Update | I-84 in Oregon reopens after wind-blown fire that forced a shutdown for hours

Travelers getting an early start on their Labor Day trips didn’t get too far past Pendleton on Interstate 84 for several hours on Thursday.

A wildfire closed eastbound lanes initially from Baker City to Ontario, and by mid-afternoon Thursday the closure was extended to near Pendleton because of the limited parking space in Baker City and La Grande in Oregon.

There were no viable detours for the closures, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The westbound lanes of the interstate reopened in the early evening between Ontario and Baker City. And the eastbound lanes were back open an hour or two later.

High winds on Thursday spread a fire that was burning west of Ontario, making firefighting a challenge.

The fire was mostly out by Friday morning after burning 1,260 acres. It was started by a car fire, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

This story was originally published September 1, 2022 at 2:58 PM.