CORVALLIS — The Olive Butte Fire in Eastern Oregon grew rapidly July 11, prompting the Grant County Sheriff’s Office to issue a Level 3 evacuation — the most urgent warning — for the town of Granite as state firefighting resources were mobilized.
State steps in as fire expands
The Oregon State Fire Marshal announced that four task forces from Clackamas, Lane and Washington counties were dispatched to help attack the blaze and protect communities and infrastructure. One additional crew was scheduled to arrive July 12. Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to speed the movement of mutual-aid resources to the scene.
“While our wildland partners focus on the perimeter of the fire itself, our resources will work to protect homes and critical infrastructure,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Travis Medema said. “This partnership is vital as we face what has been a very busy weekend for firefighters across the state.”
The deployment marks the second time in as many days that the state has moved to coordinate a wider response to wildfire activity. On July 10, Kotek invoked the same authority to assist with the East Evans Creek Fire in Jackson County, which had expanded to about 1,550 acres and later was reported at nearly 2,700 acres.
Local impact and what residents should know
A Level 3 evacuation means residents in the affected zone should evacuate immediately. Authorities typically advise following county direction for evacuation routes and checking official county and state channels for shelter locations and road closures. The OSFM release emphasized that conditions are rapidly changing, and additional resources may be shifted as the situation develops.
- Evacuation: Level 3 issued for Granite (Grant County).
- State response: Four task forces dispatched from Clackamas, Lane and Washington counties; another crew due July 12.
- Authority: Governor invoked Emergency Conflagration Act to enable mutual aid.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Evacuation level | Level 3 for Granite |
| Task forces sent | Teams from Clackamas, Lane, Washington (4) |
| Additional crew | Scheduled to arrive July 12 |
| Related incident | East Evans Creek Fire — ~1,550 then ~2,700 acres |
For residents in and around Granite and Grant County, stay tuned to local law enforcement and county emergency pages for the latest evacuation maps, shelter information and instructions on when it is safe to return. The OSFM and county officials will continue to update the public as crews work to secure perimeters and protect homes and critical infrastructure.
As Oregon faces an active weekend of wildfires, the coordinated movement of mutual-aid teams underscores how local incidents can quickly demand regional and statewide resources — a pattern communities across the state have seen during recent fire seasons.
