Incident Information:
Phone Number: 541-800-1280 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
Phone (Media Inquiries): 541-981-6087
Inciweb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orprd-rowe-creek-complex
Facebook: facebook.com/rowecreekcomplex
Email: 2026.RoweCreekComplex@firenet.gov
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Rowe Creek Complex Total:
Estimated Size: 323,951
Location: 10 miles south of Fossil, Oregon
Containment: 60% acres
Cause: Lightning
West Zone Resources:
Total Complex Personnel: 1,985
County Evacuations:
Level 1-3 evacuations. Evacuations are determined by Crook and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices.
Road Closures:
For road closures, visit: https://www.tripcheck.com.
Incident Commanders:
Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 2/Oregon State Fire Marshal Blue Team
Highlights: Fire growth was less than predicted during Saturday’s Red Flag event. In many locations, firelines held during the challenging event due to the hard work of firefighters.
Operations: Sunday, crews continued their work to increase containment in those parts of the fire that remain uncontained. New control lines were built around the fire where it crossed previous control lines near Trout Creek during Saturday’s Red Flag conditions. Helicopter drops assisted in reducing fire activity in the area. Near the Mill Creek Wilderness, crews continued improving the road network to serve as control lines should the fire move into the area, establishing good anchor points to engage the fire if needed. In other areas close to fireline that remains uncontrolled, crews worked to mop up and increase depth along those lines. On the southwest corner of the fire, closest to Prineville, lines were closely monitored for any signs of a breach due to the recent wind event, and none were found. Late yesterday, fire impacted receptive fuels on an uphill slope of East Fork Mill Creek and burned approximately 3,500 acres, producing the column of smoke seen by the local community. During the night shift, fire remained very active until 3 a.m. with spotting occurring up to a half mile from the fire.
Today, crews will continue their work to increase containment around the fire. Infrared imaging from the air will assist ground crews in looking for any heat sources that may threaten established lines. In areas close to Prineville, crews will cut identified hazard trees for firefighter safety as they work in this area. The entire fire perimeter will be continuously monitored, but the northern section is stable enough that some resources will be moved to the area around the Mill Creek Wilderness along with support from newly arrived resources. Chipping will continue along US Highway 26 as efforts continue to keep the fire from crossing that barrier.
Thanks to the effectiveness of coordinated suppression efforts, the threat to structures across the Rowe Creek Complex Fire has been significantly reduced. As a result, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has begun strategically reducing the number of structural task forces assigned to the incident. OSFM structural firefighters shifted several task forces to the Mill Creek Road area as the threat to structures on the west side of the fire decreased. Crews remained actively engaged in tactical patrols along Mill Creek Road, watching for and quickly suppressing any spot fires crossing the roadway, helping keep the fire from advancing closer to nearby homes.
Evacuations: For county evacuation maps, check Crook County: https://protect.genasys.com/, Jefferson County:https://tinyurl.com/bdz88ufn, Wasco County: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or and Wheeler County: https://arg.is/1aDrHm4. A Red Cross shelter is being operated at the East Side Church, 3174 NE Third Street, Prineville.
Weather: Today will be part of a warming trend that will extend for the next several days. Prevailing northwest winds will be very moderate and shift to the north, then northeast as the day progresses. Localized winds will be prevalent at lower altitudes. Humidity will continue to drop. The combination of low humidity and high temperatures will increase fire behavior, causing smoke columns to develop in the afternoon. There is no significant precipitation