Firefighters make progress on Desolation Fire

Nearly 200 firefighters are working the Desolation Fire now, hoping to hold it through the afternoon and evening winds today. A Task Force of structure protection engines is helping out nearby homeowners create defensible space and clear brush. Five airtankers and a heavy helicopter have provided air support to cool hot spots along the line.

The helicopter was able to map the fire perimeter this afternoon, and the current acreage is 1,523. This is expected to grow somewhat as the fire is making short runs, and crews will be conducting burnouts to clean up any unburned fuel between the dozer lines and the main fire.

Smoke is expected to continue to impact Hwy. 26, and drivers should be prepared to slow down, turn on headlights, and use caution. The Level 2 (Get Set) Evacuation Order remains in effect for residents in the Marks Creek Area between mileposts 45-50 along Hwy. 26.

Residents looking toward the Cascades may be seeing smoke around Mt. Jefferson. This is not a new fire; the crews working the Whitewater Fire are reporting increased activity with the winds this afternoon.

The Hampton Fire, burning in the Prineville District BLM Cougar Wells Wilderness Study Area is now 100% contained at 840 acres.

Ochoco National Forest Adds Area Closure for Desolation Fire

To provide for public and firefighter safety, the Ochoco National Forest has implemented an area closure around the Desolation Fire this afternoon. Unless authorized by a Forest Officer, people are prohibited from being on roads, trails or any area within the closure, exempting Highway 26.

The closure roughly runs from Wildcat Campground north to the junction of FS Road 2745/2730, east along the 2730 to the Ochoco Divide Sno-Park, southwest to White Rock and tying into Wildcat again. The complete closure order and associated map can be found at the following link:

Desolation Fire Closure Order and Map

Nash Fire Update, September 13

There has not been much change in the perimeter during the last few days. It is still burning close to the edge of Nash Lake and is approximately 4 miles from Elk Lake. Crews and heavy equipment working along the Cascade Lakes Highway are removing dense vegetation and thinning trees to create a fuel break. They expect to finish in 5 to 7 days. The fuel break is being constructed to protect the Elk and Lava lakes areas and to halt fire spread to the east, in the event the fire moves over the Cascade Crest.

Desolation Fire near Prineville Grows and Prompts Evacuation Warnings

Strong wind gusts out of the northwest fanned the Desolation fire late yesterday afternoon, pushing the fire south out of the wilderness toward private structures along Highway 26 and prompting Level 2 evacuation notices for around 27 residences in the Marks Creek area along Hwy 26 between mileposts 45-50 late yesterday evening. The Level 2 evacuation notice (Get Set) remains in effect, urging residents to stay alert and be prepared to leave if the need arises.

The Desolation fire, a lightning start first reported Saturday in Mill Creek Wilderness on the Ochoco National Forest, is now estimated at about 2,000 acres.

A community information meeting will be held tomorrow, Thursday, September 14, at 5 pm in the Eastside Church in Prineville to share information about the fire.

Firefighters worked through the night putting in several miles of dozer line, and burning out along the line to remove fuel between the structures and Hwy 26 and the fire. Work continues today to strengthen and expand existing containment lines on the south, east and north sides of the wilderness. A Type 3 Central Oregon Incident Management Team will take command of the fire today, focusing on a confine and contain strategy for the fire and keeping the fire north of the highway.

Five airtankers are flying out of the Redmond Air Center, supporting ground resources by slowing the fire's progress and cooling actively burning flanks. Challenges today remain heavy fuel, warm temperatures and afternoon winds. A structure protection group will begin working to secure private residences in the area. Currently there are approximately 75 firefighters on scene, with six additional 20-person crews arriving today.

Smoky conditions are expected in the Ochoco Divide area today from both the wildfire and burnout operations. Travelers along Hwy 26 should use caution as smoke may drift onto the highway, and to expect heavy traffic from fire suppression resources. The highway is currently open, and ODOT workers will be on scene to help keep traffic moving safely through the area. For safety, drivers should slow down when encountering smoke, turn on headlights and proceed with caution. Please avoid pulling over to observe the fire or fire fighting operations.

Temporary trail and campground closure for Desolation fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Temporary trail and campground closure for Desolation fire

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Ochoco National Forest issued a temporary closure order today for a hiking trail and campground in Mill Creek Wilderness to promote public safety while fire crews fight the Desolation fire.

The order temporarily prohibits public use of Wildcat Trail #833 and Whistler Campground. See attached map. The Forest will reopen the trail and campground to the public as soon as it’s deemed safe to do so.

The Desolation fire is currently estimated at 300 acres in size, burning in patches of dead and live timber in the East Fork of Mill Creek drainage and running into parts of the 2000 Hash Rock fire. The fire was first reported around noon on Saturday, originating near the intersection of the creek with Desolation Canyon. Since then, the fire has grown northeast along the drainage toward Whistler Point, paralleling Highway 26 which is about 2 miles southeast of the fire.  

As the fire became active yesterday afternoon, heavy air tankers dropped 7 loads of retardant around it, painting a box around the fire to confine and contain it. Tankers continued making retardant drops today along the active flanks of the fires, and aircraft fortified those lines with water drops to reduce fire growth.

Crews began grading Forest roads today in preparation of moving in feller bunchers and other logging equipment to create and improve fuel breaks on Forest Service Road 27, which follows the northern border of Mill Creek Wilderness.

Air quality information for Sept. 12

Ochoco National Forest suppressing wilderness fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 11, 2017

Ochoco National Forest suppressing wilderness fire

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Smoke may be visible over the Ochocos from Prineville and Highway 26 due to the Desolation fire, a new start within Mill Creek Wilderness about 20 miles northeast of town.

First reported just before noon on Saturday, September 9, the fire is estimated at 154 acres and burning near the intersection of the East Fork of Mill Creek and Desolation Canyon.

The fire is burning in patches of dead and live timber on steep slopes just below Whistler Point. Aircraft dumped water on the fire yesterday to check its growth and today crews are flying the fire to get a better size estimate.

No firefighters have been sent in on the ground yet due to safety concerns over the abundance of snags, but the Forest is suppressing the fire when and where it’s possible to do so safely.

Fire managers plan to use containment lines prepared during the Belknap fire in August along the southeast boundary of the wilderness to protect nearby private property and infrastructure should the fire grow and move.

Weather forecasts are calling for a cold front to pass through Central Oregon sometime over the next two days bringing with it wind gusts up to 20 miles per hour, which means that existing fires have some potential for growth.

There are no area or trail closures associated with the fire at this point, but managers will reassess whether any public safety restrictions could be appropriate should the need arise.

The Forest urges hunters and other fall hikers into the wilderness to use caution and be aware of current fire activity before using the wilderness.