Two new wildfires north of Wickiup Reservoir, at Round Mountain have burned total of 70 acres, prompt area evacuations
(Update: New acreage figures, details)
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Most of the new lightning-sparked wildfires around the region were stopped small Wednesday, but two grew to burn about 70 acres in total north of Wickiup Reservoir and on nearby Round Mountain, prompting Level 3 (GO NOW), Level 2 (BE SET) and Level 1 (BE READY) evacuations in the area.
Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 17, 2024 (8:30 pm)
After last night’s lightning activity and continued hot, dry weather in Central Oregon, several wildfires started today and fire activity picked up this afternoon. Reconnaissance flights, lookouts and ground crews identified several fire starts. Firefighters have responded to over 15 fires in the last 24 hours. Of those fires, 13 have been contained or controlled by fire crews and aerial resources, with most less than a tenth of an acre.
The Round Mountain and Wickiup fires are burning on the Deschutes National Forest north of Wickiup Reservoir. Resources responded this afternoon and currently engines, crews, dozers and overhead resources are on scene of the two fires. Aerial resources include air attack and 6 single engine air tankers (SEATs).
The Round Mountain Fire is estimated at about 30 acres and Wickiup Fire at about 40 acres.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 (Go Now) and Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation notices north of Wickiup Reservoir. An interactive map of evacuations is available here:
Level 3: Go Now: National Forest area north of Wickiup, Forest Service Road 4262 and Forest Service Road 4380 and south of Forest Service Road 42 (South Century Drive)
Level 2: Be Set: National Forest area between Road 4380 and the Deschutes River including Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds and private inholdings along the west side of the river at Haner Park
Level 1: Be Ready: Haner Park subdivision east of the Deschutes River
The Red Fire, also burning on the Deschutes National Forest, is in the Diamond Peak Wilderness located in steep terrain northwest of Crescent Lake near Red Mountain. Smokejumpers have responded and this afternoon fire bosses (single engine scoopers) were used. The fire is currently estimated at about 50 acres. Incident 439 is also in the vicinity northwest of Crescent Lake and firefighters have constructed fire line around the 0.1-acre fire.
Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said in a posting around 6 p.m. on its Facebook page it was on scene assisting with evacuations near Wickiup Reservoir.
The La Pine Rural Fire District said crews were working through the night to establish containment lines.
Find the interactive maps at http://www.deschutes.org/emergency. You can also see the Deschutes Alerts and their individual maps and descriptions on this page: https://member.everbridge.net/892807736723736/notif
