Hopkins Fire Holds at 5,000 Acres as Crews Gain Ground on Multiple Gilliam County Wildfires

From Gilliam County Sheriff’s office at 3 p.m. on July 16 : Hopkins Fire Update – The eastern containment line failed resulting in this fire increasing in size. At last estimate, the fire stands at 5,000 acres. The fire is currently spreading to the NE in the Dry Fork and Wet Fork Canyon, north of Beeks Lane.

The Dalles, Ore., July 16, 2026 — Firefighters made significant progress Thursday on four active wildfires burning across Gilliam County, holding the largest blaze at approximately 5,000 acres while working to strengthen containment lines and prevent additional fire growth, according to the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office.

The fires come after a widespread lightning event swept across north-central Oregon on July 15, producing more than 2,000 lightning strikes and igniting more than 50 wildfires across areas protected by Central Oregon Fire Management Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry. Fire officials have identified the Hopkins Fire as one of the lightning-caused fires and said additional fire starts could still be discovered as vegetation continues to dry following the storms.

The largest incident, the Hopkins Fire, burning northwest of Condon east of Devil's Butte, remains active at an estimated 5,000 acres.

Approximate location of fires from Watch Duty.

Resources from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Gilliam County fire agencies and numerous local landowners remain assigned to the fire. The sheriff's office said crews have largely kept the fire within its original footprint, with minimal growth reported Thursday. Additional aerial resources and heavy equipment were working in the Hay Creek area to reinforce containment lines.

The Porcupine Ridge Fire, located southwest of Condon off Richmond Lane, is now estimated at approximately 1,000 acres. The fire is staffed by a Bureau of Land Management engine crew and is being monitored after showing no active fire behavior or additional growth.

A task force has been requested to assist Gilliam County fire crews with mop-up operations on the Porcupine Ridge Fire while also providing additional personnel on the Hopkins Fire.

Firefighters also continued making progress on two blazes in northern Gilliam County.

The Lower Rock Creek Fire, located near McDonald Ferry southwest of Arlington, remains active, but firefighters have stopped its forward progress. Containment lines have been established around the fire, and crews from North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District, Sherman County Fire, Boardman Fire Rescue District and local landowners continued working toward full containment. Officials have not released an acreage estimate.

The Hoag Lane Fire, burning southwest of Arlington off Heritage Lane, also remains active, but its forward progress has been halted. Firefighters continue reinforcing containment lines and working toward full control. No acreage estimate has been released.

Earlier Thursday, the sheriff's office reported that one barn was threatened by the Hoag Lane Fire. Firefighters successfully established containment lines around the structure, and those lines held, preventing damage to the building.

Officials said all four fires are burning during extremely challenging fire conditions and urged the public to avoid active fire areas, remain alert for emergency vehicles and equipment traveling throughout the county, and never fly drones near wildfire operations.

The sheriff's office thanked local fire agencies, state and federal partners, dispatchers, heavy equipment operators, landowners and volunteers for their continued efforts, saying their coordinated response has been instrumental in slowing the fires and protecting homes, agricultural property and rural communities.

The string of fires follows another successful response in Gilliam County less than a week earlier. On July 10, firefighters quickly contained a brush fire near West Trimble Street in Condon after it threatened nearby homes and vehicles. Deputies, the South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District, Gilliam County Road Department crews, local ranchers and neighbors prevented the loss of a residence and trailer. The cause of that fire remains under investigation, according to the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office.