Multiple wildfires have merged as crews now battle the Crosswhite West fire near Prineville
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Multiple wildfires burning near Prineville have merged into a larger fire now being called the Crosswhite West Fire.
The Crosswhite, Brewer, Box Springs, and Green Mountain fires are now being managed together as part of the Rowe Creek Complex West Zone. Officials say the combined fire is burning over a quarter-million acres.
Derek Gasperini, public information officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry, said the extreme fire conditions in Central Oregon played a major role in driving the fires together.
“Under the extreme fire conditions that we've had -- driven by red flag weather, high winds, high temperatures, low relative humidity, and over 10,000 lightning strikes in the last week here in Central Oregon -- [these] fires merged into the Crosswhite Fire,” Gasperini said.
With the fires forming one larger footprint, crews are focused on holding control lines and protecting neighborhoods, roads and natural resources.
“We had to kind of reassess and reevaluate how we were able to suppress and contain these emerging fires with really active fire behavior. Again, our first priority is always life and property,” Gasperini added.
Firefighters are mopping up cooler areas while working to secure the southern edge north of Prineville. Helicopters are also helping from the air with bucket drops, when weather allows.
“We've got helicopters that are picking up water and dropping to cool those hotspots, so our hand crews and dozer crews can scratch fire line on the ground. That really starts to build containment of these fires," Gasperini said.
The fire’s scale and proximity have left some longtime residents anxious. Andrea White, a Prineville resident for over 20 years, said the fire has been difficult to watch.
“It's really sad to see our woods burn down and all the wildlife, all these people just scared, terrified to lose their homes. You worry constantly, like on a daily basis. It's really scary," White said.
Though nerves are running high for some Crook County residents, the community's gratitude for fire crews is clear.
"These firefighters, they are doing amazing. They are doing such good jobs. I'm so proud of all of them and so thankful for all of their help," White added.
Officials say evacuations and road closures can change quickly, and residents should continue to follow county alerts and avoid anything that could spark another fire.
