Brush fire prompts evacuations in Powell Butte

A brush fire broke out in Powell Butte Saturday afternoon that prompted evacuations throughout the West Powell Butte Estates area.

The fire was reported around 2 p.m. and spread quickly thereafter. Saturday evening, Crook County Sheriff John Gautney issued a statement to the public on Facebook that a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation had been ordered for all of West Powell Butte Estates and areas along McCafferty Road and immediately south of McCafferty Road west of Powell Butte Highway. Evacuated residents were directed to go to Powell Butte Christian Church as were households who lost power and needed a place to stay cool.

“Things have been moving fast ... Aerial attacks are currently happening as well as ground attack,” Gautney wrote Saturday. “Redmond airport is giving priority traffic to fire aircraft. This fire is under the command of BLM (Bureau of Land Management) with a joint command with Prineville and Redmond Fire and Crook County Sheriff’s Office.”

Firefighters worked through the night to put preliminary containment lines around the fire perimeter.

On Sunday morning, a Central Oregon Type 3 incident management team took command of the McCaffery Fire. Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center (COIDC) reported Sunday morning that the fire was burning east of the Redmond Airport and south of Highway 126 on Prineville District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands near the Oregon Army National Guard Biak Training Center. The fire had reached 458 acres and was 10% contained.

COIDC reported Sunday that the fire was not a solid black burned area, and that the burn was very spotty, and fire managers anticipated additional work would be needed to refine the containment lines as temperatures heated up Sunday and possible spots were found outside of the preliminary lines. Two heavy helicopters were assigned to the fire to assist firefighters on the ground in cooling hot spots and securing the perimeter. Multiple air tankers remained available to the team, along with 12 engines, two dozers, two skidgines, two water tenders, and one Type 2 initial attack crew.

A Level 3 “Go Now” remained in effect Sunday for the areas on Sunny Sage Road off of McCaffery Road in Deschutes County. Crook County Sheriff’s Office had a Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation notice in place for the area of west Powell Butte Estates and the area to the south of Powell Butte Highway in Crook County.

Crook County Sheriff’s Office reported on its Facebook page Sunday evening that the fire was 25% contained and a few spot fires were contained and extinguished at 1 acre. The West Powell Butte area of the fire remained at a Level 2 evacuation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No other information about the fire was available by press deadline.