Lightning strikes have ignited nearly two dozen fires across Central Oregon this week, the largest of which is the Willow Fire now estimated to be 1,000 acres with the head of the fire on the east side of Buck Creek, nearly reaching the border of the Malheur National Forest. The Willow Fire is 0% contained as of Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
BLM and USFS engines, dozers and a skidgen, along with Brothers-Hampton Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) resources remain engaged on the Willow Fire today and will be working in more favorable weather conditions with higher relative humidities and lower winds. Crook County has issued evacuation orders for the Willow Fire, including Level 3 GO NOW evacuations for the immediate area around Willow Butte, as well as Level 2 BE SET evacuations south of the fire. Multiple air resources will be available again today to assist firefighters on the ground in cooling hot spots and establishing and securing the fire perimeter, and protecting values at risk, including private land infrastructure and sage grouse habitat. A Type 3 Incident Commander, James Purswell, remains in command of incident operations, but the Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team that is currently at the helm of the Sunrise Fire will be assuming command of the Willow Fire later today. The Sunrise Fire is now 80% contained at 307 acres in the South Fork Wilderness Study Area and will transition to a Type 4 Incident Management Team to complete full mop up and containment of the fire.
The Foley Creek Fire, remains approximately 30 acres burning on private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), 20 miles north of Prineville and is now 60% contained.
The Board Hollow Fire is in the same area as the Foley Creek area and is also on private lands protected by the ODF. The Board Hollow Fire is 21.5 acres and is also 60% contained
Dry Creek Fire near juniper canyon outside of Prineville has transitioned from Prineville BLM command back to Crook County Fire and Rescue. The fire is contained and staffed.
Trout Creek Fire is 8 acres burning in timber and grass approximately 2 miles northwest of rooster rock, 18 miles northeast of Prineville. All fire lines held over night and firefighters are completing mop up of the entire fire area today.
Firefighters with the US Forest Service and BLM, along with Oregon Department of Forestry will continue to remain vigilant for new starts that result from lightning earlier in the week. As resources continue to work these fires, the public is reminded to careful with all ignition sources, especially with forecast high temperatures this weekend. Do your part to prevent one more spark.
Information on all fires in Central Oregon will be posted on the only official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org or 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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Firefighters responded to seven new fires Wednesday, including the Willow Fire burning on Prineville District BLM land 20 miles north of Glass Butte.
The Willow Fire is now estimated to be 800 acres. BLM and USFS engines, dozers and a skidgen, along with Brothers-Hampton Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) resources are responding to the blaze along with Type 3 Incident Commander, James Purswell. Multiple aerial resources have supported firefighting efforts today, including heavy helicopters and a Large Air Tanker (LAT) providing retardant drops to slow growth and protect values at risk, including private land infrastructure and sage grouse habitat.
Crook County has issued evacuation orders for the Willow Fire, including Level 3 GO NOW evacuations for the immediate area around Willow Butte, as well as Level 2 BE SET evacuations south of the fire. The fire remains 0% contained and firefighters will stay on the fire through the evening hours to construct fire line and establish an anchor point and fire perimeter.
The other 6 new fires in Central Oregon have been staffed and all remain under one acre at this time.
Information on this fire will be posted on the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org or on X/Twitter @CentralORfire.
Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
