Firefighters, dozers, and engines worked into the night on the Alder Springs Fire last night. The blaze is burning in steep and rugged terrain on the Crooked River National Grassland, Prineville District Bureau of Land Management lands, and private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Lower Bridge Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA). The Alder Springs Fire is estimated to be 2,500 acres and is 0% contained.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Incident Management Team, under the command of Ian Yocum, was briefed this morning and is now in unified command alongside the Central Oregon Type 3 Team. Two structural task forces arrived last night and six more arrived this morning. These assets are currently in the Crooked River Ranch community for structure protection. Wildland firefighters are digging fire lines to slow the fire’s progress.
Overnight, fire activity moderated with lower temperatures and higher relative humidities. Crews conducted structure protection through the night and no damage to homes or outbuildings had been reported. The highest priority is accessing Carcass Canyon to prevent additional spotting to the east, across the Deschutes River. Firefighters will work, along with the support of aerial resources, to secure the fire east of the Deschutes River that is threatening Crooked River Ranch.
The current weather—like yesterday—includes hot and dry conditions with westerly winds pushing the fire. Crews, engines, dozers, skidgen, and structure protection task forces will be actively working to suppress the fire and secure the perimeter. Air tankers, helicopters, and single engine scoopers will continue to slow the spread of the fire from the air.
All evacuations issued by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office remain in place today.
