BEND, OR -- With a Red Flag Warning and Heat Advisory in effect for Central Oregon this weekend, the Oregon State Fire Marshal sent two structural task forces to stage in our area, to be ready for an active fire weekend. The two teams from Lincoln and Polk counties got to work moments after arriving Friday.
The Mile Marker 132 Fire was spotted Friday at about 2:30 p.m., between Bend and Redmond, on the east side of Highway 97. Wind gusts caused the fire to grow quickly in the area known as "Dirt World," and then into Juniper Ridge. Evacuations were ordered for Juniper Ridge, Hilltop and Four Seasons mobile home parks, and the Cascade Village neighborhood, north of Cooley Road. Click HERE for current Deschutes County evacuation information. The Red Cross set up a temporary evacuation shelter at Mountain View High School to accommodate those with no other way to escape the heat. At one point, more than 14,000 Pacific Power customers on the north end of Bend were without electricity, due to damaged utility lines. Traffic backed up on Highway 97 as crews worked along the roadway and signals went dark.
Multiple air resources responded and local firefighters from Bend, Redmond and other agencies worked alongside wildland crews. By Friday night, the fire was estimated at about 20 acres. Aircraft were released by 7:20 p.m. and ground resources began mop-up operations.
Friday evening, while crews were still working the Mile Marker 132 Fire, reports started coming in of a fire near Powell Butte, in Crook County. One of the OSFM task forces moved to that incident as the Sheriff's Office ordered evacuations for what was named the Stillman Fire. Click HERE for the latest Crook County evacuation informatio.
That incident led to the closure of Highway 126 for several hours between Parrish and Wiley Roads. A temporary evacuation shelter was created at the Powell Butte Church. By 7:30 p.m. the Stillman Fire was estimated at 10 acres and crews reported they had stopped forward progress.
Pictured: Mile Marker 132 Fire (08/02/24)
