Bend Fire urges residents to sign up for Deschutes Alerts, practice evacuation routes amid wildfire concerns

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend Fire and Rescue is currently receiving numerous public inquiries concerning wildfire safety, emergency alerts and evacuation plans amid local smoke and fire conditions. Officials are advising residents to sign up for Deschutes County Alerts and to practice potential evacuation routes.

Many residents are worried about knowing when to evacuate during a wildfire emergency. The Deschutes County alert system provides direct notifications for emergencies or evacuations through email or phone number registration, including landlines.

Bend Fire also recommends that residents practice their evacuation routes to prepare for low-visibility conditions. Melissa Steele, Deputy Fire Marshal of Wildfire Preparedness for Bend Fire and Rescue, emphasized the importance of knowing multiple ways out of a community.

“We always encourage people, not during fire season, to go get lost,” Steele said. “Go find some different routes on how to get out of your community. It's good to know those routes because in an evacuation, it's not always a blue sky day. You're going to have lots of smoke that you're going to be breathing in, you're going to have embers raining down on you. And it could be pitch black, dark. So this isn't an easy evacuation. You want to know those routes.”

For additional questions, residents can contact Bend Fire through its non-emergency number, 541-693-6911. Bend Fire and Rescue also assists with making arrangements for individuals with mobility issues or with medical equipment who may require help during an evacuation.