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: 344,834
Location: 10 miles south of Fossil, Oregon
Containment: 64% acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources:
Total Complex Personnel: 1,678
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: A public meeting is planned for 6:00 p.m. tonight at Barnes Butte Elementary School, 1875 NE Ironhorse Drive, Prineville. Members of the leadership team will present information about the fire. After the presentation, the group will form breakouts so members of the attending public can ask questions in small groups. For those who are unable to attend in person, the presentation will be livestreamed on Facebook at facebook.com/rowecreekcomplex.
Operations: Today marks the demobilization of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Blue Incident Management Team following a successful unified command with Southwest Incident Management Team 2. Throughout the incident, the two teams worked closely together to coordinate structural protection and wildland suppression efforts in support of the Rowe Creek Complex.
Over the past several days, the transition of structural protection responsibilities has been underway to ensure a seamless transfer of operations to Southwest Incident Management Team 2 and local fire agencies. While the incident management team is demobilizing, four OSFM task forces will remain assigned over the next few days to continue supporting operations before returning to their home agencies. Each task force includes five fire apparatus, operational leadership and agency oversight. Should fire conditions change and the threat to structures increase, OSFM remains ready to rapidly mobilize additional resources in support of the incident.
On Wednesday, firefighting effort was focused on Mill Creek area, where several spot fires were suppressed outside of established lines. Despite challenging conditions, and due to previous structure protection preparations, crews were successful in preventing any structure loss in the area. Firing operations in that vicinity were defensive in nature. Along the US Highway 26 and Forest Service Road (FSR) 500 corridors, firefighters continued preparations for last night’s strategic ignition. Last night’s firing operation in that area took advantage of favorable conditions for low-intensity burning along these routes to bolster the fireline. The fire spotted south of FSR 500 during the night, and crews worked to isolate the spot from the surrounding terrain. Other firefighters worked to establish and deepen control lines near Marks and Hamilton Creeks. On the southernmost portion of the fire, near Prineville, fire crews’ efforts were concentrated on securing more lines to prevent any loss of property in the area. Crews are working to ensure the juniper in the fire area near Brewer Reservoir is not concealing heat. No hot spots were found near lines in that area, but crews remained vigilant. Farther north, in the Trout Creek and Cherry Creek area, firefighters are still working to keep persistent fire from crossing established lines. They suppressed a breach of the line east of Cherry Creek late in the day. That breach was behind a previously prepared contingency line. Crews are backhauling some equipment from the northernmost section of the fire for rehabilitation and use elsewhere on this or another fire.
Today’s weather conditions make it a Red Flag, critical day. Fire will be active the entire day. Crews will continue their efforts to keep the fire within established containment lines. Critical parts of the containment strategy include FSR 500 and US Highway 26. Along those lines crews will mop up last night’s burning operation and use direct engagement where it is safe to do so. Crews in the vicinity of the breach near Cherry Creek will work to contain that part of the fire. Structures around Mill, Marks, Hamilton and Mill Creeks have been prepared by structure protection groups, and fire in those areas will be actively suppressed.
Notice: Evacuation statuses, closures (road, lands, airspace, etc.), weather, restrictions and air quality can all change quickly. It is important to pay attention to public service announcements which may come out as phone alerts, radio and TV announcements, and web sites. Many emergency management agencies (such as counties and utilities) offer sign-ups to ensure you are notified of hazardous situations in your community.
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: The incident meteorologist has declared a Red Flag Warning for the fire area. Despite the lack of strong prevailing winds, the temperature, humidity and unstable air masses contributed to this declaration. The warming trend is forecast to top out today at 99 degrees. Tomorrow will see a slightly lower high temperature. Prevailing wind will start out calm and gradually increase to 10 mph tonight. In lower elevations, localized winds driven by diurnal and topological effects will dominate. Fire crews will need to be prepared for winds changing direction and intensity quickly. Relative humidity recovery at night is only reaching 30% and falling into the single digits during the day. Despite the lack of strong winds, the combination of heat and dryness will result in a long period of active fire behavior today. The fire will likely produce large smoke columns as intensity picks up during the day, which adversely affect fire behavior. There is no significant precipitation forecast during the next several days.
Closures and Restrictions: Firefighters are reporting increased traffic in closed areas. For public and firefighter safety, please stay out of these areas. Until cleared for reopening, these areas have hazards, such as fire-weakened trees, stressed roadbeds and bridges, loosened overhead rocks, etc. that are not immediately obvious to untrained eyes. Forest Service closure information can be found at fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco/alerts. For Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closures, refer to blm.gov/programs/fire/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. Units of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are closed. For more information: nps.gov/joda/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. For information on fire restrictions on public and private lands in central Oregon, refer to https://centraloregonfire.org/fire-restrictions/. Road closures can be checked at tripcheck.com. A temporary flight restriction is in place in the area to ensure safe aerial firefighting operations. Unauthorized drone and aircraft operations are illegal in this zone. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3. If you fly, we can’t!
Safety: Air quality in the area has recently experienced every level from Good to Hazardous and can change rapidly. For detailed information, refer to https://fire.airnow.gov/#8/44.457/-120.394. For information on mitigating the effects of wildfire smoke, refer to epa.gov/air-research/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires. Please stay out of closed areas, follow evacuation orders and avoid activities that could spark another wildfire.
Public Meeting: A public meeting is planned for 6:00 p.m., Thursday at Barnes Butte Elementary School, 1875 NE Ironhorse Drive, Prineville. Members of the leadership team will present information and be available to answer questions from the public. For those who are unable to attend in person, the meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook at facebook.com/rowecreekcomplex.
Operations: On Tuesday, firefighters continued stabilizing the area around the previous night’s ignition operation. Other crews worked to prepare Forest Service Road (FSR) 3350 for a burnout operation. These tasks are meant to reduce vegetation between the uncontained fire in and around Mill Creek Wilderness and the eastern outskirts of Prineville. At the same time, other resources used handline, dozer line, and heavy logging equipment to connect the gap in Peterson Creek Road (FSR 3300-500) and widen it to form another contingency line. Last night crews addressed spot fires in the Mill Creek area. Farther north, in the area between Trout Creek and Cherry Creek, fire activity remained high. Crews, assisted by helicopters, successfully worked to keep it within lines in that area. Another attempt was made to reach the uncontained line on the west side of Camel Hump. Firefighters were more successful today than yesterday, but terrain and safety concerns kept them from declaring any additional perimeter contained.
Yesterday, Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) structural firefighters worked in the west and southwest portions of the Rowe Creek Complex, checking homes within the fire perimeter for any remaining hotspots that could pose a threat to structures. Crews continued supporting wildland firefighters by identifying and addressing residual heat near homes while keeping an eye on conditions throughout the day.
Today, crews will continue to gain depth on the burnouts along FSR 3350 and US Highway 26. In the area between Trout and Cherry Creeks, crews will carry on with their suppression efforts to keep that fire within established lines. The work on Peterson Creek Road will establish anchor points to secure firefighting efforts should they be required on that contingency line. Firefighters will continue working to establish safety margins necessary on appropriate sections of the perimeter.
As suppression efforts continue and the threat to structures decreases, two California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) strike teams are demobilizing today and returning to their home agencies. Three OSFM task forces and one Cal OES strike team remain assigned primarily to the Highway 26 corridor near the Marks Creek area, Hamilton Creek area and along Mill Creek Road. Firefighters will continue tactical patrols, protecting homes, and supporting their wildland partners as suppression efforts continue.
Notice: Evacuation statuses, closures (road, lands, airspace, etc.), weather, restrictions and air quality can all change quickly. It is important to pay attention to public service announcements which may come out as phone alerts, radio and TV announcements, and web sites. Many emergency management agencies (such as counties and utilities) offer sign-ups to ensure you are notified of hazardous situations in your community.
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.