With continued success of fire operations and improved conditions, fire managers are recommending dropping all evacuation notices on the Firestone and Flat Top Fires. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office are lowering all evacuation levels to normal status today.
Even though evacuation levels are dropped, there will be continued hazards near the fires and fire operations. The Deschutes National Forest has implemented an Emergency Forest Closure around these fires.
For more information please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/
For up to date incident information, go to: http://deschutes.org/emergency
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Monday, firefighters took advantage of favorable weather conditions and moderated fire behavior on the Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires. On the Little Lava Fire, firefighters constructed fireline along the western, southern and northern flanks of the fire, conducted successful burnout operations along the southern perimeter to further secure control lines and continued mop-up operations. On the Firestone Fire, mop-up continued on the western and eastern flanks of the fire and direct handline was constructed south of Forest Service Road (FSR) 650. Mop-up operations and hazard tree felling continued on the Flat Top Fire.
Bachelor Complex: Mop-up operations are complete on the Backside and 911 incidents and both fires will continue to be monitored by air. The Lucky Butte Fire is also being monitored by unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Mop-up operations, hazard tree removal and suppression repair work will continue along the western and southern perimeters of the Little Lava Fire. Hand and dozer line construction is ongoing along the northern flank working west from FSR 45. Firefighters are also constructing indirect fireline along a portion of the southern edge where terrain is too rough for heavy equipment or firefighters to construct direct control lines along the fire’s edge. Crews plan to conduct strategic burning operations along this section of indirect line when weather conditions are favorable to secure the line by removing fuel ahead of the fire.
Flat Top Fire: Today, firefighters will continue to mop-up and secure the perimeter to ensure that fire remains within the established control lines. Crews will continue to monitor for heat within the fire perimeter and extinguish any hot spots as needed. Resources are also removing hazard trees along road systems and near the fire’s edge and starting to repair suppression activities around the perimeter.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Today, fire behavior is expected to be more active than yesterday due to lower relative humidity levels. Winds will be out of the west, northwest gusting up to 20 mph on the Flat Top and Firestone incidents and 20-25 mph over the Bachelor Complex. There is a 5% chance of rain overnight.
Evacuations: Emergency management and fire officials are reevaluating evacuation levels daily. Level 3 evacuations mean “Go Now,” Level 2 means “Be Set” and Level 1 means “Be Ready.” To view current evacuation levels, please visit the Deschutes County Emergency Information Interactive Map at: http://www.deschutes.org/
Closures: There are two emergency closure areas on the Deschutes National Forest for these fires. View the updated closure orders and maps on the Deschutes National Forest site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
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