Wickiup and Round Mountain wildfires grow to about 250 acres total after afternoon of active fire behavior

(Update: New Thursday night acreage figures, details)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two wildfires north of Wickiup Reservoir and on Round Mountain had burned about 250 acres total by Thursday night after an afternoon of active fire behavior, officials said in an update.

The Wickiup Fire was at about 200 acres and 0% contained, but in an update, officials said bulldozers "are making good progress constructing primary line along the fire's perimeter after this afternoon's active fire behavior."

The Round Mountain Fire had burned about 50 acres, also 0% contained and also experiencing active fire behavior," they said.

Two fires north of Wickiup Reservoir and on Round Mountain have now burned over 150 acres, prompting area evacuations and the closure of some campgrounds and Forest Service roads. Both are still 0% contained, officials said Thursday.

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 18, 2024

Today, firefighters will continue fire suppression work on the Round Mountain, Wickiup and Red Fires burning on the Deschutes National Forest.

The Round Mountain and Wickiup Fires are burning approximately seven miles northwest of La Pine and just north of Wickiup Reservoir. The Central Oregon Type 3 Team took command of the fires this morning at 6 a.m. and are now managing both incidents under the name Round Mountain Fire.

Last night, firefighters worked through the night to construct dozer line around the entire perimeter of the Wickiup Fire. Today firefighters will continue to secure the established line and search for potential spots outside of existing lines. The Wickiup Fire is currently mapped at 135 acres and is 0% contained.

Firefighters were successful in constructing line around 75% of the Round Mountain Fire yesterday and are focused on completing line construction around the perimeter today. The Round Mountain Fire is currently mapped at 20 acres and is 0% contained.

Resources on scene of both incidents include engines, crews, dozers and overhead resources. Yesterday firefighters on the ground were supported by aerial resources include air attack, six single engine air tankers (SEATs) and a Type 1 helicopter. Today, aerial resources will be available again, with air attack and a Type 1 helicopter reporting to the incident this morning.

The causes of both fires are under investigation.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 (Go Now), Level 2 (Get Set) and Level 1 (Be Ready) 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

Forest Service Roads 4380, 4260 and 4262 in the vicinity of the Wickiup Fire are currently barricaded for public and firefighter safety during active fire suppression activities. Forest Service Roads 42 and 43 remain open; however, the public is asked to use caution as firefighters and firefighting traffic is present.

The Gull Point and South Twin Lakes areas remain open. Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds are currently closed. North Twin Lake Campground remains closed and is being used to support firefighting operations.

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 Redtop Mountain. Smokejumpers and fire bosses (single engine scoopers) responded yesterday. The fire is currently estimated at about 60 acres. A Type 3 incident management team will assume command of the fire tomorrow at 6 a.m.

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