Single Publication

Northwest 3 Complex Incident Management Team   
Lonnie Click ~ Incident Commander  
September 22, 2024

Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires Update
September 22, 2024

Quick Facts: Bachelor Complex
Size: 11,741 acres                     
Start Date: Sept 8, 2024                         
Location: 20 miles SW Bend, OR
Personnel: 292                          
Containment: 39%

Quick Facts: Firestone & Flat Top Fires
Start Date: Sept 6, 2024                 
Location: North of Fort Rock, OR       
Personnel: 116
Firestone Size: 9,462 acres            
Containment: 90%
Flat Top Size: 36,362 acres            
Containment: 86%     

At 6:00 p.m. today, Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 will transition command of the Bachelor Complex to a Central Oregon Type 3 incident management team, while command for Flat Top and Fire Stone Fires will be returned to the Deschutes National Forest and a Type 4 incident commander.   

Dry vegetation and very low humidity contributed to an increase in fire activity Saturday, especially in interior pockets of unburned fuel. Fire 846, in the Kwohl Butte area, is about three acres, and firefighters anticipate one or two more shifts of work to secure the fire.

Bachelor Complex: There was increased fire activity within the interior of the Little Lava Fire as heavy fuels, such as downed logs, continued to consume themselves.  On the uncontained northern edge, near Sheridan Mountain, terrain and wind direction contributed to a slight increase in acreage as the fire backed north, against the wind and topography. Near Forest Service Road 45, crews will continue disassembling hose lays and hauling out hose that is no longer needed. Patrol and mop-up efforts are ongoing as crews address areas of heat found near the line. Brush chipping operations were completed yesterday along the southern flank and suppression repair is ongoing.

Flat Top Fire: No further updates are planned for Flat Top Fire unless conditions change. An infrared flight early Saturday morning indicated heat outside the line near the northwest corner of Flat Top Fire in the area of the previous day’s burnout operation. Firefighters were able secure the two-acre spot by the end of the day. Today, crews will continue mopping-up, chipping brush and doing suppression repair as needed. 

Firestone Fire: No further updates are planned for Firestone Fire unless conditions change. Crews continued to secure and deepen the line on the Firestone Fire along Forest Service Road 100. Today’s plan is to continue mop-up, patrol, brush chipping and suppression repair where needed.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Dry and warmer weather is in the forecast across the fire areas. This warming trend continues into mid-week. Given the predicted wind direction, significant fire perimeter growth is not expected.

Closures: While evacuations have been lifted, there are two temporary emergency fire closure areas on the Deschutes National Forest. To view the updated closure orders and maps, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices. 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CentralOregonFireInfo?app=desktop

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

Smoke & Air Quality Information: fire.airnow.gov