Single Publication

+ California Incident Management Team TEAM 1 – JOHN GOSS– INCIDENT COMMANDER

 Minimal growth to Crazy Creek Fire during red flag warning 

Daily Update August 16, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 541-208-1768 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) Email: 2024.crazycreek@firenet.gov Acres: 

Crazy Creek – 86,893; 79% contained Kitty Creek – 73; 100% contained 

Location: Crazy Creek: 5 miles north of Paulina, Oregon; 498/Kitty Creek: 7 miles south of Mitchell, Oregon

Start Date: July 22, 2024 Personnel: 637 Resources: 18 crews | 0 helicopters | 32 engines | 10 bulldozers | 19 water tenders | 1 masticator | 13 skid steers 

Highlights: Despite a red flag warning and midday thunderstorms passing over the Crazy Creek Fire Aug. 15, acreage burned only grew by 23 acres for a total of 86,893 acres. Containment now stands at 79 percent. 

The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning in and around the Crazy Creek Fire until 11 p.m., but thunderstorms produced minimal lightning and winds. Red flag warnings indicate weather conditions conducive for facilitating active fire behavior. 

What lightning was observed all fell within the fire’s containment lines. For a second day in a row, between .10 to .20 inches of rain fell, fortifying smaller-diameter vegetation and debris with additional moisture and resulting in a decrease in heat emitting from larger-diameter materials, according to infrared monitoring. 

Firefighters will patrol the fire’s perimeter and extinguish interior hot spots, particularly stumps and downed logs near patches of unburned vegetation. Crews will also begin repairing or rehabilitating damage to the landscape caused by suppression activities to reduce the likelihood of erosion or negative impacts to resources. 

Evacuations: The Crook County Sheriff’s Office has lowered the evacuation level from Level 3 (recommended evacuation) to Level 2 (set for evacuation) from Highway 380 north to SE Puett Road. The area north of SE Puett Road around the perimeter of the fire remains at a Level 3. The area south of Highway 380 has been lowered to Level 1 (prepare for possible evacuation). An evacuation map is available online through the Crook County Emergency Management Office website.

Weather: Today and into next week hot, dry weather will persist throughout the area with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s, light winds gusting to 21 mph and low humidity.

Importance of Fire Prevention: All public lands in Central Oregon, including the Ochoco National Forest, are in Stage 2 Public Use (Fire) Restrictions. All open flames, including woodstoves and charcoal briquette fires, are prohibited. In times of high fire danger, it is crucial for everyone to follow prevention measures to avoid additional strain on overburdened resources. 

Fire Restrictions and Closures: The Ochoco National Forest has implemented a forest closure for the eastern portion of the Paulina Ranger District. The Bureau of Land Management has issued a temporary closure for portions of public lands in Crook and Grant Counties.

More Information: InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orocf-crazy-creek Facebook: Facebook.com/Crazy Creek Fire Central Oregon Wildfire Information: https://centraloregonfire.org