Oregon's iconic Painted Hills have been closed and charred by the Rowe Creek complex fire, prompting the National Park Service to shut down the area, which is part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Evacuations in the vicinity began on July 17.
The severity of the burns within the hills' mosaic pattern has been described as 'low to moderate.' Some grass at the top of the landforms has burned, but the hills themselves, composed of claystone soil, lack flammable material. The most significant impacts have been reported at Leaf Hill, where trees and protective fencing along a trail have been affected.
Despite the reported burn severity, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an Air Quality Advisory for the Painted Hills Unit on July 27. The advisory warns that smoke pollutants can cause respiratory issues, aggravate existing heart and lung conditions, and pose risks to children and individuals with health problems. Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate human tissue and increase the risk of heart attacks.
Several counties in Idaho and Oregon remain under air quality warnings, with some expected to be in the danger zone until the fires are controlled. Northwest Team 2 Operations Section Chief Thadd Niebel stated on July 29 that containment of the fires in the Painted Hills area might take "a couple of days."
The Painted Hills are known for their distinctive stripes of red, tan, orange, and black. The area is also a significant paleontological site, home to the Bridge Creek Flora, a diverse assemblage of leaf fossils dating back 30 to 39 million years. Other attractions within the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument include Blue Basin, the Clarno fossils, the Thomas Condon Visitor Center, and the historic Cant Ranch.
The National Park Service has not reported any significant damage to the park's structures. The closure of the Painted Hills coincides with widespread wildfires across Oregon, which have triggered evacuation orders for approximately 6,000 people in central and eastern parts of the state. Fires have burned over 1.5 million acres in Oregon.
Reports indicate that lawmakers in Oregon have stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied the state's request for aid in combating two major wildfires: the Rowe Creek Complex and the East Evans Creek Fires. Travelers in the affected region are advised to monitor updates regarding the fire situation.