Single Publication

Northwest 3 Complex Incident Management Team   
Lonnie Click ~ Incident Commander  
September 16, 2024

Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires Update

September 16, 2024

Quick Facts: Bachelor Complex

Size: 10,801 acres

Start Date: Sept 8, 2024

Location: Mt Bachelor, 20 miles SW Bend, OR

Personnel: 614

Quick Facts: Firestone & Flat Top Fires

Firestone Size: 9,188 acres

Start Date: Sept 6, 2024

Location: North of Fort Rock, OR

Flat Top Size: 34,985 acres

Personnel: 294

Yesterday, on the northern flank of the Little Lava Fire, dozer and hand lines were improved to Forest Service Road (FSR) 240 and mop up continued along FSR 45. Firefighters also continued to construct a combination of dozer and hand line along the southern and western flanks of the fire. Mop-up was completed on the Backside and 911 fires. On the Flat Top Fire, strategic firing operations were completed on the southwestern flank from FSR 204 to FSR 244 and around Willow and Indian Buttes. Strategic burning was also completed on the northwest corner of the Flat Top Fire. On the Firestone Fire, mop-up continued on the western and eastern flanks of the fire. Crews also continued direct fireline construction on the north side of the fire. The Bachelor Complex received rain yesterday, but the Flat Top and Firetone Fires did not receive precipitation.

Bachelor Complex: On the Little Lava Fire, crews will continue mop-up and fireline construction along the north side of the fire today. On the south and west sides of the fire, firefighters will continue fireline construction directly adjacent to the fire where they can. Operations are complete on the Backside and 911 fires.

Flat Top Fire: Today, firefighters are securing line and mopping up burnout operations from yesterday along FSR 22 near Willow and Indian Buttes. Crews will continue to identify and extinguish sources of heat within the fire perimeter. Crews may conduct small strategic burning operations around the fire to further secure control lines and reduce pockets of unburned vegetation ahead of the fire.

Firestone Fire: Today, firefighters will continue mop-up operations and direct fireline construction on the north side of the fire. Crews may conduct small strategic burning operations around the fire to further secure control lines and reduce pockets of unburned vegetation ahead of the fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Today, spotty rain is still possible across the area with the bulk of the moisture predicted over the Flat Top and Firestone Fires. The chance of rain is 10-15% with wind gusts mainly at higher elevations over the Bachelor Complex and to a lesser extent over Flat Top and Firestone fires.

Evacuations: Emergency management and fire officials are reevaluating 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 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: https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/

InciWeb:

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.../ordef-bachelor-complex...

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.../ordef-flat-top-and...

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