Yesterday firefighters responded to the Jackpine Fire approximately one and a half miles southwest of La Pine, south of Masten Road and west of Highway 97. Responding resources included engines, dozers, 10-person hand crews and overhead personnel from La Pine Rural Fire Protection District and neighboring fire departments, Oregon Department of Forestry, Walker Range Fire Patrol, Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. Firefighters on the ground were supported by air attack, air tankers and helicopters.
Firefighters completed preliminary dozer line construction around the perimeter of the fire last night. They conducted burn out operations to bring fire to the dozer line in places where they constructed indirect dozer line during initial attack due to significant fire activity. Firefighters have completed hose lays around 75% of the fire and will continue plumbing operations this morning. Today firefighters will continue to improve and secure line around the perimeter of the fire and cool hotspots to keep the fire within its current footprint. The fire remains on the west side of Highway 97. The fire is 180 acres after more accurate mapping and fire activity and is 0% contained.
Firefighters construct control line around a fire to establish a barrier to keep it from spreading. Containment is based on their confidence that a portion of the fire is secure, and the fire will not move beyond the control line. Firefighters may have control line around the perimeter of a fire, but until they are able to decrease fire activity along the edge of the control line and cool down hotspots, they do not consider that portion of the fire contained.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation notices west of Highway 97 and south of Masten Road to the county line. Stay up-to-date with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office evacuations using their interactive map available here. Klamath County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 (Be Ready) for both sides of Highway 97 south of the Deschutes County line including Long Prairie. Visit Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck.com for current information on Highway 97.
The fire is currently burning on the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Firefighters are also continuing suppression efforts on the Round Mountain and Wickiup Fires burning on the Deschutes National Forest. The Round Mountain and Wickiup Fires are burning approximately seven miles northwest of La Pine and just north of Wickiup Reservoir. The Central Oregon Type 3 Team is managing both incidents.
Yesterday firefighters on the Wickiup Fire made good progress completing preliminary dozer line around the perimeter of the fire. Today firefighters will work to secure and strengthen lines to keep the fire in its current footprint. The Wickiup Fire is currently mapped at 200 acres and is 5% contained.
The Round Mountain Fire is currently mapped at 50 acres and is 5% contained. Yesterday engines and crews on the ground were supported by aircraft to limit fire spread. Firefighters are continuing to prioritize keeping the fire as small as possible while also protecting the Round Mountain Lookout and associated infrastructure.
Resources on the Wickiup and Round Mountain fires include 4 handcrews, 11 engines, 4 dozers, 4 skidgeons, 3 water tenders, 4 fallers, and overhead resources. Firefighters on the ground continue to be supported by aerial resources. Both fires are under investigation.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 (Go Now), Level 2 (Get Set) and Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notices north of Wickiup Reservoir. An interactive map of evacuations is available here:
- Level 3 (Go Now): National Forest area north of Wickiup, Forest Service Road 4262 and Forest Service Road 4380 and south of Forest Service Road 42 (South Century Drive)
- Level 2 (Be Set): National Forest area between Road 4380 and the Deschutes River including Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds and private inholdings along the west side of the river at Haner Park
- Level 1 (Be Ready): Haner Park subdivision east of the Deschutes River
The Deschutes National Forest has issued area emergency closures for both the Wickiup Fire and the Round Mountain Fire. Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds and Tenino Boat Launch are currently closed. North Twin Lake Campground remains closed and is being used to support firefighting operations. The incident management team is in coordination with local officials in the event of potential fire growth.
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.
