Crazy Creek Fire still growing, now tops 81,000 acres – but containment also on the rise, at 60%

PAULINA, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The nearly 3-week-old Crazy Creek Fire has grown to over 81,000 acres in Crook and Wheeler counties, but as a new management team out of California assumes command, firefighters also are making strong progress on containment, which rose from 50% Friday to $60% as of Saturday.

Crazy Creek Fire containment grows; incident management transferred to California Incident Management Team 1

Daily Update August 10, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 541-208-1768 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.)

Email: 2024.crazycreek@firenet.gov

Acres*: Crazy Creek – 81,085, 60% contained

Kitty Creek– 73, 100% contained

*Acreage changes may occur due to overnight operations and infrared mapping.

Location: Crazy Creek: 5 miles north of Paulina, Oregon; 498/Kitty Creek: 7 miles south of Mitchell, Oregon

Start Date: July 22, 2024 Personnel: 629

Resources: 14 crews | 1 helicopter | 24 engines | 11 bulldozers | 16 water tenders | 3 masticators | 27 skid steers

Highlights: Containment of the Crazy Creek Fire grew to 60 percent, from 50 percent reported Friday, Aug. 9. California Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. today (Saturday).

Firefighters on the southern and western portions of the fire worked to strengthen containment lines by extinguishing pockets of residual heat and adding depth to the containment line by burning vegetation from the containment line back toward the fire. Available crews and resources were shifted to assist firefighters on the northeast portion of the fire, particularly to bolster containment lines in the Bear Mountain and East Wolf Creek areas.

Crews completed protection perimeters around recreation structures located along Forest Road 5820 at the eastern perimeter of the fire.

Evacuations: Evacuation orders remain in effect for areas in Crook and Wheeler counties for areas in or near the fire. Level 3 evacuations have extended from the Forest Boundary to Highway 380. Level 2 evacuations have extended south of Highway 380. For further information, please refer to the Crook County Office of Emergency Management evacuation map.

Weather: Hot, dry weather continues through the weekend across the region, with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s, light wind and low humidity.

Importance of Fire Prevention: All public lands in Central Oregon, to include the Ochoco National Forest are in Stage 2 Public Use (Fire) Restrictions. All open flames, including woodstoves and charcoal briquette fires are prohibited. In times of high fire danger, it is crucial for everyone to follow fire prevention measures to avoid additional strain on overburdened resources. The public's cooperation in adhering to fire bans and restrictions is vital to prevent new fires from starting and to help our firefighters focus on containing the existing fires. Learn more at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ochoco/alerts-notices/....

Fire Restrictions and Closures: The Ochoco National Forest has implemented a forest closure for the Paulina Ranger District. More information can be found at fs.usda.gov/alerts/ochoco/alerts-notices/?aid=89203. Bureau of Land Management has issued a temporary closure for public lands in Crook and Grant Counties. More information is available at https://www.blm.gov/.../orwa-fpo-pri-paulina080224.pdf.

More Information:

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident.../orocf-crazy-creek

Facebook: Crazy Creek Fire

Central Oregon Wildfire Information: https://centraloregonfire.org/

Crook County Emergency Information Map: https://arcg.is/1ij0vb