Firefighters are continuing suppression efforts on the Pine Fire located approximately 22 miles southeast of Bend, south of Highway 20 and south of Pine Mountain in the Kotzman Basin area.
Resources have established a preliminary dozer line around the fire and working to further bolster the perimeter to keep the fire in its current footprint. The fire has not had significant growth today with most of the burning occurring within the interior of the existing footprint. Crews are constructing line directly adjacent to the fire’s edge where feasible.
Better fire mapping during the day shows the fire currently at 6537 acres and 25% contained.
Coordination with power companies has been made and they are re-energizing large, high voltage power lines through the area.
This is a multiagency response with resources from federal, state and municipal agencies.
The Bureau of Land Management Prineville District has issued a temporary fire closure order and map that can be read at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued the following evacuation notices:
- Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notice:
o Public lands on and immediately surrounding Pine Mountain including Antelope Ridge and Kotzman Basin.
o West of Moffitt Rd. south of Hwy. 20 to Fox Butte Rd.
- Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notice:
o South of Hwy 20 west of Fox Butte Rd. north of the National Forest, east of Pine Mountain Rd.
People are encouraged to go to www.deschutes.org/emergency for current evacuation information and to view an interactive evacuation map.
The fire is currently burning on the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management land. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued an emergency temporary closure associated with the Pine Fire, on lands administered by the BLM in central Oregon.
This Emergency Closure Order will remain in effect until such time as conditions allow for safe use of the public lands. Access to the below described lands will remain restricted until further notice.
The following BLM-managed lands in Deschutes County are affect by this closure, including the South Millican Off Highway Vehicle area: T. 20 S., R. 15 E. (all); T. 20 S., R. 16 E. (south of Hwy 20); T. 20 S., R. 17 E. (south of Hwy 20); T. 21 S., R. 15, 16, 17 E. (all)
The signed closure order and map are available online at this link: https://www.blm.gov/programs/
This order is effective immediately.
“We ask that the public to honor this closure, watch for fire vehicle activity on the roadways and be aware there may be significant activity on federal lands,” said Amanda Roberts, Prineville District Manager. “Our main goal is to keep the public, and everyone responding to the Pine Fire as safe as possible. We believe this closure order helps us achieve that goal.”
For more information on Oregon/Washington Fire Closures and Restrictions, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/
