Dear readers,

Wildfires and an accompanying record-setting heat wave made news every day this week in Baker County.

The temperature reached 100 degrees on three straight days at the Baker City Airport — July 8, 9 and 10. And on the 11th it was a single degree short of that threshold.

But it’s been hot everywhere out here.

Hermiston was 101 or more six days in a row — July 7-12, and probably crested 100 again on July 13. Even set a record high on July 10 with 112.

John Day set a record high of 100 on July 7.

La Grande set a record high of 102 on July 11.

The hot temperatures, combined with kiln-like humidity levels and occasional gusty winds, meant that a series of human-caused wildfires spread rapidly. One fire that started on the edge of Huntington on July 10 resulted in the evacuation of Farewell Bend State Park. No one was injured.

A day later, two fires started in northern Malheur County, and one eventually spread to more than 80,000 acres, threatening, but not damaging, homes in the unincorporated town of Brogan.

But plenty more has been going on in Northeastern Oregon in spite of the heat.

In La Grande, police cited two teens for damaging windows at a school.

The Blue Mountain Hospital District in John Day received a chuck of federal pandemic relief funds.

Bill Bradshaw at the Wallowa County Chieftain reported on the leaders of the Greater Idaho movement inviting Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to come and talk with them.

And the Hermiston City Council on July 8 approved a business registration fee schedule.

The hot weather looks like it’s going to continue well into next week. So we’ll be keeping an eye on that, and so much more.

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As always, if you have comments or questions about the East Oregonian, or want to pass along a story idea, send me an email at this address: editor@eastoregonian.com.

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Jayson Jacoby is the editor of the Baker City Herald.