New wildfire south of Bend lined at 64 acres; China Hat Road reopened

(Update: Fire has initial line around it, at 64 acres; cause under investigation)

Residents, others urged to avoid popular recreation area

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new wildfire that broke out late Sunday about a mile south of Boyd Cave and nine miles south of Bend has burned an estimated 64 acres, but crews working through the night got an early containment line around it, officials said Monday.

The Swamp Wells Trail Fire on the Deschutes National Forest put up a tall smoke plume visible for miles and prompted a major firefighter call-out to tackle it, as well as closure of China Hat Road in the area.

The blaze also sparked many calls to dispatchers and officials from worried residents amid continued heat, tinder-dry conditions and major wildfires being battled around the state.

Incident 610, as it was first known, was reported shortly after 5 p.m., burning about a mile southeast of Boyd Cave near the Swamp Wells Trailhead, fire information spokeswoman Jean Nelson-Dean said. It had grown to about 40 acres about 90 minutes later and to 50 acres by 8 p.m., moving toward the southeast.

Two large air tankers, a helicopter, an initial air attack plane, three single-engine air tankers (SEAT planes), hand crews and bulldozers were sent to the scene, Nelson-Dean said, adding that the new fire had “the potential to grow rapidly.”

However, bulldozer and other crews "worked through the night," Nelson-Dean said Monday morning, "and the fire now has preliminary containment line constructed around the perimeter."

She said crews will work to continue to hold and secure lines Monday, with assistance from heavy helicopters dropping water on hot spots. Air tankers are also available from Redmond, if fire behavior increases.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 incident management team under the command of Jeff Priest is managing the fire.

China Hat Road was closed at milepost 9, at the end of the pavement near Boyd Cave, according to Deschutes County sheriff's Sgt. Nathan Garibay, who added they were "asking people to stay out of the area."

Monday morning, Garibay said the road had reopened, but that there will be road guards on side roads leading to the fire area. He still urged the public to "stay out of the area, as there is increased fire traffic."

No structures were in the immediate vicinity, which is a very popular recreation area, Nelson-Dean said.

Follow updates at https://twitter.com/CentralORFire.