Backside, Little Lava fires to be fought as ‘Bachelor Complex’; other fires close McKenzie Pass, limit Hwy.126
(Update: Shoe Fly Fire update; FEMA funds authorized for Rail Ridge Fire)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Two of the many recent lightning-sparked wildfires in the region -- the 80-acre Backside Fire that closed Mt. Bachelor over the weekend, and the over 1,000-acre Little Lava Fire near Little Lava Lake - are being fought as the Bachelor Complex, and led Deschutes County emergency managers on Monday to expand the Level 3 GO NOW evacuation zone to the south, doubling in size.
The newly named and jointly managed fire complex also will include the other lighting starts in the area, Central Oregon fire officials said Monday.
Also, ODOT issued this alert Monday morning about wildfire impacts on Highways 242 (the McKenzie Pass Highway) and Highway 126:
Beginning at noon on Monday, travelers near McKenzie Pass can expect traffic control changes to support fire operations. OR 242 (McKenzie Highway) will be closed to all traffic indefinitely at the intersection with OR 126 (mileposts 55 to 77). Crews will remain in the area to assist with evacuations. OR 126 between mileposts 15 and 17 (Belknap Springs area) will be reduced to one lane with pilot cars guiding traffic. Travelers are urged to use an alternate route; do not divert onto forest roads to avoid closures.
Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update | September 9, 2024, 10 a.m.
Central Oregon — Firefighters continue to respond to numerous lightning-caused wildfires across Central Oregon. The majority are concentrated south of Bend on the Deschutes National Forest and range in size from one tenth of an acre to 14,400 acres. The largest fires include:
Firestone Fire – estimated 6,700 acres, located southeast of Newberry Caldera on the Deschutes National Forest. A Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team is managing this fire as well as the Flat Top Fire.
Flat Top Fire – estimated 14,400 acres, located southeast of Newberry Caldera on the Deschutes National Forest, and burning in brush and timber. Firefighters have conducted structure protection work around the Cabin Lake Guard Station.
Backside Fire – estimated 80 acres, located west of Mt. Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest. Resources are on scene.
Little Lava Fire – estimated 1,000 acres, located approximately 2 miles southeast of Little Lava Lake. Ground resources are on scene.
The Deschutes National Forest has in-briefed NW 3, a complex incident management team, to help manage fires on the forest.
Evacuations
Backside & Little Lava Fires
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued the following “Due to continued growth of the Bachelor Complex Fires, specifically the Little Lava fire, the following area is now at Level 3 (GO NOW):
South of the current Level 3 evacuation areas to FS Road 40, west of FS Road 45 (River Summit Drive) and east of FS Road 4270, Cascade Lakes Highway, and Lava Lake Area. This area also includes Sheridan Mountain, Wake Butte and surrounding areas.”
Firestone & Flat Top Fires
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued the following Sunday night: “Due to continued growth and expected fire, fire managers have recommended adjustments to the evacuation levels for areas around the Firestone and Flat Top Fires. These fires are burning in southern Deschutes County and northern Lake County.
Level 3 (Go Now)
Pine Mountain and areas south to the Lake County Line. Additionally, areas west of FS 18 Rd (China Hat Rd) south of FS Rd 21 to the Lake County Line.
Level 2 (Be Set)
Area north of FS Rd 21 to FS Rd 1835 between Newberry Caldera and FS Rd 18 (China Hat Rd).
Level 1 (Be Ready)
Areas within the Newberry Caldera (East and Paulina Lakes), areas north of FS 1835 to FS Rd 1830 and west of FS Rd 18 (China Hat Rd), and the Millican Valley due north of Pine Mountain to Hwy 20.”
For more information visit flashalert.net/id/DeschutesSO?alert=1 and stay up-to-date on Deschutes County evacuation notices using their interactive map: deschutes.org/emergency.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation notices due to the Flat Top Fire. This information is posted on the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership Facebook page: facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO.
Weather conditions are forecast to moderate starting Wednesday, which should help fire suppression efforts.
Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
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Shoe Fly Fire - Monday update:
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Total Size: 26,475 acres
Total Containment: 26%
Cause: Lightning
Estimated Cost: $5,885,000
County Evacuations
Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation notices, info available here: https://tinyurl.com/RAPTOR-Evacuation-Info
Road Closures
For road closures, visit:
https://www.tripcheck.com
Fire Restrictions
ODF: www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx
All Resources
Hand Crews: 32
Engines: 54
Water Tenders: 22
Dozers: 14
Helicopters: 7
Total Personnel: 1,002
ODF Incident Commander:
Joe Hessel
Incident Management Team 1
Firefighters continue mop up, focus on completing fireline
MITCHELL, Ore. – Overnight firefighters worked to tie together portions of fireline on the southwest corner of the fire near Peggy Butte. Nearly 300 firefighters worked on the fire last night, taking advantage of reduced fire behavior to increase the depth of cold black on the perimeter and improve fireline. The fire grew slightly to 26,475 acres with increased containment of 26%.
Firefighters continue mop up around the fire perimeter, extinguishing hot spots. Gridding along the fire’s edge, they will use tools to dig into areas of thick duff or larger woody material and use water to mix and cool areas of heat or visible flames.
Hot, dry weather remains in the forecast today along with increased winds from the northwest. This will make hot spots more visible for firefighters and will increase fire behavior. Increased fire behavior may include single or group tree torching for unburned islands of fuel in the interior of the fire.
Helicopters are available to support work on the ground by dropping water on hot spots, cooling the area to allow firefighters to get closer and work as well as providing information on fire behavior to firefighters and landowners.
Increased containment and the transition to mop up has reduced the threat to structures in the fire area, allowing Oregon State Fire Marshal structural task forces to leave the Shoe Fly Fire to provide structure protection for homes threatened by the Service Fire near Fossil. These task forces are available to return if there is a need.
Evacuation notices for residents around the fire remain unchanged and continue to be evaluated by the Wheeler County Sheriff, Wheeler County Fire Defense Board Chief, and Team 1 Operations personnel. More information on current evacuations is available at https://tinyurl.com/RAPTOR-Evacuation-Info
Resources from the Shoe Fly Fire are available to support any new fire starts in the area.
Cooler temperatures and the potential for rain showers are forecast for later in the week, along with winds from the northwest and west. This change in wind direction will test firelines and the work completed across the fire. Firefighters are strengthening lines in anticipation of this change.
Information for other fires in the area:
Rail Ridge Fire: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565474339343
Fossil Complex: https://www.facebook.com/fossilcomplexfire
Wiley Flat Fire: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565121969460
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FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Rail Ridge Fire in Oregon
BOTHELL, Wash. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Rail Ridge Fire burning in Grant, Crook and Wheeler counties, Oregon.
The state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 6:48 p.m. PT. He determined that the Rail Ridge Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the twelfth FMAG declared in 2024 to help fight Oregon wildfires.
At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Dayville and Suplee. The fire also threatened Highway 26, electric power transmission lines, recreational facilities, wildlife and cultural resources.
FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and are made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies. This authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
In addition to the firefighting funds authorized under this FMAG, another $985,111 will be available to Oregon through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire for the mitigation of future wildfires and related hazards, such as flood after fire or erosion. Some eligible wildfire project types include defensible space measures, ignition-resistant construction and hazardous fuels reduction. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 authorizes FEMA to provide HMGP Post-Fire funds to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have land burned within a designated area.
