Oregon wildfires have triggered new Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations this week as multiple large blazes continue to burn across the state amid hot, dry conditions.
Camp Sherman Area Under Immediate Threat
The northeast corner of Camp Sherman has been placed under a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order because of the Bench Fire, according to Central Oregon Fire Information.The area just below it has been downgraded to Level 2 "Be Set," and portions of Lake Billy Chinook have also been placed under Level 2 status.
The Warm Springs Agency District has been downgraded from a higher alert to Level 2 "Be Set.” Officials are directing residents to an interactive evacuation map maintained by Jefferson County and are urging travelers to monitor road conditions through tripcheck.com.
Bench Fire Growth and Firefighting Efforts
The Bench Fire, burning four miles southwest of Warm Springs, has charred 64,407 acres and was 22 percent contained as of Thursday. The fire started on July 23 from an undetermined cause and 802 personnel have been battling flames in grass, shrub, and ponderosa pine.Oregon State Fire Marshal structural crews are focused on mop-up work 200 to 300 feet around homes in the Seekseequa District to reduce rekindle risk ahead of forecast weekend winds. Crews are also scouting residential areas south of the fire perimeter and along Montgomery Road to prepare structure protection plans there.
Temperatures are expected to hold in the mid-80s with humidity between 22 and 28 percent, dropping further through the week and raising the potential for a Red Flag Warning this weekend.
Statewide Scope
More than 2 million acres had burned across Oregon as of Thursday evening, according to Oregon Department of Forestry data. Fires are also active in more than a dozen states including Montana, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, with the Pacific Northwest among the hardest-hit regions alongside Idaho and Washington, according to NASA fire-tracking data. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory through Friday at noon, warning that smoke "can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems.”Other Major Blazes
The Rowe Creek Complex has burned 300,592 acres and is 42 percent contained, the Oregon Department of Forestry said in a separate release on Thursday. Firefighters are focused on protecting communities near Mill Creek, Johnson Creek, and Marks Creek near Prineville. A community meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening at Barnes Butte Elementary School.The Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters has grown to an estimated 27,429 acres and reached 19 percent containment after crews used infrared cameras to find and extinguish lingering heat along the northeast flank. The East Evans Creek Fire, sparked by a vehicle crashing into a power pole, has burned 15,580 acres and is 78 percent contained, with evacuations downgraded to Level 1 "Be Ready.”