A small Oregon town’s response to this summer’s Lone Rock Fire
written by Joni Kabana
“It’s just what we do.” These words, barely audible, a resident of the small town of Spray spoke for everyone that morning about saving the town from a massive wildfire. His head bowed, I could feel the collective weight this fire had on him and many local volunteer firefighters. Local residents came off their farms and out of their houses and, for twenty-seven days, fought the relentless and unforgiving fires that would burn more than 100,000 acres in Wheeler County alone. From local teenagers to elders, both men and women joined at the front lines of the rapidly advancing fire, digging trenches, cutting trees and spraying flames to protect their own ranches, their neighbors’ farms and the beloved tiny town of Spray.
As the fire burned on and closer to my home, we received the dreadful Level 3 evacuation order. Thinking it would be the last time I would see my home intact, I tearfully drove down my driveway, my truck filled with precious things I had gathered in preparation. Staying did not appear to be an option. I watched the fire advance, and from a safe distance away via Facebook posts and photos, I could see local citizens who were more experienced than me in this type of crisis take on this beast with their collective might. Calm, steady and even with a sense of humor, they moved from one section of the fire to the next, in tandem and with a devotion to the land that would inspire even the most hardened heart.
The fire advanced from two separate directions toward my house over a twelve-hour period, crossing into my land and coming straight to the edge of outbuildings, which surely would have ignited my home had it not been for locals who had chosen not to leave but to steadfastly protect the town and homes.
For weeks after my return, I witnessed the same exhausted people who fought the massive Lone Rock Fire re-engage with twenty-two new fires that were ignited after a series of lightning strikes. Once again, homes and ranch lands were vulnerable to the fires’ relentless assaults.
While I was interviewing and gathering images for this story, I hugged Valerie Howell, a former Spray mayor and lifelong resident who chose to stay and assist in any way she was needed. After a period of silence, she whispered quietly in my ear, “We stay, Joni. That’s what we do in this town—we stay.”
The town of Spray will humbly accept donations that will go toward the local fire crews and those who used their own equipment to keep the town, the farms and their families safe and sound. Please address your checks to City of Spray Volunteer Fire Crew, P.O. Box 83, Spray, Oregon 97874 or find them on Venmo via [email protected].
Local Spray citizens came out in droves, banding together to keep the Lone Rock Fire from advancing upon their town. (photo: Cassi Newton) 
Locals brought out their bulldozers and assisted each other to save homes in Spray’s vicinity and beyond. (photo: Cassi Newton) 
The city of Spray, population 130, is located in Wheeler County on the John Day River on Highway 19, centered between three fossil bed units and surrounded by isolated ancient landscapes. (photo: Dave Crapser) 
The author’s home as the Lone Rock Fire advanced over the hillside just before fire crews arrived to provide structure support. (photo: Chris Barnes, Monroe Rural Fire Protection District Fire Chief) 
The Spray Volunteer Fire Department consists of eleven official volunteers and numerous extraneous volunteers involved in fighting the fires. From left to right are a few of the crew members: Steven Cossitt, Steve Cossitt, Marissa Robison, Fire Chief Jeremiah Holmes, Dave Boise and Scott Mengis. Missing are Carter Boise, Tate Holmes, Dennis Starr, Ryan Starr, Travis Todd and Melody Wagner. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
Local Spray volunteer firefighters stand on the fire line, keeping advancement at bay. (photo: Melody Wagner) 
A young Spray volunteer firefighter assesses the behavior of the fire as winds change direction. (photo: Dave Boise) 
Carson Conlee, 18, and his brother Gavin, 15, ran bulldozers, fell trees, drove fire trucks and brought their own vehicle to perform mechanical work on other vehicles in addition to working on the handlines and mopping up. They fought around the clock to save their family home by the Lone Rock Fire and other subsequent fires that came soon after. (photo: Tina Conlee) 
The Conlee home sits as a beacon of comfort as the fire rapidly approaches. (photo: Tina Conlee) 
The Lone Rock Fire (and the fires that came after it) taxed even the most hard-working men and women, testing their limits and requiring them to sleep for short periods of time over the weeks battling fires. (photo: Cassi Newton) 
Firefighter Marissa Robison, Fire Chief Jeremiah Holmes and Marissa’s grandfather, firefighter Steve Cossit, review a fire map that will be placed in the Spray Museum. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
Cynthia Autenrieth and Loren Woodward, owners of Spray’s only small grocery store, worked 20+ hours per day for the duration of the fires, feeding firefighters and keeping shelves stocked for the influx of approximately 900 outside crew members. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
A shed on the author’s property just prior to her first Level 3 evacuation. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
The author’s guest cabin, which was saved by local citizen Steve Stebbins and firefighter friend Alan Thornton, who traveled from Portland to help prep and stay on the premises to assist in saving her home. (photo: Alan Thornton) 
Two young boys head toward the Lone Rock Fire line to give it their all to keep the fire at bay. (photo: Marissa Robison) 
Impending danger looms ahead, threatening beloved homesteads and activating a rally to save the town of Spray. (photo: Tina Conlee) 
Spray Fire Chief Jeremiah Holmes checks his phone as messages pour in over the multiple weeks that fires threatened the town of Spray and other regions within Wheeler County, and beyond. (photo: Melody Wagner) 
Soon after the Lone Rock Fire was finally contained, the Service Fire reared up, and once again homesteads were threatened in the Spray vicinity. (photo: Emma Asher) 
Soon after the Lone Rock Fire was contained, new fires broke out in other directions, taxing local crew members who are first responders. A total of twenty-two fires and fire-related incidents occurred after the Lone Rock Fire. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
Becky and Bryon Clark fought tirelessly to save their ranch by keeping a vigilant watch for approaches, digging lines and lighting backfires while also moving hundreds of cows to different pastures only to have to move them again when winds shifted. (photo: Becky Clark) 
Both men and women serve a vital and devoted service to Wheeler County and the town of Spray. (photo: Dave Boise) 
One of the town’s heritage cemeteries, Winlock Cemetery, burned completely, but after the fire was contained, locals moved quickly to assess damage, save what remained and plan for its future restoration. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
The author’s home after the Lone Rock Fire raged through, as seen during an aftermath assessment by her friend Steve Stebbins, who fought to save her home. (photo: Steve Stebbins) 
New growth appeared in the Winlock Cemetery within days of the fire. (photo: Joni Kabana) 
The John Day River flows on as though nothing had occurred. (photo: Joni Kabana)
