Deschutes County Sheriff's Office - Evacuation Notices

MEDIA RELEASE  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

**Update**

Evacuations Due to Muskrat Fire in the Cultus Lake Area

Location: Cultus Lake Area, Southwest of Bend, OR

Date:  August 8, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.

By: Sgt. Nathan Garibay, Emergency Services Manager

Update:

As of August 8, 2014 at 12:30 p.m., evacuation notices are still in effect in the Cultus Lake area.  These areas include:

A Level III notice is for the area located on the west and north shores of Cultus Lake including dispersed camping and the West Cultus Lake Campground.  This also includes the back country area, north of Cultus Lake including Corral Swamp, Winopee Lake, Muskrat Lake, and Teddy Lake.

A Level II notice is for the area east and northeast of Cultus Lake, which includes the Cultus Lake resort and campground.  The boundaries of this area are:

·         Southern boundary of Road 4635 (Road to the Cultus Lake Resort)

·         Western boundary of the wilderness boundary line north to the Lucky Lake Trailhead (across Cascade Lakes Highway from Lava Lake)

·         Northern boundary is generally the wilderness boundary near Lucky Lake

·         Eastern boundary is the Cascade Lakes Highway.  It also includes the Cultus Lake Resort and campground.

The west end of Cultus lake is closed due to on-going air operations  in the area.  Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Marine Deputies will be patrolling this area until it is reopened and denying entry.  The Cultus Lake Resort and Campground are open, however, we ask those that choose to stay in the area be prepared to leave immediately if conditions worsen.

The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the cooperation and understanding of those wishing to recreate in the Cultus Lake area.  We are continuing to work with fire managers to ensure public safety and prevent conflicts between visitors and fire operations.

Information will be updated as it changes, but the public should expect some degree of use restrictions in the Cultus Lake area through the weekend.

For more information, you can visit the Central Oregon Fire Information site at:

http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/

Please see attached image of evacuation areas as well as description of Evacuation Levels.

Original Release:

On August 7, 2014 at approximately 12:56 p.m., Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch notified Deschutes County 9-1-1 of a fire in the forest west of Cultus Lake.  Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene.

Area evacuations started at approximately 1:30 p.m.  Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies and members of Search and Rescue are conducting the evacuation notifications.  

The Sheriff’s Office has issued Level III and Level II Evacuation notices.  The Level III notice is for the area located on the west and north shores of Cultus Lake.  This also includes the back country area, north of Cultus Lake including Corral Swamp, Winopee Lake, Muskrat Lake, and Teddy Lake.

The Level II notice is for the area bordered by:  Southern boundary of Road 4635 (Road to the Cultus Lake Resort), west side at the wilderness boundary line, and north to the Lucky Lake Trailhead across from Lava Lake, bordered on the east side by the Cascade Lakes Highway.  It also includes the Cultus Lake Resort and campground.

The U. S. Forest Service is working on the fire and the Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by Deschutes County Road Department.