New lightning-sparked wildfires pushed by winds burn 1,000s of acres across region, jump rivers, bring evacuations

(Update: Wildfires grow fast, large; 2 blazes jump Lower Deschutes, John Day rivers; other new blazes)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new lightning-sparked, wind-fanned wildfire near Maury Mountain on the Ochoco National Forest burned 1,200 acres and prompted Labor Day evacuations of residents, campers and a fire lookout, as several other new fast-growing blazes raced across thousands of acres around the region while crews rushed to tackle them.

It was one of four large new wildfires that had burned a total of 16,000 acres by late Monday. Add in Sunday's fast-growing Copperfield Fire near Chiloquin, and the tally is close to 20,000 acres.

Multiple air and ground resources responded to the Wiley Flat Fire, which had burned about 100 acres by early afternoon “with active spotting” and grew to some 1,200 acres by evening, prompting evacuations of the Wiley Flat Campground and Power Point Lookout, followed by private properties north of the Maury Mountains.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation alert on Facebook that said SE Drake Park Road (Forest Service Road 16) was under a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation, extending east about five miles. A Level 2 GET SET area extended from Drake Creek Road west to Pine Creek Road (Forest Service Road 17), from Paulina Highway south about five miles, in line with the Level 3 zone.

“The winds out in this area are strong and are moving the fire fast,” the sheriff’s office said as deputies made evacuation notifications in the area.

Crook County's evacuation zones map can be viewed here.

Air and ground resources working to suppress the fire included two helicopters, four SEATs (Single-Engine Air Tankers), a lead plane, two LATs (Large Air Tankers) and bulldozers.

New thunderstorms were moving through the area Monday afternoon, including a strong storm near Redmond that prompted a National Weather Service special weather statement around 3 p.m. Forecasters advised the storm was moving north at 25 mph, carrying wind gusts up to 50 mph.

Meanwhile, along the Lower Deschutes River, crews were battling the Oak Canyon Fire, at last report over 4,000 acres. Officials said it had jumped the Deschutes River and winds were pushing it southeast toward Maupin.

The fire broke out east of Tygh Valley and north of Maupin and White River Falls State Park. Evacuations were in place along Segment 3 of the lower Deschutes for all campgrounds north of the Pine Tree boat ramp. The cause has yet to be determined.

A Large Air Tanker (LAT) made drops on the fire, assisted by two Type 1 helicopters, a Type 2 helicopter and more ground crews. VLATs (Very Large Air Tankers), a lead plane and dozer strike teams were ordered.

In Wheeler County, several engines and air attack were working to stop the lightning-sparked Shoe Fly Fire, reported early Monday morning and which grew to an estimated 3,000-plus acres acres in a remote area about nine miles north of Highway 26 in Baldy Block, near Girds Creek.

"Winds are pushing the fire south/southeast," officials said early Monday evening. Two task forces of resources, a Type 1 helicopter, and ODF Incident Management Team 1 have been ordered.

 The area of the Six Shooter Ranch was under Level 3 GO NOW evacuation, with other areas under Level 2 BE SET status, the sheriff’s office reported.

The largest new lightning-sparked fire, the Rail Ridge Fire, quickly grew to 7,748 acres, jumped the south fork of the John Day River in several locations and burned into the Murderers Creek drainage. Several engine crews were on scene, with bulldozers and air resources ordered.

That fire jumped the John Day River Monday afternoon, and the Grant County Sheriff's office said it was enforcing evacuations for all of Aldrich Mountain proper.

There were also smaller new fires being reported Monday afternoon, including Incident 779, southwest of Powell Mountain and northwest of Ashley ridge, at 30-plus acres at last report and spreading fast. BLM engine crews were on scene and a VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker) was ordered.

Other new fires were being spotted by air attack and tackled at small sizes, presumably from the new round of lightning and thunderstorms, including two east of the Wiley Flat Fire: Incident 791, at two to three acres with a strong northwest wind, and Incident 793 at one acre, moving east into timber.

Track these and other Oregon wildfires at https://app.watchduty.org/