north to Hulse Rd, and south to Fred Ashley Rd.

- Level 2 GET SET: White River, east to the Deschutes River, south to Oak Springs Rd./Juniper Flat Rd. In Pine Hollow & Wamic from Badger Creek Rd/Fairgrounds Rd, south to Rock Creek Dam Rd/Wamic Market Rd, and west to Threemile Rd, east to Hwy 197.

- Level 1 GET READY: Wamic Market Rd/Rock Creek Dam Rd., south to the White River, and west to Campbell Ln. From Hwy 197, east to the Deschutes River, south to Hulse Rd. From Elliott Rd, east to Kingsley Rd./Dufur Gap Rd., north to Friend Rd., and south to Level 3 border.

Authorities have set up a Red Cross shelter at Maupin High School for affected community members, while the Sherman County Fairgrounds is available for evacuating livestock and pets. Additionally, Hood River Fairgrounds is open to accommodate displaced animals.

The ODF has deployed Team 2 to support firefighting efforts and will be in unified command with the Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Team. The department urges everyone to be aware of the "extreme" fire danger in the area and to take precautions such as avoiding parking or driving on dry grass, following fire restrictions, and being prepared with firefighting equipment when outdoors.

The Larch Creek Fire serves as a stark reminder of the speed at which a fire can start and spread, underscoring the importance of vigilance and responsible fire safety measures throughout the region.