Single Publication

Northwest 3 Complex Incident Management Team   
Lonnie Click ~ Incident Commander  
September 14, 2024

Bachelor Complex and Flat Top and Firestone Fires Update

Quick Facts: Bachelor Complex   
Size: 10,801 acres                   Start Date: Sept 8, 2024     Location: 20 miles SW Bend, OR  
Personnel: 436                                       

Quick Facts: Firestone & Flat Top Fires  
Firestone Size: 9,117 acres     Start Date: Sept 6, 2024      Location: North of Fort Rock, OR  
Flat Top Size: 33,172 acres     Personnel: 229                                  

Yesterday, firefighters continued to establish containment lines and conduct strategic burning operations on the Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires. Due to the decrease in temperatures and wind, the fires produced less smoke than in previous days. Unburned pockets of vegetation continue to burn and produce smoke within the interior of the Firestone and Flat Top Fires. Crews also worked night shifts to patrol and secure these areas. These are priority fires in the region and more personnel, heavy equipment and aerial resources continue to arrive to support suppression efforts. Today, firefighters will continue to establish and secure containment lines and conduct tactical burning operations around the Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires.

Bachelor Complex: The higher elevation fires in the Bachelor Complex near the Cascade crest have experienced minimal fire growth over the last three days due to cooler temperatures, higher moisture levels and good overnight humidity recovery. Crews continue to mop up and secure the eastern flank of the Little Lava Fire east of Forest Service Road (FSR) 45. Firefighters will continue to scout for opportunities to establish and connect control lines to Edison Trail north of the Little Lava Fire perimeter. On the Backside and 911 Fires, crews will continue to strengthen containment lines and extinguish sources of heat within the fire perimeter. 

Flat Top Fire: Yesterday, firefighters successfully used tactical firing operations to secure control lines along FSR 410. If conditions are favorable, firefighters plan to continue strategic firing operations today to help secure control lines along the western flank near Willow Butte and northeast corner from FSR 410 towards FSR 470 and FSR 18. 

Firestone Fire: Resources continue to reinforce containment lines along the southern and southwestern flanks of the fire near the base of East Butte to FSR 220. Today, crews will also continue to prepare roads south and southeast of the fire in preparation for potential burning operations in the coming days. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Vegetation on the Bachelor Complex fires will continue to dry out a little with temperatures today in the mid-50’s. West, northwest winds could gust up to 20 mph this afternoon. On the Firestone and Flat Top Fires, moisture levels will drop and are expected to reach 25-30% relative humidity this afternoon with warm weather in the mid-70’s. The wind will shift to the northwest this afternoon with gusts up to 18 mph. Saturday night a passing shower is possible late with patchy fog mainly over the Bachelor Complex.  

Evacuations: Deschutes County lowered some evacuation levels on the Bachelor Complex yesterday, September 13. Emergency management and fire officials are revaluating evacuation levels daily. Level 3 evacuations mean “Go Now,” Level 2 means “Be Set” and Level 1 means "Be Ready.” To view current evacuation levels, please visit the Deschutes County Emergency Information Interactive Map at: http://www.deschutes.org/emergency. For Lake County evacuation information, please visit: https://www.lakecountyor.org/flat_top.php 

Closures: There are two temporary emergency closure areas on the Deschutes National Forest for these fires. View the updated closure orders and maps on the Deschutes National Forest site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices. 

Facebook: facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/  

InciWeb:
inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-bachelor-complex-fires   
inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-flat-top-and-firestone-fires   

YouTube:  youtube.com/@CentralOregonFireInfo

Fire Information Line: (541) 249-9829, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Smoke & Air Quality Information: fire.airnow.gov