MEDIA RELEASE: Fire Management Evening Update - August 29

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (541) 316-7711

COIDC Evening Update, August 29

Redmond, OR – Several new fires were reported today across Central Oregon. Two new fires were found south of Lava Butte and triggered the evacuation of the Lava River Cave and Lava Lands Visitor Center in the Deschutes National Forest just south of Bend. One of the fires is fully lined and currently being mopped up and is estimated at two acres. The second fire is less than two acres and crews are still working on containing several spots that were estimated at ¼ to a ½ acre.

The McKay Fire, located east of Hwy 97 and north of FS 21 near McKay Butte, was also reported today. This fire is currently estimated at 120 acres and is being managed by a Type 3 Incident Commander. Firefighters are requesting that the public stay out of the fire area between Forest Service roads 9735 and 9720. There are currently 12 engines, 2 dozers, 2 IA Crews, and 2 water tenders working on this fire for a total of 110 personnel.

Fire crews also assisted Walker Range Rural Fire Protection Association on a new fire today, 10 miles south of La Pine near Hwy 97. The fire is contained at approximately 1.5 acres.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level One (pre-evacuation) notification for the Elk Lake Area due to the Nash Fire, burning in the Willamette National Forest. The Nash Fire and the Separation Fire have showed active fire behavior over the past two days and are believed to have grown together. The following areas in the Level One are as follows: Elk Lake Resort, Elk Lake Campground (CG), Point CG, Little Fawn CG, Mallard Marsh CG, Sunset View Day Use Area, Beach Day Use Area, and Quinn Meadows Horse Camp. Currently, the Cascade Lakes Hwy, FS 46, remains open.

Level One (pre-evacuation) means “Be Ready” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. For information on these evacuation notifications, you can call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-693-6911.

The air quality conditions degraded through the day today and are currently showing as Unhealthy for most of Central Oregon. For more information on air quality, visit http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/ or http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

For road conditions and closures due to wildfires, visit tripcheck.com.

For more information, follow us at http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter at @CentralORFire. For the Central Oregon Fire Information hotline, please call 541-316-7711.

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