Central Oregon — Firefighters continue to respond to numerous lightning-caused wildfires across Central Oregon. The majority are concentrated south of Bend on the Deschutes National Forest and range in size from one tenth of an acre to 14,400 acres. The largest fires include:
Firestone Fire – estimated 6,700 acres, located southeast of Newberry Caldera on the Deschutes National Forest. A Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team is managing this fire as well as the Flat Top Fire.
Flat Top Fire – estimated 14,400 acres, located southeast of Newberry Caldera on the Deschutes National Forest, and burning in brush and timber. Firefighters have conducted structure protection work around the Cabin Lake Guard Station.
Backside Fire – estimated 80 acres, located west of Mt. Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest. Resources are on scene.
Little Lava Fire – estimated 1,000 acres, located approximately 2 miles southeast of Little Lava Lake. Ground resources are on scene.
The Deschutes National Forest has in-briefed NW 3, a complex incident management team, to help manage fires on the forest.
Evacuations
Backside & Little Lava Fires
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued the following “Due to continued growth of the Bachelor Complex Fires, specifically the Little Lava fire, the following area is now at Level 3 (GO NOW):
South of the current Level 3 evacuation areas to FS Road 40, west of FS Road 45 (River Summit Drive) and east of FS Road 4270, Cascade Lakes Highway, and Lava Lake Area. This area also includes Sheridan Mountain, Wake Butte and surrounding areas.”
Firestone & Flat Top Fires
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued the following “Due to continued growth and expected fire, fire managers have recommended adjustments to the evacuation levels for areas around the Firestone and Flat Top Fires. These fires are burning in southern Deschutes County and northern Lake County.
Level 3 (Go Now)
Pine Mountain and areas south to the Lake County Line. Additionally, areas west of FS 18 Rd (China Hat Rd) south of FS Rd 21 to the Lake County Line.
Level 2 (Be Set)
Area north of FS Rd 21 to FS Rd 1835 between Newberry Caldera and FS Rd 18 (China Hat Rd).
Level 1 (Be Ready)
Areas within the Newberry Caldera (East and Paulina Lakes), areas north of FS 1835 to FS Rd 1830 and west of FS Rd 18 (China Hat Rd), and the Millican Valley due north of Pine Mountain to Hwy 20.”
For more information visit flashalert.net/id/DeschutesSO?alert=1 and stay up-to-date on Deschutes County evacuation notices using their interactive map: experience.arcgis.com/experience/6f8868c4477e462b8a653a89260268fc/page/INCIDENT(S)/#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-Emergency_Response_OEM_Public_2766%3A187
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation notices due to the Flat Top Fire. This information is posted on the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership Facebook page: facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO.
Weather conditions are forecasted to moderate starting Wednesday which should help fire suppression efforts.
Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
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