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: 373,777
Location: 10 miles south of Fossil, Oregon
Containment: 79% acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources:
Total Complex Personnel: 1,612
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 Red Team
Highlights: The 21% of uncontained fireline on this massive fire amounts to 107.1 miles with 30,000 acres uncontrolled ground. The fire remains very active in the southern section and has shown an ability to escape established lines time and again. Despite improving humidity, fuels remain very dry and events such as today’s Red Flag Warning will continue to test those lines. Firefighters will continue to secure more lines and respond to evolving situations.
Public Meeting:A public meeting is planned for 6:00 p.m. today at Barnes Butte Elementary School, 1875 NE Ironhorse Drive, Prineville. Members of the unified 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.
Red Flag Warning: The National Weather Service has declared a Red Flag Warning from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. A push of monsoon moisture will bring scattered thunderstorms to the area. Low surface humidity will limit precipitation and increase the chance of lightning-caused ignitions. Gusty, erratic outflow winds are expected to reach 40 mph.
Operations: The Red Flag Warning carries a double threat. Dry lightning strikes are possible. The unpredictable outflow winds will test the work put into all lines of this fire. The area has not seen significant wind in many days, and wind can reignite smoldering fuels thought to be extinguished. If strong outflow winds occur near an uncontrolled line, slop-overs or spot fires are possible consequences. Additionally, many fire-weakened trees have not been wind-tested. Today, crews will need to be vigilant for the effects of the Red Flag conditions.
Wednesday, crews completed work along the US 26 corridor to prepare it for reopening. Hazard trees had to be removed and hot spots were extinguished. Chipping and other fuel-reduction strategies were being employed to stabilize the area. Part of the route passes through containment lines that are not yet controlled. When US 26 reopens, Ranger Station Road (County Road 23) and Forest Service Road (FSR) 2610 will remain closed to the public. Watch for announcements at tripcheck.com. Fire suppression activity will be ongoing along US 26, so please drive carefully. Don’t stop on the highway. Firefighters are still working along the corridor. In the dynamic fire environment conditions can change rapidly.
In the Mill Creek area, crews continued fighting fire as it backed downslope towards the developed area. As it approached more level ground, ground crews used direct extinguishment tactics to fight the fire. Additionally, hand and dozer line was successful at stopping its advance. At one point, a burning tree fell across a containment line but firefighters immediately suppressed the resulting slop-over. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters dropped water and retardant to support the ground resources.
Along Ranger Station Road, work to contain the spot fires and slop-overs continued. The areas had already been lined and much of the perimeter had been set with hose lays. Crews were working on adding more depth to the lines as well as those along Forest Service Road (FSR) 100. Repairs on the Keystone infrastructure in this area has permitted part of their electric grid to be reenergized.
Crews have been successful in bringing black to the edge of the lines along Cherry Creek and Tompkins Pass roads. Another infrared (IR) drone flight over the area on Wednesday showed heat remains in the area
Two structural task forces and one strike team of Type 1 engines will continue supporting suppression operations by expanding mop-up around structures to 200 feet and maintaining hose lays to provide reliable water access. Structure operational focus remains in the Marks Creek and Mill Creek areas, with additional structure protection work continuing along Ranger Station Road.
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: It remains a top priority to reduce evacuation status for those displaced from their homes as soon as deemed safe to do so. 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: Aside from the Red Flag Warning previously discussed, today is forecast to have a high temperature of 83 degrees. Sustained Northwest winds will be as high as 8 mph with gusts up to 17 mph. At lower elevations, wind will be thermal and terrain driven in both intensity and direction. Humidity can drop as low as 26% during the day with expected recovery humidity tonight reaching 75%. No significant precipitation is expected.
Closures and Restrictions: Firefighters report increased traffic in closed areas. For public and firefighter safety, please stay out of these areas. Until cleared for reopening, hazards exist that are not immediately obvious to untrained eyes. Ochoco National Forest 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: Fire suppression activity will add traffic to roadways, so stay alert to conditions while driving. Stay out of closed areas, follow evacuation orders and avoid activities that could spark another wildfire. Air quality in the area has 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.