Cram Fire nearly 50% contained as crews make steady progress

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As the Cram Fire approaches the 100,000-acre megafire status in Central Oregon, officials say it is now nearly 50% contained as of Sunday morning.

The fire, which began July 13 about 15 miles north of Madras, is estimated at 95,748 acres with 932 personnel actively engaged in the battle.

The acreage also makes the Cram Fire the largest wildfire of the year so far in the United States, according to InciWeb.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said firefighters successfully reached 49% containment on the fire “after a week of round-the-clock efforts.”

“[Sunday’s] focus remains on the southern edge, where saw teams are thinning juniper trees to reduce fuels that could spark new fires,” OSFM said in a release. “Ground crews, supported by engines, will continue systematically gridding for heat sources near control lines.”

So far, the fire has destroyed 4 homes and 578 are still threatened, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

Evacuations remain in effect. Jefferson, Wasco and Crook County Sheriffs have issued Level 3 (Go Now), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations across multiple zones.

• Jefferson County evacuations
• Wasco County evacuations
• Crook County evacuations

Despite the large fire, officials said there are no closures to Bureau of Land Management land “at this time.” But conditions are constantly monitored and may change.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Cram Fire was sparked by a transformer in the area. However, the cause remains under investigation.

In recent years, Oregon has seen several megafires during peak fire season, including six in 2020 alone.

That historic season burned well over a million acres of land statewide. Last summer also brought significant megafire activity and burned more acreage than in the 2020 season.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our wildfire coverage.