The 70-acre Niagara Fire burning in the North Cascade District’s Santiam Unit is 15 percent contained as of Sunday afternoon. Continued hot, dry conditions have intensified fire behavior today, and firefighters are hitting the blaze hard with aerial and ground resources. Burning beside Highway 22 near Big Cliff Dam, the fire was reported around noon on July 4. The Oregon Dept. of Forestry is leading the suppression effort, and the U.S. Forest Service and local fire departments are assisting. Cause remains under investigation.
