Oregon forestry team deploys to Central Oregon to fight lightning fires

The Oregon Department of Forestry is deploying its Complex Incident Management Team 2 to central Oregon to manage multiple wildfires in the Prineville and Sisters area. The team will oversee the Brewer fire, estimated at more than 3,000 acres; the Akawa fire, at more than 3,200 acres; and the Pilot fire, at 100 acres.

This all-Oregon Department of Forestry-staffed team will coordinate current and additional personnel and equipment assigned to the incidents. The deployment addresses challenging conditions as dry fuels and continued warm weather contribute to the fires' intensity and necessitate additional resources.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has issued a Level 1 evacuation notice for the Brewer fire and Level 1 and Level 2 notices for the Akawa fire. For the Pilot fire, the Cook County Sheriff's Office has issued a Level 1 evacuation notice.

All three fires were caused by lightning. The Brewer fire started Thursday, while the Pilot and Akawa fires ignited Friday.

Rain in the area Thursday night and Friday was not enough to significantly impact the fires. This lack of sufficient moisture, combined with dry fuels on the ground and continued warm weather, makes fighting the fires challenging.

The public is urged to avoid these areas due to heavy firefighting traffic and possible road closures. The incident command is expected to be in Sisters, Ore.

The management team is scheduled for an in-brief Saturday at noon and will then take over management of the fires at 6 p.m. Saturday.