SISTERS, Ore. (August 28, 2025) — The Flat Fire, burning approximately two miles northeast of Sisters, Oregon, is estimated at 23,380 acres and is 13% contained. Acreage reflects the most current infrared (IR) flight.
A Red Flag warning, issued by our Incident Meteorologist (IMET) for the fire area, brought hot, dry, and windy conditions today. An afternoon wind shift revealed hidden hot spots across the interior of the fire. These hot spots were well inside the fire perimeter – in some cases up to a mile inside the fire footprint.
Throughout the day, crews continued installing hose along control lines to aid in mop-up. Along the eastern edge, mop-up progressed deeper into the fire area, with crews working up to 200 feet from control lines. Along the south and southeastern perimeter of the fire, firefighters wrapped up an extensive hose lay project through steep, difficult terrain. Aerial resources surveyed the fire area, assisting crews in locating hot spots. Minimal fire activity was noted, and crews promptly addressed identified areas. On the northwest perimeter, firefighters prepared to shift towards rehabilitation work on secured sections of line.
Tonight, structural resources will continue to monitor for hot spots around homes. Wildland crews continue to utilize installed hose lines to expand mop-up inside the fire perimeter as they prepare for continued Red Flag conditions in the fire area.
Cooperative efforts have supported steady progress on the Flat Fire, especially in areas near homes and infrastructure. As a result, Deschutes and Jefferson counties have lowered evacuation levels, allowing residents to return home. “The hard work of our firefighters has allowed residents to safely return to their homes, but the work isn’t over. Crews are continuing to stabilize this incident and are working hard to increase containment,” said ODF Incident Commander Tyler McCarty.
To assist residents, structural crews are conducting outreach at homes in the immediate fire area, handing out information packets and conducting walk-arounds to help those returning home after evacuations. Structural resources continue to provide around-the-clock protection to area homes. Their continued presence ensures that local agencies remain supported as work on the fire continues. As conditions continue to stabilize and evacuation levels decrease, OSFM resources will begin returning to serve their own communities.
Firefighter Safety: With the expected increase in weekend traffic and residents returning to affected communities, we’d like to remind the public that fire crews are active in the area. Please drive cautiously and watch for equipment on the roads. If your weekend plans take you outside, please be aware of the fire risks and recreate safely. Hot temperatures, low humidity, and gusty wind conditions persist in the area, naturally increasing fire risk and contributing to potential fire growth. Please help prevent the next wildfire by following all local regulations:
Oregon Dept. of Forestry: https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html
Deschutes National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes/fire/info/public-use-restrictions
Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grasslands: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco/alerts
Oregon/Washington BLM: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire
Evacuations: Evacuations are managed by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Level 1 and 2 evacuations remain in effect under the direction of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Follow their Facebook pages for the latest information and updates. They can also be reached by phone: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 388-6655, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (541) 475-6520.
A 24-hour evacuation shelter has been set up by the Red Cross at Highland Baptist Church located at: 3100 SW Highland Ave, Redmond, OR. Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madras and Kerley Horse Center in Powell Butte are available for large animals.
Local Area closures: To help fire operations and firefighter safety, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service ask that people stay out of the fire area.
The BLM has implemented closures, which can be found under the Prineville tab on the following page: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.
The U.S. Forest Service has implemented closures, which can be found on the following page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes/alerts
As a reminder, drone use near fires is both illegal and extremely dangerous to pilots working on incidents. If you fly, we can’t. FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions are in place for the fire area. All illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.
Smoke Report: The current smoke outlook for Central Oregon can be found on the following page: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/6436a95d?