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Bachelor Complex Update October 11, 2024

There was minimal fire activity on the 14,529-acre Little Lava Fire yesterday and it remains 63% contained. Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures and cloud cover to continue securing and establishing control lines. 

Yesterday, firefighters worked to extinguish sources of heat 100 feet in along the fire’s edge on the northeastern flank. Crews identified and mopped up a small spot fire east of the slopover across Forest Service Road (FSR) 45 near FSR 4188 that had been smoldering since the increased fire activity on Tuesday. Resources continued reducing fuels along FSR 45 on the eastern flank and FSR 4525 and FSR 4529 on the western flank to prepare the roads as control lines ahead of the fire. 

Limiting fire progression to the east remains the priority today. Mop-up operations along the northeastern flank of the fire will continue to secure control lines. Firefighters are also gridding to the north and east ahead of the fire to look for any additional smoldering spot fires that might be lingering from the increased fire activity on Tuesday.

Crews and heavy equipment will continue constructing a shaded fuel break as needed along FSR 45 to reduce fuels and prepare the road as an eastern control line. Air resources are available to help the crews that are working to keep the northeastern corner of the fire in check while a control line is established along FSR 45. Resources are also assessing safe and effective opportunities to engage the fire more directly on the northeastern edge. 

Cooler temperatures are expected over the next couple days which will aid suppression efforts. 

The Deschutes National Forest updated and increased the temporary emergency fire closure area for the Bachelor Complex yesterday. The closure area was expanded east to include the area west of FSR 4180 north to Cascade Lakes Highway. The expansion was due to continued fire activity on the Little Lava Fire as hot and dry conditions persist and incursions into the prior closure area. A map of the updated closure area and the order can be viewed here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices.

For current wildfire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X (Twitter) @CentralORFire.