Firefighters responded to seven new fires Wednesday, including the Willow Fire burning on Prineville District BLM land 20 miles north of Glass Butte.
The Willow Fire is now estimated to be 800 acres. BLM and USFS engines, dozers and a skidgen, along with Brothers-Hampton Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) resources are responding to the blaze along with Type 3 Incident Commander, James Purswell. Multiple aerial resources have supported firefighting efforts today, including heavy helicopters and a Large Air Tanker (LAT) providing retardant drops to slow growth and protect values at risk, including private land infrastructure and sage grouse habitat.
Crook County has issued evacuation orders for the Willow Fire, including Level 3 GO NOW evacuations for the immediate area around Willow Butte, as well as Level 2 BE SET evacuations south of the fire. The fire remains 0% contained and firefighters will stay on the fire through the evening hours to construct fire line and establish an anchor point and fire perimeter.
The other 6 new fires in Central Oregon have been staffed and all remain under one acre at this time.
Information on this fire will be posted on the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org or on X/Twitter @CentralORfire.
Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
