Milemarker 132 Fire prompts level 3 ‘Go now’ evacuations near Bend, Redmond

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – Crews are mopping up the Milemarker 132 Fire between Bend and Redmond Friday after the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office announced Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders earlier in the evening.

As of 8 p.m. Friday, Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations are in place for the Juniper Ridge area and homes on the east side of Highway 97 north of hilltop trailer park to the COID power generation facility, the sheriff’s office said.

MAP: Deschutes County evacuations

Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation orders are in place north of Cooley Rd. between Northeast 18th Street and Highway 97, followed by Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation orders on Northeast 18, Talus Place, and homes on the west side of Deschutes Market Road.

These orders come after the sheriff’s office initially issued Level 3 orders in the Juniper Ridge and Cascade Village neighborhood around 4:40 pm.

Officials said the rapidly burning fire started Friday afternoon and spanned 20 acres east of Highway 97, north of Cooley Road and south of Beechcraft Lane.

With help from crews attacking the fire from the ground and with aircraft, officials announced they stopped forward progression of the fire, released aircraft by 7:20 p.m. and were beginning mop up efforts.

The cause of the fire is not clear.

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