Storms hit C.O. with rain, hail, damaging winds and lightning; 300-acre fire NW of Madras prompts evacuations
(Update: Two of three large fires named, prompt evacuations, including town of Antelope)
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Thunderstorms moved through Central Oregon Sunday evening, bringing heavy rain in Bend, hail in Prineville, damaging wind that toppled trees and knocked out power in Madras and Terrebonne and lightning that sparked several new wildfires, one at 300 acres northwest of Madras prompting evacuations and task force call-ups.
Central Oregon fire officials tweeted that interagency resources were responding to about 13 smoke reports from the passing thunderstorms, including three wildfires of notable size.
Incident 604, named the Elk Lane Fire, had burned about 300 acres seven miles northwest of Madras. Another fire, Incident 596, named the Bennett Fire, began five miles northeast of Antelope, at about 250 acres prompting evacuation of the small, historic town, while Incident 598, 10 miles south of Spray, was estimated at 60 acres.
"Firefighters will continue to work into the night on these wildfires and the other new starts across Central Oregon," officials said.
The Jefferson County fire quickly spread to about 300 acres from the Elk Drive and Belmont Lane area northwest of Madras, prompting a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation and call-up of two regional structure-protection task forces, with Level 2 and Level 1 evacuations to the south. Two areas were raised to Level 3 and Level 2 later Sunday night, with no Level 1 areas remaining. The latest Jefferson County Sheriff's Office map can be seen here.
Sheriff's deputies said the fire was moving south-southwest and that Belmont Lane was shut from the PGE gates to SW Columbia. Residents were asked to avoid Mountain View Drive for fire apparatus.
The Jefferson County Fairgrounds parking lot was established as a temporary evacuation site for anyone displaced by the fire.
One Madras resident said around 7:30 p.m. that a “micro-cell” was moving through the area, knocking down trees and destroying roofs along Highway 97. They said they were helping State Police remove trees from the road.
Terrebonne-area rancher Travis Schwerbel shared photos after trees fell onto and heavily damaged a pickup truck and a shop, also hitting the corner of his house. He said no one was hurt but there were downed trees and damage at several properties along Ice Avenue.
Pacific Power reported nearly 2,700 customers without power from Terrebonne north into Jefferson County Sunday evening. That number was reduced to about 1,000 by 10 p.m. Get updates here.
To the north, the Antelope Fire prompted the Wasco County Sheriff's Office around 8 p.m. to issue a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation for the city of Antelope, saying: "Leave without delay." The Shaniko Schoolhouse was a temporary shelter for evacuees. WildCAD later Sunday night had a 500-acre estimate for the blaze.
