A wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon on Crooked River National Grassland southwest of Culver has prompted evacuations.
Firefighters worked through the night on the Grandview Fire, burning on private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Crooked River National Grassland managed by the US Forest Service.
By morning, crews and dozers had preliminary containment lines or retardant around the majority of the 4,000 acre fire area 8 miles east of Black Butte, west of Whychus Creek. Fire behavior was extremely active yesterday afternoon and through the evening hours and crews were challenged by numerous spot fires and group tree torching. Today, fire growth has been westerly, pushed by an east wind but forecasted northwest winds are beginning to push on preliminary fire lines to the south. A Central Oregon task force of structure fire engines, including one from Marion County, have been focused on point protection around Holmes Road and Squaw Creek Canyon Estates.
Today, crews are holding and securing the fire lines put in place by several dozers with the assistance of five large air tankers dropping retardant to decrease fire behavior, and two helicopters dropping water to cool hot spots. A Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) Type 3 team has been in command of the fire and will transition to a Type 1 Oregon Department of Forestry team at 6:00 p.m. today.
For up-to-date information on the Grandview Fire, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7651/
posted earlier: Incident #558, the Grandview Fire, was reported at approximately 1:30 p.m. burning on Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands and the Crooked River National Grassland. The fire rapidly spread through grass and juniper. Numerous resources were mobilized to the fire, including wildland engines, dozers, resources from structural agencies, and contract crews. Single engine air tankers (SEATs) and large air tankers continued to drop retardant on the fire until dark. Late this afternoon management of the fire transitioned to the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Interagency Type 3, Incident Commander Caldwell. The fire is currently estimated at 2,000 acres with 0% containment. Firefighters worked through the night. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Evacuations are in place for residents in Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Information for the evacuations can be found at https://www.facebook.com/JeffersonCountyORSheriff/ for Jefferson County and https://www.deschutes.org/sheriff/page/emergency-information for Deschutes County. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Howard, will be in-briefed Monday at 12:00 p.m., with plans to take command of the fire at 6:00 p.m.
The Newberry Fire, Incident #559, located near LaPine in the Rosland Road area burned 54 acres before crews were able to complete fireline around the perimeter. Level 1 evacuations were implemented as a precaution for residents near the fire, but these have since been lifted. Firefighters worked to secure the fire late into the night. The cause of this fire is under investigation. Resources on the fire Sunday included dozers, hand crews, water tenders and wildland engines with support from air resources. Monday, firefighters will work to secure the fire and begin mop-up.
Firefighters from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center responded to four wildfires Sunday. Two of these fires, incidents #556 and #561 were contained at less than a tenth of an acre.
