The Flat Fire in Jefferson and Deschutes was pushed by strong winds, low humidity and hot temperatures Friday and has grown to an estimated 18,000 acres. An infrared flight later today will provide a more accurate acreage estimate.
On August 22, Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, allowing additional state resources to respond. A unified command was established with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Incident Management Team and the Central Oregon Interagency Management Team 3. Today, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 3 will assume command from Central Oregon team and join the state fire marshal.
Agencies at the federal, state, and local level responded to the initial attack. Ground crews have been supported by heavy air operations, including two very large air tankers, eight single-engine air tankers, and five Type 1 helicopters. Current resources include 10 crews, 13 engines, seven water tenders, 12 pieces of heavy equipment, nine structural task forces, and other overhead staff. Six more structural task forces are arriving Saturday and will be assigned after a briefing.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal resources were active throughout the day and night, focusing on point protection for homes and critical infrastructure. Local fire districts, including Sisters-Camp Sherman, Cloverdale, Lake Chinook, and Crooked River Ranch, were instrumental in the initial response, helping protect communities in the fire’s early hours.
“Structural task forces remain focused on defending homes and critical infrastructure while preparing for expected increases in fire activity throughout the day,” OSFM Incident Commander Ian Yocum said.
Wildland firefighters worked to secure lines across the fire perimeter.
“On the southern portion of the fire, crews are scouting and looking for opportunities to safely engage in direct line construction,” Incident Commander Trainee Pepe Delgado said.
The fire has spread into the Whychus and Deschutes canyons, where steep terrain limits access. Hot, dry, and breezy conditions continue to push the fire south through grass, brush, and timber.
The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are asking the public to stay out of the fire area for safety and to allow firefighters to operate effectively.
Evacuations
Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices remain in effect under the direction of the Deschutes County and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices. For the latest evacuation information, follow the counties’ official Facebook pages.
A temporary evacuation point has been set up at Highland Baptist Church, 3100 SW Highland Ave., Redmond. The Jefferson County Fairgrounds is open for large animals, with support from the Pet Evacuation Team.
Fire at a Glance
- Start Date: Aug. 21, 2025
- Size: Estimated 18,000 acres
- Containment: 0%
- Cause: Under investigation
For the latest updates, visit the Flat Fire Facebook page. For road closure information, visit tripcheck.com.