News releases articles

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 Dufur, Ore. – Firefighters worked to hold the fire within existing lines during today’s critical fire weather conditions. Increased winds on the western perimeter resulted in several spot fires starting outside the line. Fire Managers had firefighters ready to respond and as of this update the lines around the spot fires are holding. High winds and low relative humidity will continue into the night. Firefighters will be patrolling for new fire activity and remain ready to...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 Dufur, Ore. –Firefighters completed line across the Tygh Creek drainage last night. Today’s efforts are focused on securing and holding line during the expected critical fire weather conditions. There is a red flag warning for wind and humidity in the area starting at 11 am through 9 pm. Predictions show strong winds with gusts up to 24 miles per hour in the afternoon. Relative humidities continue to remain low, resulting in receptive fuels. Fire activity can increase...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 Dufur, Ore. – Updated mapping now shows the Larch Creek Fire at 18,387 acres. This increase in acreage is not new fire growth. New technology used today through the interagency FireGuard Program allowed a more accurate picture of the fire footprint, particularly east of Highway 197 and north of 216. On the ground, containment increased. Crews continued to reinforce and mop up line around the perimeter, and scouted new dozer line on the southwest portion of the fire while...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 Dufur, Ore. – Fire managers report further progress across the Larch Creek Fire this morning. Overnight, crews undertook mop-up and patrolled around much of the north and east, where lines were reinforced up to 100 feet deep in some locations. On the southwest portion of the fire, firefighters established dozer lines up to the Tygh Creek drainage. They also mopped up around homes where the fire had been active. Today offers crews the opportunity to “tie together” the...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 **COMMUNITY MEETING LOCATION CORRECTION** Tonight, the Community Meeting will be held at 7 PM at the 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗚𝘆𝗺𝗻𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺, 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘄𝘆 𝟭𝟵𝟳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁. 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗻, 𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗻. Dufur, Ore. – Crews took advantage of calmer winds and additional resources today to make progress on the Larch Creek Fire. Air resources supported crews on the ground with helicopters, single engine air tankers, and scoopers. On the north side, firefighters...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 Dufur, Ore. – Fire growth on the Larch Creek Fire remain driven by afternoon winds and highly receptive fuels. An infrared flight this morning showed approximately 3,100 acres of growth from yesterday. Fire behavior moderated overnight with lower temperatures and winds. This allowed firefighters to engage closer to active areas of the fire, building line and securing perimeters around Shadybrook Road and Highway 216 west of Tygh Valley. High temperatures and windy...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook Incident contact information: Larchcreekfireinfo@gmail.com 541-316-8289 Dufur, Ore. – Fire activity remained high today on the south side of the fire, escalating evacuations for nearby communities of Pine Hollow and Wamic. Today, the fire crossed Badger Creek Road and spread south toward highway 216. While resources continued ground attack and water drops along the active edge of the fire. Crews worked through the day to secure the north side of the fire, building dozer line and engaging in direct attack where possible. Additional resources...

Dufur, Ore. – With a Red Flag warning across the fire area today the high winds, high temperatures and low relative humidity moved the Larch Creek Fire across Highway 197 and continued its fast moving growth to the east. The Wasco County Sheriffs Office and the Incident Commanders of the Unified Command, Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency IMT and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Green Team worked together to quickly elevate the evacuation levels. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 2 has been ordered and will be arriving tomorrow morning. They will be in...

Larch Creek Fire Facebook DUFUR, Ore. – Initial attack crews worked through the night putting in dozer line and burnouts along the east and west flanks from the north down to the unsecured south. The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Fire Management Team as well as the Green Incident Management Team from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are in place at the Dufur High School. Today, resources from state, local, and federal agencies will work on transitioning night shift crews to day shift while slowing progression towards Highway 197 and nearby Shadybrook community to the...

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – All lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District are now in Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) 3 in MH-1 (portions of Hood River and Wasco counties). With continued high temperatures, winds and drying fuels, the district is issuing public restrictions and regulated use closures in recognition of the increasing fire danger in order to reduce the risk of human-caused fires. The Central Oregon District restricts the following activities: Use of fireworks and blasting is prohibited. No debris burning,...

The Dalles, Ore. – Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District, U.S. Forest Service, local fire districts and landowners have quickly responded to a wildfire near Friend, OR. Firefighters are under initial attack and will continue operations into the night. The fire is currently burning with moderate-to-high spread, estimated at 3,500 acres in grass and timber fuel types. Containment is at 0%. The Larch Creek Fire is located 5 miles southwest of Dufur, OR near Friend, OR. It is burning southeast of Winslow Road in Township 2S Range...

Mechanized Harvesters with High Speed Rotary Saws Chainsaws Tracked Felling or Skidding Equipment Slash Buster/Mastication Equipment Cable Yarding Systems As authorized under ORS 477.625(1)(a) and OAR 629-043-0026(5), the following precautions are required as a condition of the Permit to Operate Power Driven Machinery within the Central Oregon Forest Protection District of the Oregon Department of Forestry: REQUIRED SHUT DOWN: Except at landings, the use of mechanized harvesters with a high-speed saw, chainsaws, tracked felling or skidding equipment, slash busting...

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Starting Monday, July 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District, the district’s fire danger level will be “High,” and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be II (two) in MH-1 (portions of Hood River and Wasco counties). With continued high temperatures, winds and drying fuels, the district is issuing public restrictions and regulated use closures in recognition of the increasing fire danger in order to reduce the risk of human-caused fires. With that in mind, the...

Prineville, Ore. – Fire season on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will begin June 10, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. Starting this Monday, the district’s fire danger level will be “Moderate”, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be I (one) in MH-4 and MH-1 (Hood River and Wasco County). Earlier this year, fire managers were optimistic regarding this year’s fire season due to the higher-than-normal snowpack. However, due to the decline in spring rain, rise in temperatures, and windy conditions, the fine...

Prineville, Ore. — Due to cooler temperatures and significant rainfall, fire season ends today for the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District. This termination of fire season applies to all ODF-protected lands in the Central Oregon District. Though fire season is over for the district, Oregonians should still check local fire districts to obtain any necessary permits before debris burning. Wasco County’s burn ban is in effect until Oct. 16. “We saw a lot of successes this season thanks to the hard work of our firefighters, the strong...

Prineville, Ore. – Starting this Friday (September 22) at 12:01 a.m., the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will move down to a “Moderate” fire danger level and additional restrictions under Regulated Use Closure will be terminated for all lands protected by the district. In addition, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will change to I (one) for MH-4 in Hood River County (west of Hwy 35) and for MH-1 (east of Hwy 35 in Hood River and Wasco Counties). While conditions have dropped to Moderate fire danger, backyard debris burning...

Sisters, Ore. – Preliminary findings in the Juniper Creek Fire investigation indicate that the fire cause was consistent with target shooting. The Juniper Creek Fire started August 20, 2023, and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) contained it at 106 acres. The responsible party took several safety precautions while shooting on their property.  Nevertheless, a bullet fragment appears to have ignited the fire. With how dry the conditions were, the fuels were extremely receptive to ignition sources. As soon as the fire was noticed, it was reported to 911. “This is...

The Dalles, Ore. – As of Monday, September 4, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. ODF’s The Dalles Unit will be reducing industrial fire precaution level (IFPL) to an IFPL II (two) for MH-1 and MH-4 (Hood River and Wasco County). The Central Oregon District is in High Fire Danger and the burn ban and Regulated Use Closure on ODF-protected lands and all fire districts in Hood River and Wasco County remains in effect. Under IFPL II, the use of fire or power-driven machinery in any operation area is unlawful unless such use is in compliance with the following: Limited Shutdown: The...