Firefighters Quickly Respond to Wildfire North of Skyliners Road

Tumalo Falls and Forest Road 4601 Are Closed To Ensure Firefighter and Public Safety

BEND – At approximately 3:00 p.m., firefighters responded to a fire approximately 11 miles west of Bend and north of Skyliners Road. Initially reported at 10 acres, the Cougar Butte fire grew to the west and as of tonight it is estimated to be 125 acres.

Several engines, crews and one helicopter responded to the fire, partly burning in the scar of the Bridge Creek Fire, and it is 10% contained as of 8:00 p.m. Several crews will continue working through the night on the fire to build and secure fire lines.

A closure has been put in effect for Forest Road 4601 at the gate to Tumalo Falls. Tumalo Falls will be closed to the public for the duration of the incident. Additionally, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has instituted a Level 1 evacuation notice for the Skyliners subdivision.

At 7:00 a.m., Saturday, May 27, a Type 3 Incident Management Team will assume command of Incident 215, led by Incident Commander Travis Moyer and Incident Commander Trainee, Mike Aizpitarte. Several resources are assigned to the fire beginning tomorrow and will include 3 wildland fire engines, 1 dozer, 1 Interagency Hotshot Crew, 4 crews, 1 Type 2 helicopter and several overhead positions managing the blaze.

US Forest Service, Bend Fire and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office resources have responded.

For up-to-the-minute wildfire information, follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire.  

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The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.