Storms hit C.O. with hail, damaging winds and lightning-sparked fires; Elk Lane Fire grows to 2,700 acres
(Update: Monday morning updates; Elk Lane Fire at 2,700 acres)
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Thunderstorms moving through Central Oregon Sunday evening brought heavy rain in Bend, hail in Prineville, damaging wind that toppled trees and knocked out power in Madras and Terrebonne and lightning that sparked several new wildfires, one growing fast to 2,700 acres northwest of Madras, prompting evacuations and task force call-ups.
Crews worked hard overnight to stop the Elk Lane Fire, officials said Monday morning, adding that a Type 3 team had been ordered.
Officials tweeted earlier that interagency resources responded to about 13 smoke reports from the passing thunderstorms, including the three wildfires of notable size.
Incident 604, named the Elk Lane Fire, had burned about 300 acres by late Sunday night an 2,700 acres by Monday morning about seven miles northwest of Madras.
Another fire, Incident 596, named the Bennett Fire, began five miles northeast of Antelope, at about 400 acres by Monday morning, prompting Level 3 evacuation of the small, historic town and Level 1 BE READY for Shaniko, but officials said "crews made good progress overnight." Incident 598, the Wildhorse Fire, located 10 miles south of Spray, was estimated at 60 acres Monday morning, burning in "very challenging terrain."
The Jefferson County fire quickly spread to about 300 acres from the Elk Drive and Belmont Lane area northwest of Madras, prompting a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation and call-up of two regional structure-protection task forces, with Level 2 and Level 1 evacuations to the south. Two areas were raised to Level 3 and Level 2 later Sunday night, with no Level 1 areas remaining. The latest Jefferson County Sheriff's Office map can be seen here.
Sheriff's deputies said the fire was moving south-southwest and that Belmont Lane was shut from the PGE gates to SW Columbia. Residents were asked to avoid Mountain View Drive for fire apparatus.
The Jefferson County Fairgrounds parking lot was established as a temporary evacuation site for anyone displaced by the fire.
One Madras resident said around 7:30 p.m. that a “micro-cell” was moving through the area, knocking down trees and destroying roofs along Highway 97. They said they were helping State Police remove trees from the road.
Terrebonne-area rancher Travis Schwerbel shared photos after trees fell onto and heavily damaged a pickup truck and a shop, also hitting the corner of his house. He said no one was hurt but there were downed trees and damage at several properties along Ice Avenue.
Pacific Power reported nearly 2,700 customers without power from Terrebonne north into Jefferson County Sunday evening. That number was reduced to about 1,000 by 10 p.m. Get updates here.
To the north, the Antelope Fire prompted the Wasco County Sheriff's Office around 8 p.m. to issue a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation for the city of Antelope, saying: "Leave without delay." The Shaniko Schoolhouse was a temporary shelter for evacuees.
