Deschutes National Forest expands emergency closure area around Little Lava Fire; cooler weather helping crews

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Effective immediately, the Deschutes National Forest has updated and increased the temporary emergency fire closure area on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District for the Bachelor Complex. The expansion of the closure area is due to continued fire activity on the Little Lava Fire as hot and dry conditions persist and incursions into the prior closure area.

The temporary emergency fire closure area has been expanded east to include the area west of Forest Service Road 4180 north to the Cascade Lakes Highway. This updated closure is meant to minimize impacts to those who want to hunt and recreate in the area while ensuring that fire operations, including the use of heavy equipment, can safely occur.

People hunting and recreating in the area should consult the attached closure map before heading out to ensure they are in an open area.

Bachelor Complex | Temporary Emergency Fire Closure

The updated emergency closure order for the Bachelor Complex of fires includes the following closed locations. Please see attached for full closure order and closure order map.

The following developed and dispersed recreation sites are temporarily closed:

• AC/DC Shelter
• Corral Swamp Trailhead
• Edison Shelter
• Edison SnoPark
• Kapka Butte SnoPark
• Kwohl Shelter
• Lucky Lake Trailhead
• Sheridan Shelter
• Six Lakes Trailhead
• Wake Butte Trailhead

Roads in the area:

• All National Forest System Roads found within the area closure are closed, with the exception of Cascade Lakes Highway (NFSR 46), and NFSR 40, which will both remain open for public use.

The Metolius-Windigo Trail between Quinn Meadow and Todd Creek remains closed.

For information regarding temporary emergency closures on the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices.

The Bachelor Complex has burned more than 14,700 acres and remains 63% contained. Officials said Thursday that firefighters were taking advantage of cooler temperatures and cloud cover to work to limit fire progression to the east.

South of Pine Mountain, 22 miles southeast of Bend, fire crews continued suppression efforts on the 6,537-acre Pine Fire, still 50% contained, officials said Thursday.

To the west, meanwhile, light rain fell and containment rose Wednesday to 65% on the 199-acre Bingham Fire in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness east of Marion Forks.

To the east, containment has reached 89% on the 173,530-acre Rail Ridge Fire near Dayville, thanks to more moderate weather welcomed by firefighters.