CULVER, OR -- A fire west of Lake Billy Chinook prompted evacuations near the Three River area. The Juniper Creek Fire started around 11 a.m. Sunday, about four miles west of Cove Palisades and 16 miles northeast of Sisters. It is burning southeast of the 2055 road in Township Range 16 and 21, which is South of Graham Road. Its cause is under investigation.

Oregon Department of Forestry crews and others responded and aircraft pulled water from the Metolius Arm of Billy Chinook. Fire operations are managed by a Type-3 Incident Management Team from the Central Oregon Fire Management Service. 

Early on, the fire quickly burned southeast and grew to 100 acres, driven by wind. As of Sunday night, a dozer had lined the fire, which was estimated at about 105 acres. 

Photos courtesy Oregon Department of Forestry 08/20/23