Month: July 2026

(Update: adding video)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire crews are battling multiple wildfires across Central Oregon, with the Brewer Fire continuing to burn near Prineville and threatening hundreds of homes.

The Brewer, Green Mountain, and Crosswhite fires are burning across a mix of terrain and land ownership, stretching resources across Crook, Jefferson, and Wheeler counties. The response includes coordination between local, state, and federal agencies.

Officials say the fires are impacting land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Department of Forestry. Resources from the Oregon State Fire Marshal have also been deployed as flames threaten nearby homes and structures.

“We work in unified command to protect communities and to try to suppress the wildfires,” said Derek Gasperini, a public information officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Firefighters are using aircraft to drop water and slow fire activity, allowing crews on the ground to build containment lines. However, steep and remote terrain is making access difficult in some areas.

Strong winds are also increasing the danger, carrying embers beyond containment lines and sparking new spot fires.

“With extreme fire behavior, we go as direct as possible,” Gasperini said. “Sometimes spot fires jump over that line. We have to fall back and start new indirect line.”

Structural protection teams are working ahead of the flames, clearing brush and setting up water systems around homes in the fire’s projected path.

Officials say at least 556 primary residences are currently threatened by the Brewer Fire, with additional homes at risk from the Crosswhite Fire.

“It’s a very dynamic fire, a lot of movement, and we’re trying to get every structure that could be in the predictive path prepped,” said Toni Brimmer with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Authorities say hot, dry, and windy conditions — combined with drought-stressed vegetation — are fueling extreme fire behavior across the region.

Evacuation levels are changing rapidly, and residents are urged to stay informed through their county sheriff’s office and be ready to act.

“It’s a very dynamic situation,” Gasperini said. “Be prepared, watch those evacuation levels, and be ready to act accordingly.”

Fire officials also remind the public to avoid activities that could spark new fires, as crews remain focused on containing the blazes already burning.

CONDON, Ore. (KTVZ) — Yesterday, on Saturday, strong winds during a Red Flag Warning caused significant growth on the Little Buck Fire, part of the Hay Creek Complex, pushing the fire south across Oregon Highway 218 near Clarno.

Strong afternoon winds yesterday drove a six-mile flame front on the Little Buck Fire toward Highway 218. Crews and local ranchers had built approximately eight miles of dozer line to try to hold the fire, but it jumped a short section of the highway near Clarno and made a large run south.

County sheriffs ordered additional evacuations, including the nearby Washington Family Ranch, with ranchers working through the night with heavy equipment to build fire lines ahead of the blaze. On its east and north sides, the fire slowed as it backed into the footprint of the Porcupine Ridge Fire and last year’s Black Rock Fire scar, areas where little fuel remains to burn.

The Hay Creek Complex includes the Little Buck, Cottonwood, Hoag, Hopkin and Porcupine Ridge fires. The Hoag, Hopkin and Porcupine Ridge fires remain in patrol status after being contained. Air tankers supported ground crews yesterday, working the west edge of the Little Buck Fire for much of the day. They dropped retardant to slow the fire’s spread toward the communities of Shaniko and Antelope. Aircraft flew their maximum allowable hours.

On the Cottonwood Fire yesterday, helicopters dropped buckets of water in the morning to help crews secure a section that had crossed to the far side of the John Day River canyon on Friday. Crews successfully held control lines on this fire. Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected today, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s to around 90 degrees.

Afternoon relative humidity is forecast to be near 20%. West-to-northwest winds will intensify in the afternoon, with gusts reaching 20 to 30 mph. Gusty afternoon winds could continue to challenge firefighters over the coming days.

Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations are in place for parts of Gilliam, Wasco, Wheeler and Sherman Counties. These conditions can change quickly, especially with today’s predicted weather. Road closures may occur at any time due to rapidly changing conditions.

The Bureau of Land Management has fire restrictions and temporary closures in effect. A Temporary Flight Restriction is active over the Hay Creek Complex for the safety of firefighters and aircraft, prohibiting the use of drones.

Drivers should use caution and slow down when traveling through areas with firefighting vehicles and equipment, including along U.S. Highway 97. Wildfire smoke can quickly change air quality.

Crews will reinforce and strengthen control lines across the entire complex today. On the Little Buck Fire, firefighters will continue efforts on the west edge, supported by available aircraft and prepare structures. Fire managers will adjust the plan for the fire’s southward push across Highway 218 and identify options for contingency lines.

As the Little Buck Fire grows toward the Crosswhite Fire footprint, both incident management teams are coordinating suppression efforts. On the Cottonwood Fire, firefighters will use infrared drones to pinpoint heat and extinguish hot spots to prevent the fire from establishing on the far side of the John Day River. Crews will also continue mop up operations, cooling and removing heat near the fire’s edge, as some heat persists in the sagebrush.

CENTRAL OREGON, Ore. (KTVZ) — As of Sunday, July 26th: Stage 2 public use fire restrictions are in effect today across all Central Oregon public lands.

The Ten Mile Fire, located 11 miles northeast of Madras, is listed at 4,809 acres and 36% contained due to improved mapping. The Jefferson and Wasco County Sheriff’s Offices have issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations.

Gusty winds, low relative humidity, and hot temperatures persist across Central Oregon today. These conditions contribute to the ongoing fire risk in the region.

The Central Oregon Type 3 team is managing the Ten Mile Fire, which is located 7 miles south of the Highways 97 and 197 junction in rugged terrain.

The team is also managing Incident #586, just north of the Ten Mile Fire, which has been mapped at 191 acres and remains in its footprint.

The North Crooked Fire, located approximately 7 miles north of Paulina near Lightning Spring, is mapped at 31 acres.

Firefighters continue to strengthen control lines around the perimeter of the Ten Mile Fire. Crews are increasing the amount of cooled ground between control lines and the interior portion of the fire, where juniper clumps continue to hold heat.

For Incident #586, firefighters continue to secure existing control lines around the perimeter.

On the North Crooked Fire, firefighters are making good progress by improving control lines and conducting mop-up operations by cooling hotspots around the perimeter.

Fires across Central Oregon are impacting roadways. Motorists should check the Oregon Department of Transportation’s tripcheck.com for current road statuses before traveling. The Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service have several closures in place for public safety during ongoing wildfire incidents.

Public drone activity occurred yesterday over the Green Mountain Fire, posing a serious safety risk to responding aircraft and firefighters and impacting their ability to effectively respond to the incident.

Air resource advisers are currently producing daily smoke forecasts that can be found on fire.airnow.gov. For wildfire updates and additional information, visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. To report a wildfire, call 911.