Barney Lerten
(Update: Cougar Fire update, local officials warn of increasing fire danger)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Cougar Fire, the largest of two fires that broke out Tuesday afternoon in southeastern Deschutes County and put up smoke visible over a wide area, grew to about 300 acres by Wednesday as crews reached about 10% containment.
Here’s the Wednesday midday fact sheet on the Cougar Fire:
Start Date: August 5, 2025 3:37 PM
Location: 43°37’58.4″N 120°07’33.5″W Approx. 3.5 miles North of U.S. HWY 20
Jurisdiction: Bureau of Land Management
Fire Size: Approx. 293 acres
Containment: Approx. 10%
Cause: Under Investigation
Fuels: Grass, Juniper, Sagebrush
Structures/Evacuations: 1 structure located 2 miles south of fire start
Fire Crews/Resources: Interagency fire crews, along with the Post Paulina RFP,A are suppressing the new wildfire start with the following resources: 1 jump ship with a load of smoke jumpers, 2 type one helicopters, 3 Engines, 2 dozers, 2 water tenders, 1 Skidgen, and 2 hand crews.
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) August 5th – The first fire, the 781 Fire, was reported around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday northeast of Pine Mountain and was estimated at 1.4 acres about an hour later.
The larger fire is the Cougar Fire (Incident 782), was reported shortly before 4 p.m. near Cougar Mountain and the Deschutes-Crook county line. Watch Duty reported three Type 3 air tankers and an air attack plane were en route.
Here’s Central Oregon fire officials’ initial fact sheet on the fire, issued just before 5 p.m. Tuesday:
Start Date: August 5, 2025 3:37 PM
Location: 43°37’58.4″N 120°07’33.5″W Approx. 3.5 miles North of U.S. HWY 20
Jurisdiction: Bureau of Land Management
Fire Size: Approx. 30 acres and growing
Cause: Under Investigation
Fuels: Grass, Juniper, Sagebrush
Structures/Evacuations: 1 structure located 2 miles south of the fire start
Containment: 0%
Fire Crews/Resources: Interagency fire crews, along with the Post Paulina RFPA are suppressing the new wildfire start with the following resources: 4 single-engine air tankers, 1 large air tanker, 1 Type 1 helicopter, 1 air attack, 3 Engines, 2 dozers, 2 water tenders, 1 Skidgen, and 1 hand crew.
Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
Fire officials and lookouts have been watching closely for any new lightning-sparked holdover fires from the storms that moved the region over the weekend.
We’ll have updates as warranted, online, on the air and on KTZV+
Coincidentally, Central Oregon fire officials put out a message late Tuesday quite similar to ones shared earlier by state and federal officials this wek about the rising fire danger this month:
Do Your Part to Prevent a Spark as Conditions Remain Hot and Dry
Central Oregon — As August begins, weather forecasts indicate that high temperatures will continue to dry out vegetation in Central Oregon, increasing the risk for wildfires. Recent thunderstorms and lightning activity in the area have increased the potential for new fire starts to be discovered in the coming weeks. Lightning-caused wildfires can smolder for several days to weeks before smoke may be visible.
To help combat new fire starts, the public is reminded to check and follow current public use fire restrictions when recreating on public lands. Central Oregon public lands are currently in Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions, which prohibit open fires, including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires across the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville BLM except within designated, developed campgrounds.
Under Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions, internal combustion engines, including chainsaws, are prohibited between 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more details on public use restrictions and a full list of designated campgrounds where campfires are permitted in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/2025/07/15/deschutes-wilderness-areas-added-to-stage-1-public-use-fire-restrictions-starting-july-18/.
Following last week’s lightning activity in Central Oregon, firefighters responded to 50 new wildfire starts, resulting in approximately 40 acres burned. Most of these fires were around one-tenth of an acre in size and have been contained or controlled, thanks to the rapid response from initial attack resources both on the ground and from the air, including aircraft, smoke jumpers, and rappelers.
As we enter peak fire season, remember to make safe choices, recreate responsibly, and do your part to prevent new wildfires from starting.
For information on public use restrictions and wildfire updates, visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
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