(Update: Bull Springs Fire line about 75 acres; Evacuation level reduced; Downed trees, more photos of power poles)
Band, ore. (KTVZ) – A hurricane with winds blew into the Deecha desert on Sunday afternoon, knocking down many trees and rescuing two wildfires that endangered homes, Descuts River Woods and a road in the Tumalo area.
Ask Structural Defense Forces were called in to help fight the blaze, and mutual aid came from several nearby fire departments.
Bill Buss, the band’s accident commander, said the Bull Springs fire blaze burned about 75 acres north of Chevlin Park near Tumallo. It was almost drawn by dinner, and the crew expects to complete that task on Sunday night.
While some evacuation orders were reduced or withdrawn, and no houses were damaged, two outbuildings were lost in the blaze, said Battalion Chief Trish Connolly. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
The fire burned on private, U.S. Forest Service and BLM-operated lands, the band was under the unified command of the Fire Forest Service and the Reg Reagan Department of Forestry, and numerous resources responded.
The Descendants County Sheriff’s Office issued them at 5:20 p.m. to evacuate Level 3 (GO NOW) from Bull Springs Road to Kuhlman Road, west of Johnson Road. Homes on the east side of Johnson Road were placed on Level 1 (GET READY) notice, meaning residents need to be prepared for potential evacuations, as officials urged others to avoid the area.
Traffic was diverted and Tyler Road was closed. Johnson Road was also closed from Chevlin Park Road to Obi Relay Road.
In an update at 8 p.m., the sheriff’s office fee said evacuation orders were lifted for homes on Johnson, East Sedleback and Tumalo reservoir roads. But Level 3 evacuation remained for homes along Tyler and Kuhlmann roads; Officials said it is possible they will be there overnight. The evacuation notice was also reduced to Level 1 on West Sedleback Road.
An update at 9:20 a.m. stated that only homes along Kuhalman Road remained under Level 3 evacuation; All other areas were reduced to level 1.
Here is an interactive map of the migration areas: https://deschutes.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInifications/index.html?appid=f9de45337eb043fca432548f91d03ad6 and a description of the migration level is available at https: //www.deschutes. org / sheriff / page / emergency-info
Due to the wildfire, volunteers from the Red Cross Cascades area set up a temporary relocation site at High Desert Middle School, 61111 SE 27th Street. “Only those who need help can show up,” the agency said.
Central Oregon Emergency Information Tweeted That band pet resort will accept any pets (cats and dogs) whose owners have been displaced due to an emergency evacuation from the Bull Springs Fire in the Tumallo area, no charge at night. Please call 541-280-2863
As of Sunday evening, the National Weather Service had received reports of winds of 56 mph in Sisters, 55 mph in Lava Butte, 53 mph in Sunrise, 52 mph in Sisters, 50 mph in Band and 48 MPL in Redmond.
The wind caused trees to overturn, some standing on houses or power lines throughout the area, including at least five power poles on Johnson Road. Pacific Power reported that more than 7,000 band-area customers were without service as early as Sunday evening; Check for updates on their map online map.
Officials said desktops south of the band turned the victim’s throat again in River Woods on Saturday and a strong wind blew Sunday afternoon, blowing at 40 miles per hour, threatening homes, preparing to evacuate houses and debris, vehicles. And the outbuildings were burned before stopping.
The crew left at 3:40 p.m. on a brush fire in the 60,000 block of Cinder Butte Road, said Trish Connolly, chief of the Band Fire and Rescue Battalion.
The houses on both Cinder Butt and Apache roads were in danger, as the fire broke out in about four lotto yards, Connolly said.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies issued a Level 3 (now go) evacuation warning and evacuated homes on both streets.
Mutual aid crews were called in from Alfalfa, Cloverdale and Sunriver and the fire was extinguished by 4:30 p.m., the fire burned about an acre and did not include any homes, Connolly said.
A comprehensive outline was underway and it was expected to take a few hours. Connolly said evacuated residents were not allowed to return home until the smoke subsided and further operations were completed.
Amid stormy conditions, the Central Oregon Fire Crew set fire to several escape grounds and yard debris over the weekend.
The winds also caused other issues, including dust blowing and near-zero visibility south of Madras, possibly contributing to the crash on Highway 97.
