BAKER CITY, OR -- Extreme fire weather continues: high temperatures, low humidity and winds could pick up again today; none of it good news for firefighters battle blazes across the state. The Canyon Creek Complex has burned nearly 54,000 acres near John Day, and is 10% contained. The fire has destroyed 36 homes and threatens 700 other structures.
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell says firefighters are doing all they can to curtail the complex of fires. He toured the fire camp earlier this week with Governor Kate Brown and State Forester Doug Decker. If officials had all the resources they wanted, Tidwell says there would be 1500 firefighters on-scene. As of Thursday, there are more than 600 making up the more than 900 total personnel.