Strong afternoon winds fanned the Sunflower Fire in Grant County Friday afternoon, pushing flames south and more than doubling the size of the blaze to 4,429 acres.

The fire, which was started by lightning, is about 10 miles northwest of Monument on the Umatilla National Forest’s Heppner Ranger District. It is currently 10 percent contained, burning in steep, rocky terrain and timbered strings.

A spokeswoman for the Great Basin Incident Management Team #5 said the fire is now hung up around the Indian Creek drainage, and crews are working to keep it on the west side of Forest Road 24. The fire was expected to continue growing Saturday to the south and east.

Nearly 300 personnel are assigned to the fire, staged at Morrow County OHV Park. Another 10 hand crews and 10 engines were ordered Saturday to assist with suppression efforts. Firefighters continue to reinforce lines around the perimeter, and cooler weather Sunday is expected to help them make additional progress.

Forest Service roads 2128, 22 and 23, well as forest road 3, are now closed around the fire until further notice. No evacuations have been ordered, though the incident management team and Grant County Sheriff’s Office are putting together and structure protection plan and providing information to nearby private landowners.

More information about the fire is available online at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3964.

In other Eastern Oregon fire news:

HURRICANE CREEK FIRE The Hurricane Creek Fire, located four miles southwest of Joseph in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, was quiet Friday and continues to hold steady at 120 acres. It is 10 percent contained, as crews made progress extending firebreaks around the northern and southern perimeters. A Type 3 incident management team is working with the Oregon Department of Forestry to protect nearby private land. Hurricane Creek Road was reopened to the public Saturday, though the trailhead remains closed until further notice.

COUGAR FIRE The Cougar Fire, which flared up about 20 miles away from the Hurricane Creek Fire on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest southwest of Lostine, grew slightly to 45 acres but was generally quiet on Friday. Crews continue to establish containment lines along the fire’s northern edge, and water drops were also used to suppress spot fires around the main blaze.

PITTSBURG FIRE The Pittsburg Fire, on the Idaho side of the Snake River in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, is up to 8,000 acres but now 30 percent contained. Fire activity has slowed, and incident command is cautiously optimistic the blaze will remain within its perimeter. Approximately 350 personnel are on scene, and firefighters continue to strengthen their lines around the perimeter. No evacuations have been ordered.

BUZZARD COMPLEX The Buzzard Complex, composed of six fires about 45 miles northeast of Burns, increased to nearly 369,000 total acres. It is 20 percent contained, burning in mostly rangeland. The fire has killed an unknown number of livestock. More than 1,200 personnel are assigned to battle the blaze, and residents of Crowley Riverside Road are under a Level 1 evacuation notice. A perimeter around the fires is now 380 miles long, which is equivalent to driving from Burns to Olympia, Washington.

PINE CREEK FIRE The Pine Creek Fire is burning 11 miles south of Fossil in the Deschutes National Forest. It is 25,259 acres in size and 5 percent contained. High winds and red flag conditions are making it tough for firefighters on scene. An evening swing shift was added to provide overnight structure protection and Rowe Creek residents have received Level 2 preparedness evacuation notices by the Sheriff.