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: 357,895
Location: 10 miles south of Fossil, Oregon
Containment: 73% acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources:
Total Complex Personnel: 1,616
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: On another Red Flag Day, firefighters will continue their efforts along US Highway 26 in an attempt to contain the fire and reopen the important thoroughfare to the public.
Operations: Thursday, fire behavior was very active given the prevailing weather conditions. Crews worked to defend the lines formed by the burnouts along Forest Service Road (FSR) 500 and US Highway 26. This work was complicated by a spot fire across FSR 500 the previous night. Dozers and handlines were used to tie the spot fire into existing lines. Along FSR 500, after the inversion broke, ground crews were supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft dropping water and retardant. Firefighters continued preparing along US Highway 26 farther south and performed more strategic ignitions overnight. Crews were successful in keeping fire east of Cherry Creek and south of Tomkins Pass Roads. The fire remains very active from Trout Creek east to Cherry Creek, so firefighters supported by bucket drops continue to work that section of line. Firefighters looked for manmade and natural features to build into contingency lines south of FSR 500, east of US Highway 26 and north of the Cherry Creek to Trout Creek due to areas of active fire behavior. Near Mill Creek south of FSR 500, fixed-wing tankers dropped retardant to support contingency line construction. On the south and west sections of the perimeter from Johnson Creek to Brewer Reservoir, the extreme conditions roused activity that had been dormant for days. None of the resurgent hot spots in this area were closer than 150 feet from firelines. Firefighters were prepared for this and aggressive mop-up kept fires from breaching lines. Structure protection task forces worked in the areas of Hamilton, Marks, and Mill Creeks as well as around Cougar Mountain. They remain prepared and staged to move quickly wherever they are needed. The western side of the Camel Hump section of fire was declared contained. More equipment was backhauled from the northern sections of the fire to be rehabilitated for later use.
Today, firefighters will continue the efforts of yesterday. Primary objectives will be to keep the fire within established control lines while scouting and preparing contingency lines. Crews will continue to use natural and manmade features to build a web of contingency lines. Along US Highway 26, preparations will continue to keep the fire from crossing the road. Vegetation removal, chipping and strategic firing operations will all be employed in this effort. Structure protection task forces will be deployed wherever necessary to protect homes and other values at risk.
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: Today will be almost as hot as Thursday, with no improvement in humidity. The incident meteorologist has declared it another Red Flag Day. Due to limited visibility, aircraft use on the fire will be limited until the inversion breaks up. High temperatures will be in the 90s. Prevailing winds will once again be very mild, reaching 7 mph sustained and gusts of 15 mph. Wind at lower elevations will be driven by diurnal and topological effects. Crews will need to be prepared for quickly changing wind in both direction and intensity. Relative humidity recovery was as low as 17% last night and might reach single digits in the daytime. Fire behavior will remain very active today. Smoke columns will likely be produced, an effect which can cause a rapid spread of the fire when they collapse. 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, there are 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.