Firefighters from across state help battle nearly 6,000-acre Grandview Fire, now 10% contained

(Update: New acreage figure, update, 10% contained)

Changing conditions offer hope of progress

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A growing army of nearly 700 firefighters has the nearly 6,000-acre Grandview Fire northeast of Sisters 10 percent contained, Wednesday morning's update stated.

Here's the full Tuesday morning update:

Firefighters successfully slowed the Grandview Fire, located nine miles northeast of Sisters, with minimal spotting as winds died down. The fire is estimated to be 5,971 acres and 10% contained as 694 firefighters secured lines on the easterly side.

The quick-developing Darlene Fire, near La Pine, pulled retardant-dropping air tankers away from the Grandview Fire mid-afternoon, leaving just two helicopters to support crews on the ground. Fortunately, three single engine air tankers (SEATs) were ordered out of Burns, which provided critical support to keep the fire in check where dozer lines ended.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today and Thursday. Predicted low relative humidity and winds between 10-20 mph (gusts to 25mph) out of the west will challenge containment lines on the fire’s eastern edge. Crews will continue to build and strengthen containment lines and burnout fuels adjacent to lines when conditions allow.

There are still homes and other structures at risk, but fortunately the fire lines that crews created around the south-eastern perimeter have proven to be very successful. Three structural task forces from the state of Washington arrived last night and will join the seven task forces that were already working to protect homes in the area.

 A virtual community meeting will take place on Facebook Live at 6:30 pm this evening. To access the meeting go to https://fb.me/e/2tGkRTQNl.

For up-to-date information on the Grandview Fire, visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7651/

There are evacuation notices in place issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

To see an interactive map of the latest evacuation zones, visit: https://arcg.is/CCvT5

Jurisdictional agencies tied to the fire include Oregon Department of Forestry Central Oregon District and Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grasslands.

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The Dundee Fire Department crew from Yamhill County had a full day Tuesday.

Fire Chief Brandon Hamilton described his last few hours to NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday from the fire line.

”We got activated at about 8:30 last night. And by the time we got mobilized and got on the road it was about 9:30. We pulled into camp a little after 1 this morning, and we bedded down, and we were at briefing at 5:30 this morning. We headed out to the fire line by 7 and we’ve been out here since.”

The Dundee Fire Department is on the lines because the governor has invoked the Conflagration Act in response to the Grandview Fire, burning northeast of Sisters.

“That allows the state fire marshal to mobilize resources from throughout the state to come and assist on these fires,” Hamilton said.

And there are plenty of resources. Helicopters, air tankers, lead planes and hand crews. There are more than 350 people working the fire.

“It’s tiring. But you know, in the fire service, we’re accustomed to that,” Hamilton said.

The dryness of the area of the fire has made it difficult to contain. On Monday, the fire jumped Whychus Creek.

“It doesn’t take much wind, and these dry fuels," Ochoco National Forest fire prevention specialist Stacy Lacey said. "It just takes one small ember to get out ahead of itself.”

Despite that, Lacey said crews are starting to make progress.

“So what we were seeing right here behind us actually is the fire has a wind on it currently that pushing it back into the black (already burned area),” Lacey said standing on a viewpoint of the fire.

That's good news for the residents of more than 400 structures threatened, as well as the firefighters working the blaze.

Red Cross has set up a temporary evacuation shelter at Sisters Middle School. The Deschutes County Fairgrounds is accepting animals. For the Pet Evacuation Team, call 541-610-6628. Please follow the Deschutes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DeschutesCountySheriff and https://www.jeffco.net/sheriff