Single Publication

Crazy Creek Stands the Test of Time: Lines Hold After 50 mph Wind Gusts

Daily Update August 18, 2024

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

Email: 2024.crazycreek@firenet.gov 

Acres: Crazy Creek – 86,928; 93% 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:   564                                          

Resources: 17 crews | 0 helicopters | 21 engines | 6 bulldozers | 18 water tenders | 1 masticator | 
6 skid steers 

Highlights: Wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour were recorded Aug. 17 over the Crazy Creek Fire, but containment lines held. The fire remains at 86,928 acres, with containment increasing to 93 percent.

The stronger wind speeds rekindled larger heat sources within the interior of the fire, such as burned tree stumps and logs, but there were no reports of spreading flames. 

Firefighters will remain on patrol to maintain current containment lines and extinguish interior hot spots as lower humidity levels are making smaller-diameter vegetation and debris more susceptible to ignitions. Crews are also rehabilitating fire lines around both the Kitty Creek and Crazy Creek Fires to return them to a more natural state.  

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: We can expect hot, dry, and windy conditions into next early next week. Temperatures will remain close to the same as well as humidity down into the teens. Winds are expected to remain around the 10 to 15 miles per hour range, but become less frequent.

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/