A rapidly expanding wildfire in central Oregon has forced more than 1,000 residents from their homes as the blaze threatens nearly 4,000 structures across Jefferson and Deschutes counties.
The Flat Fire, which ignited Thursday afternoon west of Culver in Jefferson County, has grown to 21,971 acres with zero per cent containment as of Sunday. The fire is burning northeast of Sisters and spreading into difficult terrain that hampers firefighting efforts.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued multiple evacuation levels, with the most urgent Level 3 orders affecting areas around Lake Billy Chinook and west of Culver. More than 800 incident personnel are battling the blaze using 92 engines, 22 hand crews, 34 water tenders, and 15 bulldozers, along with extensive aerial support.
Overnight crews established initial bulldozer and hand lines around portions of the fire, making progress along the southern head and portions of the north and west perimeter. Firefighters also conducted controlled burns in the Carcass Creek area to remove unburnt vegetation and slow the fire’s advance.
“We were able to cut in some rough breaks around the fire to stop the spread around key areas and homes,” said Eric Perkins, Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3 Operations Section Chief. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us to improve lines and tie them together.”
The fire has spread into the Whychus and Deschutes canyons, creating access challenges for ground crews. Hot, dry, and breezy conditions continue pushing flames toward grass, brush, and timber areas.
A red flag warning remains in effect with hot conditions, low relative humidity, and an unstable air mass. Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits, creating further challenges for firefighting operations.
Oregon State Fire Marshal firefighters are working in residential areas throughout the southern and southwestern portions of the fire, as well as Crooked River Ranch, suppressing spot fires around structures and monitoring for wind-blown embers.
The fire’s cause remains under investigation. No injuries have been reported, though officials have not confirmed whether any structures have been damaged by the flames.
The incident highlights ongoing wildfire risks across the Pacific Northwest as hot, dry conditions persist into late summer, creating prime conditions for rapid fire spread in grass and timber areas.
