‘Just black everywhere’: Scenery is charred, but buildings survive at Cottonwood Canyon after fire

‘Just black everywhere’: Scenery is charred, but buildings survive at Cottonwood Canyon after fire

The sun had just set over the high desert hills, the first stars beginning to peak out of the twilight, when Scott Green made the call to evacuate Cottonwood Canyon.

Ferry Fire burns more than 10,000 acres near Cottonwood Canyon State Park

A brush fire that started on the evening of June 11 upstream of Cottonwood Canyon State Park grew to one of the largest in the state for the 2025 fire season. Tall vegetation from a wetter spring than usual, combined with high winds on the John Day River's steep canyons, made for a fast-burning fire and a challenging scenario for local fire crews. Dubbed the Ferry Fire – the blaze quickly gre...