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(Update: Bull Springs Fire nearly lined up on about 75 acres; reduced evacuation levels; more photos of downed trees, utility poles)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A windstorm hit the high desert with gusts of up to 50 mph on Sunday afternoon, knocking down many trees and causing two wildfires that threatened homes, causing evacuations and roads closed in Deschutes River Woods and in the Tumalo area.
Structural protection forces were called in to help fight the fires, and mutual aid came from several fire departments nearby.
Bend Fire Incident Commander Bill Boos said the Bull Springs Fire burned about 75 acres north of Shevlin Park, near Tumalo. It was almost on the edge of dusk, and the crews expected to complete this task on Sunday night.
Some evacuation orders have been reduced or lifted, and while no houses were damaged, two outbuildings were lost in the fire, Battalion Chief Trish Connolly said. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The fire burned down on private land, managed by the US Forest Service and the BLM.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported that at approximately 5:20 p.m. it had issued Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations west of Johnson Road from Bull Springs Road to Kuhlman Road. Homes on the east side of Johnson Road have been placed on Level 1 (PREPARE), meaning residents must be prepared for potential evacuations, as authorities urged others to avoid the area.
Traffic was diverted and Tyler Road was closed. Johnson Road was also closed from Shevlin Park Road to OB Riley Road.
In an update just before 8 p.m., the sheriff’s office said evacuation orders had been lifted for homes on Johnson, East Saddleback and Tumalo Reservoir roads. But Level 3 evacuations remained in place for homes along Tyler and Kuhlman Roads; officials said it was possible for them to stay there overnight. The evacuation notice has also been reduced to Level 1 on West Saddleback Road.
A 9:20 pm update indicated that only homes along Kuhlman Road remained under Level 3 evacuation; all other areas have been reduced to level 1.
An interactive map of evacuation zones is available at: https://deschutes.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=f9de45337eb043fca432548f91d03ad6 and a description of evacuation levels is at https: // www .falls. org / sheriff / page / emergency-information
Due to the wildfires, Red Cross Waterfall Region volunteers set up a temporary evacuation site at High Desert High School, 61111 SE 27th Street. “Anyone who needs help can just come forward,” the agency said.
Central Oregon Emergency Information tweeted that Bend Pet Resort will accept all pets (cats and dogs) whose owners are displaced due to the Bull Springs Fire Emergency Evacuation in the Tumalo area at no overnight charge. Please call 541-280-2863
Early Sunday evening, the National Weather Service had reports of winds blowing 56 mph at Sisters, 55 at Lava Butte, 53 mph at Sunriver, 52 mph at Sisters, 50 mph at Bend and 48 mph at Redmond.
The winds knocked down trees, some on homes or power lines across the area, including at least five utility poles that descended along Johnson Road. Pacific Power reported that more than 7,000 customers in the Bend area were without service early Sunday evening; check for updates on their map online.
A burn pile on Saturday in the woods of the Deschutes River, south of Bend, reignited and spread rapidly on Sunday afternoon amid winds blowing over 40 km / h, threatening homes, causing evacuations and burning debris, vehicles and outbuildings before his shutdown, officials said.
Crews were dispatched around 3:40 p.m. to the reported bushfire in the 60,000 block of Cinder Butte Road, Bend Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Trish Connolly said.
Homes on Cinder Butte and Apache roads were threatened, as the fire swept through the yards of around four lots, Connolly said.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies issued a Level 3 Evacuation Alert (GO NOW) and evacuated homes on both streets.
Support teams were called from Alfalfa, Cloverdale and Sunriver, and stopped the progress of the fire around 4:30 p.m. The fire burned about an acre and no houses were involved, Connolly said.
A full overhaul was underway and should take a few hours. Connolly said evacuated residents were not allowed to return home until the smoke was removed and other overhaul work was completed.
Fire crews in central Oregon have been called in for several field and garden debris burns that escaped over the weekend in windy conditions.
The winds also caused other problems, including dust and near zero visibility south of Madras, possibly contributing to crashes along Route 97.
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