Horse rescue alert as wildfires surround Eastern Oregon community

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A horse rescue in Eastern Oregon has helped to save more than 40 domesticated animals since July 21 as the town of Monument is nearly surrounded by a group of wildfires known as the Battle Mountain Complex.

In addition to the nine horses and other domesticated animals already living at the Silent Wave Horse Rescue, located 2 miles west of Monument, the organization took in 16 horses and six hogs that were evacuated from neighboring communities last week. The horse rescue’s director Lisa Neuburger told KOIN 6 News that the area is experiencing the worst wildfire season in recent memory.

“Our region is pretty engulfed this time,” Neuburger said. “In the past, we’ve had small fires. On Monday it blew up… Sadly, it’s the earliest [wildfire season] and definitely the worst.”

Neuburger’s property is under level three evacuation and her family has seen several close calls since July 22, when the Boneyard Fire crested over the hill and pushed toward the rescue.

“The fire was coming fast, really fast,” she said. “It came across 40 to 50 acres of dry grass. Firefighters said that grass usually doesn't burn that hot, but this got swirled by the wind and they were seeing fire tornadoes on our property.”

Neuburger said that she and her family gather the animals and retreat to 17-acres of irrigated field on the property whenever the flames get too close.

“We turn the pivot irrigation system on in a field that is 17 acres and very green,” she said. “We evacuated on Monday into the field, moved the horses into it and loaded up vehicles with important items like family photos.”

While the field offers a safe buffer from the flames, Neuburger said that her family may have lost its home last week if it wasn’t for the kindness of a local rancher. With the winds fanning the flames toward her property, the rancher drove several miles to her property and used a disc harrow to churn up the soil and create a 10 to 15-foot fire line in front of their house.

“He was driving right into the smoke,” she said. “His disc line saved us because it slowed the advance of fire… He did that from the goodness of his heart.”

A few days of cooler temperatures and light rain has given the family some reprieve from the fire. On Tuesday the rescue used the opportunity to trim hooves and nail on fresh horseshoes.

“A little bit of rain kind of cleansed everything and allowed firefighters to set up lines,” she said. “They’ve pushed the fire back up the ridge to the main body.”

As of July 30, the Battle Mountain Complex is 178,171 acres and 10% contained. With multiple days of 100-degree heat in the forecast for Central and Eastern Oregon, the family continues to prepare for the worst.

“We just wait,” she said. “Those fires are relentless… With strong west winds and heat, the fire will go where it wants.”