Single Publication

Not Out of The Woods Yet: Strong Winds Return to The Crazy Creek Fire

Daily Update August 17, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 541-208-1768 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.crazycreek@firenet.gov 

Acres: Crazy Creek – 86,928; 87% 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:   574                                          

Resources: 17 crews | 0 helicopters | 24 engines | 7 bulldozers | 18 water tenders | 1 masticator | 
1 skid steers 

Highlights: Containment lines will be tested today on the Crazy Creek Fire as winds gusting up to 30 miles an hour are forecasted out of the south throughout the day. It is some of the strongest winds hitting the fire in the last two weeks.

The Crazy Creek fire is at 86,928 acres and 87 percent containment.

The winds are ushering in increased temperatures and lower humidities into the weekend, which could result in smoldering heat sources becoming more active. 

Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire’s perimeter and extinguish interior hot spots, likely more visible today as winds and heat coax “signal smokes” out of them. Crews are back in the Kitty Creek Fire restoring containment lines to a more natural state to prevent erosion and other negative effects to natural 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: With cooler weather moving out, summer makes its return into the area. Hot, dry weather will return with highs into the 90s. Winds out of the S at 15-20 with gusts up to 30mph and humidities topping out around 80% and dropping down into the mid-teens. 

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/