Map of Deschutes National Forest road closures surrounding the Sheridan Fire

August 18 Morning Update

Firefighters made good progress suppressing the Sheridan fire through the night last night, completing dozer lines around the fire and conducting burnout operations into the early morning hours.

A new assessment of fire size estimates the Sheridan fire is around 169 acres and 10 percent contained, burning in predominantly lodgepole pine forested terrain.

The fire started near the junction of Forest Roads 40 and 45, about 2 miles west of Sunriver, and grew to the south and southwest through the evening. Reported yesterday at 4:30 p.m. by the Lava Butte Lookout, the fire's cause remains under investigation.

A Type 3 incident management team took command of the fire at 6 a.m. this morning and will continue working throughout the day to further containment of the fire. The incident command post is located at Wanoga Sno Park.

The team reports the fire still has potential to move to the south or southeast. They will focus firefighting efforts around the southeast flank this morning.

Around 250 personnel are engaged in the firefighting effort this morning, which includes 10 engines, 4 dozers, 4 water tenders, and multiple crews and aircraft. The wildfire response is a multi-agency effort, with support from Sunriver Fire Department, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Service and BLM, among others.

A Level 1 evacuation notice remains in effect for homes in the Fall River Estates subdivision and properties near the Fall River Fish Hatchery.

Multiple roads surrounding the fire are closed to public traffic. Road closures are in place at:


Forest Road 42/4220 junction
Forest Road 42/4230 junction
Forest Road 46/45 junction
Forest Road 40/4230 junction
Forest Road 40/41 junction
Forest Road 42/4240 junction
Forest Road 40/4270 junction

Smoke impacts to the surrounding area are expected to remain in effect throughout the morning.


Sisters area fires:

Six small fires were also reported yesterday evening in the Sisters area. Five fires were spotted near Forest Road 16, about 4 miles south of Sisters, and one fire reported northeast of Black Butte near Forest Road 11.

All fires were 1/10th of an acre of less.

Crews successfully contained one of those fires by yesterday evening and continued working on the rest into the night and continue this morning. These fires remain under investigation.

Crews working through the night on multiple starts on Deschutes NF

Fire crews responded to multiple starts this afternoon across the Deschutes National Forest and will work through the night tonight to contain them. All fires are currently under investigation. 

The largest of today's fires, now called the Sheridan fire, was estimated at around 300 acres as of this evening. The fire was first reported around 4:30 pm by the Lava Butte Lookout, and it was burning near the intersection of Forest Road 40 and 45, about 2 miles west of Sunriver.

The fire spread at a moderate pace to the south and southeast through predominantly lodgepole pine forest. A Level 1 evacuation notice remains in place for the Fall River Estates and homes near the Fall River Fish Hatchery, south of the fire. Road blocks remain in place on forest roads surrounding the fire.

Crews will work through the night to conduct burnout operations along dozer lines in order to strengthen containment lines around the fire. A local Type 3 incident management team will take command of the Sheridan fire tomorrow morning at 6 am.

Firefighters also responded to 6 small fires in the Sisters area. Five of those fires are located between 4 and 9 miles south of Sisters and one is located about half a mile northeast of Black Butte. Each fire was 1/10th acre or less when reported.

Crews will work through the night to suppress each of those fires. One fire, located south of Sisters, was already contained as of this evening.

Fire danger throughout Central Oregon remains EXTREME due to very dry fuel conditions.

Paulina Fire Update, August 4 (FINAL UPDATE)

With another night of cool air and colder temperatures, fire fighters remain successful in holding the containment lines. The Paulina Fire stays at 80% containment and managers are pleased with secure buffer around the fire.

The Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) Type III team plans to transition fire management back to the local unit by the end of the day. In addition to all the Level I evacuations being lifted, Forest Road 9735 is now open. Some localized closures adjacent to the fire line will remain until all activities subside.

As operations wind down, crews and resources will begin to be demobilized and become available for other potential incidents.  Fire managers are grateful to the local community for their cooperation and support throughout the incident.

This is the final update on this fire.

Paulina Fire Update, August 3, 8:00 a.m.

Firefighters made significant progress yesterday afternoon and evening on the Paulina fire northeast of La Pine. Multiple aerial resources, dozers, and engines were able to line the fire by the late evening.

“Overnight humidity recovery and cooler temperatures helped with overnight firefighting efforts” stated Incident Commander Trainee Mike Aizpitarte. Additional handcrews, engines, dozers, and water tenders arrived at the Incident Command Post at the La Pine Highschool late last night and early this morning.

Firefighting strategy for today’s operational period will focus on securing the existing control lines while continuing to provide for firefighter and public safety.

Smoke may be visible on Highway 97 north of La Pine and in the surrounding area. Drivers are asked to proceed cautiously with the additional fire traffic in the area. Level I campground closures and Forest Road 9735 closure remain in effect.

With Extreme Fire Danger, the Deschutes National Forest would like to remind visitors and recreationalist to be aware of dry forest vegetative conditions. An escaped and abandoned campfire could spread quickly to the surrounding area.

Paulina Fire is 10% Contained

CENTRAL OREGON – Firefighters were able to quickly respond to a new wildfire that was reported at 3:37 p.m. on the Deschutes National Forest. The Paulina fire, burning near Forest Road 9735, 7 miles northeast of La Pine, is now 50 acres and 10 percent contained.

A Level 1 evacuation notice was issued for campgrounds along lower Paulina Lake Road including McKay Crossing, Ogden Group and Prairie campgrounds. The only road closure associated with this fire is Forest Road 9735, which is closed to all traffic except fire personnel.

Numerous aerial resources including two  CL-415s (also known as “scoopers), two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATS), and one helicopter worked the fire today, aided by two bulldozers, seven engines that worked the blaze through the afternoon and into the evening. A local Type 3 team took command of the fire late this afternoon and made great progress even while being challenged by gusty winds.

Firefighters will continue constructing containment lines tomorrow and will work to secure them with the help of two additional 20-person crews.

The cause is undetermined at this time.

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

Fryrear Fire is 80% Contained

Firefighters remain on scene monitoring through the afternoon

SISTERS – Firefighters continued containment efforts on the 8.4 acre Fryrear Fire approximately 7 miles east of Sisters on Fryrear Road. The fire is now 80% contained and Fryrear Road will reopen to all traffic at 7:00 p.m.

Firefighters responded quickly to the wildfire that was reported at 5:11 p.m. on Monday. Aerial resources were able to halt the forward progress of the blaze, while bulldozers were able to safely put in containment lines around the fire. Firefighters were then able to safely engage and begin containment efforts. Mop up efforts have been completed around the 8.4 acre fire and firefighters will monitor the fire area to ensure it remains inactive while gusty afternoon winds pass through the area.

COFMS (BLM, ODF & USFS) and Cloverdale resources jointly fought the fire that was burning on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed and private lands. The cause is undetermined at this time.

This is the final update for the Fryrear Fire. For up-to-the-minute wildfire information, follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire. 

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