Community meeting 6:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, September 20, at Three Rivers School cafeteria in Sunriver and online at www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest .
Firefighters continued to make progress adding depth to further strengthen control lines. Firefighters capitalized on favorable weather and vegetation moisture levels to implement successful burnout operations utilizing both hand and aerial ignition on Little Lava and Firestone Fires. Helicopters supplied bucket drops of water in support of the burn out operations. Aerial patrol and thermal imaging on the Backside and 911 Fires revealed no concentrations of heat. These fires will continue to be patrolled by air for the next several days. Lucky Butte and 846 Fires have limited fuel availability and are also in patrol status.
The northwest corner of the Flat Top Fire was prepared for strategic burning operations. Crews mopped up and secured fire lines while also completing suppression repair work.
Bachelor Complex: Today on the Little Lava Fire, mop-up will continue in the area of yesterday’s burnout along the southern edge. Suppression repair work is ongoing and firefighters will be mopping up any sources of heat along the established control line on the northern side of the Little Lava Fire.
Flat Top Fire: Hose lays and control lines are in place in preparation for a strategic firing operation on the northwest corner of the Flat Top Fire today, should conditions allow. Patrols, mop-up, brush chipping and suppression repair work are ongoing.
Firestone Fire: Mop-up, patrol, brush chipping and suppression repair work continue.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Elevated, to near critical fire weather is predicted for later today. Firefighters will be alert for winds that may test containment lines. Critically dry air will bring minimum relative humidity down to the mid-teens to low 20s. Increased north to north-westerly flow is expected in the afternoon over both fire areas. Mild and dry conditions continue through the weekend before stronger high pressure brings warmer temperatures early to mid-next week.
Closures: There are two emergency Fire Closure areas on the Deschutes National Forest. To view the updated closure orders and maps, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-bachelor-complex-fires
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CentralOregonFireInfo?app=desktop
Fire Information Line: (541) 249-9829, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Smoke & Air Quality Information: fire.airnow.gov
