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Crazy Creek

Unit Information

3160 NE Third Street 
Prineville, 
Oregon 
97754 
3160 NE Third Street 
Prineville, 
Oregon 
97754 

Incident Contacts

Public and Media Information
Phone: 541-208-1768
Hours: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The Crazy Creek Fire started July 22 from lightning about 16 miles north of Paulina, Oregon. The incident is being managed by California Incident Management Team 1, under the command of John Goss. Command was transferred from Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 to California Incident Management Team 1 at 6 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

Acreage: Crazy Creek 82,279; 498/Kitty Creek 73
Acreage changes may occur due to overnight operations and infrared mapping.

Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

Basic Information
Current as of Mon, 08/26/2024 - 16:00
Incident Time Zone America/Los_Angeles
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning/Natural
Date of Origin
Location Crazy Creek:16 miles north of Paulina, OR
Incident Commander California Incident Management Team 1. Incident Commander John Goss assumed command at 6 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2024.
Coordinates 44° 21' 29'' Latitude
-120° 1'
51
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 641
Size 82,279 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 60%
Estimated Containment Date 09/20/2024
Fuels Involved

Short grass (1 foot), brush (2 feet), and timber (litter and understory)

Significant Events

Active fire behavior continues in the northeast portion of the Crazy Creek Fire, where large interior patches of unburned vegetation near Little Summit and Wolf and East Wolf Creeks continue to be consumed. Overnight firing operations were carried out along the northeast perimeter to buffer against potential spotting from the burned tree islands and add depth to containment lines.

 

Outlook
Planned Actions

Resources will hold and improve current containment lines. Crews will initiate firing operations, as appropriate, to buffer lines and consume interior pockets of unburned vegetation to prevent future spotting issues. Firing operations from previous shifts will be patrolled, secured, and mopped up. Structure protection measures are ongoing in Toggle Meadows, around historical Forest Service infrastructure (Rager Ranger Station, Wolf Mountain Lookout, Salter Cabin), and campgrounds. The Initial Attack Group will respond to any new starts within the temporary flight restriction area surrounding the fire's perimeter.

Projected Incident Activity

12 hours: Active fire behavior is expected as fire spreads through complex topography in Thornton, Bear Mountain, Wolf, and East Wolf Creek this evening. Slope reversal, slope/fuels alignment, or passive crown fire activity will increase the potential for extreme fire behavior across the eastern flank of the fire. An active edge of fire from Toggle Creek southeast toward Wolf Creek will continue to spread to the east through surface fire and active (torching, and spotting) fire as backing and flanking fire from firing operations is pushed to the west. 

24 hours: High temperatures, low relative humidity, and fire within complex drainages is expected to support active to extreme fire behavior where fuels align with topography or winds. Alignment in Bear Mountain, Wolf, and Sugar Creek along the east and southeast flanks will increase fire activity and resistance to control along containment lines. Potential for spot fires along the entire eastern flank of the fire will remain very high. Active fire edges along the east can see spread distances of 3 miles or more in the absence of containment lines or suppressions efforts. Increased fire spread rates will pose risks to values to the north, east, and south.
 

Remarks

Transfer of command from Southwest Area Incident Command Team 5 to California Incident Management Team 1 occurred at 6 a.m. Aug. 10.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for areas in Crook and Wheeler Counties for areas in or ear the fire. A LEVEL 1 evacuation area is in place for Grant County east of the fire. Addition information can be found on the Crook County Office of Emergency Management evacuation map.

The Ochoco National Forest has implemented a forest closure for the Paulina Ranger District. The Paulina District Complex Fire Closure went into effect July 25. Identified areas, roads, and trails therein are closed to public access for enhanced safety of firefighting personnel and the public. The Bureau of Land Management has issued a temporary closure for public lands in Crook and Grant Counties. 

A temporary flight restriction has been put in place over the fire area. Drone flights are also prohibited within this area.

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

Forecasted morning and early afternoon winds out of the southwest are expected to test containment lines along the northeast perimeter, where overnight crews lit backfires to buffer potential spotting from the burning tree islands. Winds should shift to a southeasterly direction by mid to late afternoon.

Temperatures continue in the 80s and 90s with a slight cooling trend taking place later in the week. No to little precipitation forecasted.