Acres: Crazy Creek: 86,603 | 498/Kitty Creek: 73
Start Date: July 22, 2024
Location: Crazy Creek: 5 miles north of Paulina, OR | 498/Kitty Creek: 7 miles south of Mitchell, OR
Personnel: 721
Containment: Crazy Creek: 63% | 498/Kitty Creek: 100%
Fuels: Timber and short grass
Interior burning increases Crazy Creek Fire acreage; spot fires extinguished over northeast
Highlights: Lower temperatures and increased humidity subdued fire behavior within the Crazy Creek Fire, now at 86,603 acres and 63 percent containment. Infrared monitoring showed decreasing amounts of hot spots across the entire fire footprint, with the greatest intensities still concentrated within the northeast section of the fire.
Overnight temperatures in the upper 30s, along with relative humidity as high as 80 percent, is adding moisture to smaller-sized vegetation and debris, making them more resistant to ignitions or advancing active flames. However, larger-sized logs and stumps continue to hold heat and are a focus for firefighters seeking out isolated hot spots near containment lines.
Possible thunderstorms over the fire, starting around midnight, are expected to drop minimal rain, but could result in lightning strikes outside the fire’s perimeter, where vegetation is still susceptible for ignition. With six to eight weeks remaining in Central Oregon’s typical fire season, firefighters are constructing contingency lines outside the fire’s perimeter as a precautionary measure.
Evacuations: The Crook County Sheriff’s Office has lowered the evacuation level from Level 3 (recommended evacuation) to Level 2 (set for evacuation) from Highway 380 north to SE Puett Road. The area north of SE Puett Road around the perimeter of the fire remains at a Level 3. The area south of Highway 380 has been lowered to Level 1 (prepare for possible evacuation). An evacuation map is available online through the Crook County Emergency Management Office website.
Weather: Today and into next week hot, dry weather will persist throughout the area with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s, light winds gusting to 21 mph and low humidity.
Importance of Fire Prevention: All public lands in Central Oregon, including the Ochoco National Forest, are in Stage 2 Public Use (Fire) Restrictions. All open flames, including woodstoves and charcoal briquette fires, are prohibited. In times of high fire danger, it is crucial for everyone to follow prevention measures to avoid additional strain on overburdened resources.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: The Ochoco National Forest has implemented a forest closure for the Paulina Ranger District. The Bureau of Land Management has issued a temporary closure for public lands in Crook and Grant Counties.
More Information:
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orocf-crazy-creek
Facebook: Facebook.com/Crazy Creek Fire
Central Oregon Wildfire Information: https://centraloregonfire.org/
Crook County Emergency Information Map: https://arcg.is/1ij0vb
