Brush fire threatening Bend’s north end stopped by major air, ground attack: evacuation levels adjusted a day later
(Update: Evacuation levels adjusted)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fast-moving brush fire broke out Friday afternoon in or near an area just north of Bend called “Dirt World,” sending up thick, billowing smoke as numerous firefighters, air tankers and helicopters tackled the blaze, which prompted widespread evacuations, a power outage and major traffic jams.
But before nightfall, a major ground and air battle stopped the blaze before it could reach the mobile home parks and neighborhoods nearby.
Kelsey McGee is getting the latest info Saturday and talking with Deschutes County sheriff's Sgt. and Emergency Manager Nathan Garibay for her report on NewsChannel 21 at Six.
The fire, named the Mile Marker 132 Fire, was reported around 2:40 p.m. off Highway 97 near milepost 132 and had burned about 10 acres within an hour and was reported at 20 acres before 5:30 p.m.
“The fire is showing a rapid rate of spread, with spotting ahead,” fire officials said in their X/Twitter feed around 4 p.m. “Multiple aircraft have been ordered and air attack is currently on scene.”
Around 8 p.m., Central Oregon fire officials said in an X/Twitter update: "Due to the hard work of all the cooperating agencies, ground and air resources have stopped the forward progression on Mile Marker 132 fire. The 20-acre fire started just east of Hwy 97, north of Cooley Rd & south of Beechcraft Ln. All aircraft released by 7:20 pm and now mopping up."
Friday's fire started not far from where the Juniper Ridge Fire nearly four years ago in mid-August 2020 burned nearly 40 acres, also prompting evacuations on Bend's north end. That fire was traced to the hot engine exhaust of a motor home in contact with grass and brush. No cause has been released on the new blaze as the investigation begins.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office issued first a Level 1 BE SET around 3:30 p.m., then a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation alert around 4 p.m. for the area east of Highway 97 and north of Cooley Road. Around 4:45 p.m., the alert was dropped to Level 2 BE SET for the area form Cooley Road to Wagontire Way and north of there remained at Level 3.
The evacuation levels had some adjustments at midday Saturday, removing one area beside the highway north of Bend from any of the Level 1, 2 or 3 zones.
Here's that report from Garibay":
***UPDATE August 3, 2024 - 12:20 PM***
After consultation with fire managers, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has adjusted evacuation levels around the Mile Marker 132 Fire. Current evacuations levels are as follows:
Level 3 Go Now: Juniper Ridge areas east of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks, north of the city limits to the COID power generation facility.
Level 2 Be Set: The east side of Hwy 97 from the city limits north to Beechcraft Ln (private drive) and west of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks. Residential north of Cooley Rd. between NE 18th St and Hwy 97
Level 1 Be Ready: NE 18th, Talus Place, and residents along the west side of Deschutes Market Rd.
A temporary evacuation point and Red Cross shelter was set up at Mountain View High School. But before 9 p.m. came word from DCSO that it "has been closed due to lack of need. If shelter needs arise related to evacuations for the Mile Marker 132 Fire, contact 1-800-REDCROSS."
You can check the latest Deschutes Alert notifications at https://member.everbridge.net/892807736723736/notif and the latest evacuation map at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6f8868c4477e462b8a653a89260268fc
While firefighters from numerous agencies and air support tackled the fast-moving flames, police went door to door in several mobile home parks and affected neighborhoods including homes off Hunters Circle, advising people to leave, and most of those who did encountered backed-up traffic due to knocked-out traffic signals.
This fire broke out amid temperatures at or above 100 degrees and a red flag warning of critical fire weather after over 100 fires burned over 1.2 million acres across Oregon over the past month.
Pacific Power initially reported 14,000 customers lost power due to damage to a line, but that was down to about 3,700 shortly after 5 p.m. and about 1,500 two hours later. Repairs were completed and the last power was resorted around 11 p.m. Check the latest outage map here.
One lane of Highway 97 was blocked the first couple of hours of the firefight but later reopened amid reports around 5:30 p.m. of good progress on stopping the blaze by ground crews and air tankers.
