(Update: 7,100 lose power; Red Cross sets up evacuation site)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – As winds gusted past 40 mph, crews stopped a rekindled burn that spread fast in Deschutes River Woods and prompted evacuations, while more evacuations were called near a Tumalo-area fire that prompted several road closures in the area.
The fire was labeled the Bull Springs Fire, burning on private, U.S. Forest Service and BLM-managed lands north of Shevlin Park, near Tumalo.
Bend Fire was in unified command with the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry, and there were numerous resources responding, officials said.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported about 5:20 p.m. they had issued Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations west of Johnson Road, from Bull Springs Road to Kuhlman Road. Homes on the east side of Johnson Road were put on Level 1 (GET READY) notice, meaning to be ready for potential evacuations, as authorities urged others to avoid the area.
Traffic was being diverted and Tyler Road was shut down. Johnson Road also being closed from Shevlin Park Road to OB Riley Road.
As of 6:45 p.m., the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said the Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation order remained in place for the Saddleback subdivision west of Johnson Road, including homes south of Tumalo Reservoir Road and on and north of Bull Springs Road.
The Level 1 (BE READY) notice continued for the East Saddleback area, east of Johnson Road.
An interactive map of the evacuation areas is at: https://deschutes.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=f9de45337eb043fca432548f91d03ad6 and a description of the evacuation levels is at https://www.deschutes.org/sheriff/page/emergency-information
Due to the wildfires, Red Cross Cascades Region volunteers set up a temporary evacuation site at High Desert Middle School, 61111 SE 27th Street. “Anyone who needs assistance can just show up,” the agency said.
The winds were toppling trees, some onto homes or power lines throughout the region. Pacific Power reported more than 7,000 Bend-area customers were without service early Sunday evening; check updates on their online map.
A Saturday burn pile in Deschutes River Woods south of Bend rekindled and spread fast Sunday afternoon amid winds gusting past 40 mph, threatening homes, prompting evacuations and burning debris, vehicles and outbuildings before it was stopped, officials said.
Crews were dispatched around 3:40 p.m. to the reported brush fire in the 60000 block of Cinder Butte Road, Bend Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Trish Connolly said.
Homes on both Cinder Butte and Apache roads were threatened, as the fire raced across the yards of about four lots, Connolly said.
Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies issued a Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation alert and evacuated homes on both streets.
Mutual-aid crews were called in from Alfalfa, Cloverdale and Sunriver, and had forward progress of the fire stopped by about 4:30 p.m. The fire burned about an acre and no homes were involved, Connolly said.
An extensive overhaul was under way and expected to take a couple hours. Connolly said the evacuated residents weren’t allowed to return home until the smoke is cleared and more overhaul work is finished.
Around the same time, the other large fire was reported in the 18000 block of Bull Springs Road, near Shevlin Park northwest of Bend.
Central Oregon fire crews have been called out on several escaped field and yard debris burns over the weekend ,amid windy conditions.
The winds also caused other issues, including downed trees, some on power lines. And they caused blowing dust and near-zero visibility south of Madras, possibly contributing to crashes along Highway 97.
NewsChannel 21’s Leslie Cano headed to DRW and we’ll have more details as they become available and on NewsChannel 21 at Six.
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