SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has deployed Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT 3) to manage the Flat Fire north of Sisters and near Lake Billy Chinook.
The fire started yesterday (Aug. 21) and is now estimated at 9,000 acres. The fire has exceeded the span of control of the local Type 3 Team, so the larger IMT was activated and will take command of the fire tomorrow (Aug. 23).
“This extreme heat and dry fuels have made control efforts hard,” said Ron Graham, Deputy Chief of ODF’s Protection Division. “On the positive side, given the lower number of current fires state-wide there are a lot of resources available to send to the fire.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is overseeing evacuations in the affected area. Community members are urged to stay informed about evacuation levels and be prepared to act quickly. For the latest evacuation information go to the Jefferson County Sherrif’s Office evacuation zones page and the Deschutes County Sherrif’s Office Emergency Info page.
“This is tough for local community members,” said Graham. “Earlier this summer they had to endure the Alder Springs Fires, now this one is adjacent to that burned area impacting many of the same folks.”
Earlier today Governor Tina Kotek determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exists due to the fire, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment, so she invoked the Conflagration Act for the Flat Fire. That allows for more resources to be deployed to the fires to protect life and property. See the news release here.
As firefighters continue to work to suppress fires around the state, ODF urges community members to help reduce the strain on firefighters by preventing new human-caused fires. Follow fire prevention guidelines and know the local fire restrictions currently in place: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx.
The Oregon Department of Forestry is deploying Complex Incident Management Team 3 to manage the Flat Fire north of Sisters. The fire is now estimated at 9,000 acres.