Crooked River Ranch brush fire threatens homes, forces evacuations before C.O. firefighters stop blaze at 8 acres

(Update: New details, photo)

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fast-moving brush fire brought numerous firefighters from several agencies to Crooked River Ranch early Thursday evening, prompting evacuations and call-up of a multi-agency task force that stopped the blaze at just over eight acres.

The Quail Fire, as it was named, was reported by a resident around 5:40 p.m. in the 15800 block of Southwest Quail Road and was reported within a fairly short time to have reached about five acres, moving toward the east and north.

It was burning brush, sage and junipers and spreading toward homes in the area of Ferret Road and Tadpole Court, where a command post was set up.

Level 3 GO NOW evacuations were issued for residents from SW Quail to Tadpole Court, including some residents on Rainbow Road, Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue Paramedic and Public Information Officer Grant Caudel said.

Evacuees were sent to the Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue Station 501, he said.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office initially issued a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation alert for residents on several roads: Quail, Ferret, Tadpole, Frog and Rainbow. It was later downgraded to a Level 2 BE SET notice.

By 6:30 p.m., progress toward the north was reported stopped and work was underway to mop up and check for hot spots. An hour later came word that the over fire had been stopped and a hose line was being built around it.

The fire was mapped at 8.24 acres, Caudel said, and no structures were lost. No injuries were reported from the fire, and the cause is under investigation.

The evacuation notice was later downgraded to Level 1 (BE SET), where the sheriff's office said it would remain through the night, while fire personnel will remain in the area doing mop up and watching for any hot spots.

Caudel said other agencies involved in the task force call-up included the Redmond, Cloverdale, Bend, Jefferson County and Crook County fire departments, as well as the BLM and Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry.

"Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue would like to remind everyone to be sure to have an evacuation plan in place for your pets and your family," Caudle said in a news release.

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