Winds push new Cat Rock Fire to over 200 acres north of Prineville; Crook Co. SO reduces Level 3 evacuations to Level 2
(Update Saturday evening from sheriff's office)
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new wildfire fanned by heat and wind spread Saturday afternoon and evening near McKay Creek, about six miles north of Prineville, burning over 200 acres and prompting Level 3 GO NOW evacuations, but an air and ground attack helped Crook County authorities reduce it to Level 2 BE SET by nightfall.
The Cat Rock Fire was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. and first reports from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office indicated it had burned 20 to 30 acres and was moving south and southeast in grass, brush and timbers, threatening structures. A later estimate put the size at about 500 acres, but Watch Duty later reported a mapping put the size at 219 acres.
Federal, state and Crook County Fire & Rescue crews tackled the blaze, with several aerial resources also on scene, including air attack, air tankers and a helicopter supporting engines on the ground.
In the first of a series of videos on the sheriff’s office Facebook page, Lt. Mitch Madden said the Level 3 GO NOW was for about a mile south of the intersection of McKay Creek and Gerke roads and a mile north of the intersection with NE Cat Rock Loop.
“Please evacuate if you can,” Madden said, also asking others to stay out of the area so firefighters can do their work. Madden also said the west side of McKay Creek was not in danger.
A Level 2 BE SET pre-evacuation alert was issued from the 1800 block of McKay Creek Road south to NE Dry Creek Road.
Undersheriff Bill Elliott said a shelter was being set up at Gary Foster Hall at the Crook County Fairgrounds for any livestock that needs to be moved. He said Barn 13 has 20 stalls they can move animals to.
In an update around 7:30 p.m., Madden said crews were still fighting the blaze, dropping retardant, and said people are not allowed up McKay Creek Road.
"We're trying to put the fire out as quickly as he can," Madden said.
Around 9:30 p.m. Madden said the Level 3 evacuation along McKay Road had been lowered to Level 2, allowing people to return to their homes, but advising they need to be ready to go in case the fire flares up again.
"Fire and law enforcement personnel will remain in the area throughout the night.," a sheriff's office posting late Saturday night said, adding, "At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown."
Madden also said earlier that power was cut in the area, and Pacific Power's outage map showed 94 customers under an emergency de-energization. The map later showed that outage had ended, but an area northwest of Prineville had anear 800 customers in a new outage that was being investigated.
