Yesterday the Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires experienced warm, dry and breezy conditions, contributing to increased consumption of fuels within the fire perimeter. While this resulted in increased smoke production across the area, it also strengthened containment lines by reducing available vegetation between the main front of the fire and containment lines. Lucky Butte, 911, 846 and Backside Fires were monitored by air. Fire 846 in the Kwohl Butte area is about three acres. It showed increased activity yesterday so a crew of eight rappellers were inserted late in the day.
Bachelor Complex: Small strategic burning operations took place on Little Lava Fire yesterday to remove internal pockets of unburned fuels near control lines. These strategic firing operations were implemented using an Unstaffed Aerial System (UAS), commonly known as a drone, to start the ignition. Firefighters worked the northern edge of the fire making progress towards the Edison Trail 3. Along Forest Service Road 45, firefighters started dismantling hose lays, backhauling truckloads of firehose. Suppression repair work is ongoing, and firefighters will patrol and mop up any sources of heat found along control lines, as well as backhauling more hose from the fireline.
Flat Top Fire: On the northwest corner of the Flat Top Fire a burnout operation was completed to secure the remaining open control line on the fire. In the northwest area of the fire, south of the South Lava Trailhead, an engine and dozer provided structure protection for recreation infrastructure. Today, crews will continue mopping-up, chipping brush and doing suppression repair as needed. Firefighters will continue to mop up to strengthen containment lines around the perimeter of the fire.
Firestone Fire: Mop-up continued yesterday on the Firestone Fire. Firefighters continued working in the area of the burnout along Forest Service Road 100 adding depth to strengthen the effectiveness of control lines. Today’s plan for the Firestone Fire is to continue mop-up, patrol, chipping and suppression repair where needed.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Warm and dry conditions continue. Low humidity recovery overnight and dry daytime airmass will result in another early start to the burn period today, with several hours of active burning starting mid-day. The threat of isolated torching will diminish daily as there is less heat present under the tree canopy in the interior of the fire and adjacent to containment lines.
Closures: While evacuations have been lifted, there are two temporary 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
