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Little Lava Fire Updates

Fire west of Sunriver is at 15,000-plus acres; sno-park remains closed for the winter
Post Date:09/09/2024 8:46 PM

October 26
Size: 15,525 acres; 63% containment

This will be the final update for the Bachelor Complex unless significant fire activity occurs.
Firefighters continue patrolling and securing control lines and backhauling equipment. Cooling temperatures, snow and rain have significantly slowed the fire's progress.
 
Hazard tree mitigation is ongoing along roads and trails. The emergency fire area closure remains in place. Edison Sno-Park will remain closed through the winter due to damage to the shelter and hazardous trees.
A map of the current closure area and the order can be viewed here: fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices

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October 14

Size: 15,342 acres Containment: 63%

 

The Little Lava Fire has merged with Incident 913 west of Sheridan Mountain. There were a few spot fires along the northern flank, but firefighters were able to successfully suppress them with the support of aircraft. Mop-up operations continue along the northeastern corner of the fire as crews work to secure the control lines along this perimeter. Crews and heavy equipment also continue progressing north with the shaded fuel break construction along Road 45 to establish an eastern control line.

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October 11
The temporary emergency fire closure area for the Bachelor Complex has expanded. The expansion of the closure area is due to continued fire activity on the Little Lava Fire as hot and dry conditions persist and incursions into the prior closure area.

The temporary emergency fire closure area has been expanded east to include the area west of Forest Service Road 4180 north to the Cascade Lakes Highway. This updated closure is meant to minimize impacts to those who want to hunt and recreate in the area while ensuring that fire operations, including the use of heavy equipment, can safely occur.

People hunting and recreating in the area should consult the closure map before heading out to ensure they are in an open area.

CLOSURE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND HERE

VIEW LAVA CLOSURE MAP

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October 10

Size: 14,771 acres Containment: 63%
 

Firefighters will take advantage of cooler temperatures and cloud cover on the 14,529-acre Little Lava Fire . Resources will focus their efforts on limiting fire progression to the east. Firefighters will begin mopping up the ~100-acre slopover across Road 45 near FSR 4188 and completed burning operations south of the slopover along Road 45. Mop-up operations will include installing hose lays and identifying and extinguishing sources of heat along control lines. Crews will continue reducing fuels working north along Road 45 to prepare the road as an eastern control line. Resources will also look for safe and effective opportunities to engage the fire more directly on the northeastern edge following fire growth this week.

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October 6

Size: 12,232 acres   Containment: 68%
The Little Lava Fire is expected to continue burning slowly north with low to moderate intensity with the current mild, warm weather conditions. Smoky days – either from the fire itself or burn-out operations – will continue to be possible for quite some time until the area receives significant rain/snowfall. 

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September 26
Size: 11,742 acres   Containment: 50%

Forest Service Road 40 will be reopened to the public today at 5pm. Road 45 (road to Mt. Bachelor) will remain closed at this time with the closure point at the Road 45 and Road 40 junction.

Future updates by the Deschutes National Forest will be intermittent, as needed. Information of significance on the Bachelor Complex fires can be found on the Deschutes National Forest Facebook page.

Fire Information Line: 541-249-9829, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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September 25

Today, a cold front will move through the Pacific Northwest, allowing for strong and gusty southwest winds. This may lead to an increase in fire activity and increased smoke coming from the Bachelor Complex fires. There is about a 15% chance for wetting rain with the band of moisture moving in with the front, and a few hundredths of an inch will be possible. Thunderstorms are possible in the surrounding areas.

In the area of Forest Service Road 45 and on the southern edge of the fire, patrol and mop-up efforts are ongoing as crews address any areas of heat found near the line. Road 45 continues to be closed due to firefighting efforts in the area and safety concerns from fire weakened trees near the roadway.

While evacuations have been lifted, there is still a temporary emergency fire closure in place on the Deschutes National Forest for the Bachelor Complex. To view the closure order and map, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices.

Size: 11,742 acres    Containment: 50%                   

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September 23

Here is the link to the video recording from the Sept. 20 town hall: https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/videos/538891455173858
You do not need a Facebook account to view. Simply close out the login window and continue.

Weather conditions today through Thursday are expected to bring warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity to the fire area. Mixed with the critical fuel conditions there will be an increase in fire activity and smoke coming from the Bachelor Complex fires. The Little Lava Fire is at 39% containment.

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September 19

There will be a community meeting at 6 p.m. Friday at the Three Rivers School cafeteria in the Sunriver Business Park.

The Bachelor Complex fires have seen little to no growth over the past several days. Favorable conditions allowed for successful burnout operations on the southern edge of the Little Lava Fire, further strengthening containment lines.

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September 18: Information from Northwest Team 3 on the Little Lava Fire

Firefighters continue to prepare a road system east of Siah Butte for a burn out operation planned for Friday or Saturday depending on favorable conditions to secure the southern side of the fire. Mop-up, patrol and suppression repair efforts will continue along the northeast end of the fire.
Thanks to an increase in firefighting resources (529 personnel) and favorable weather conditions, firefighters have successfully established control lines along the western, southern and eastern perimeters of the Little Lava Fire. This progress has reduced the threat of the fire spreading in these directions.
 
The northern perimeter of the Little Lava Fire, however, encompasses steep and remote rocky terrain. Indirect control lines have been identified as a precautionary measure to contain this area, if needed. This area will remain a focus for firefighters as they closely monitor weather conditions using aerial patrols and advanced predictive modeling to assess whether these lines will be necessary. While minimal fire growth is anticipated on the northern perimeter under these conditions, firefighters will remain vigilant and prepared to implement the indirect control lines if any changes in weather or fire behavior occur.
 
Forest closures remain in place. Spring River Road is closed at Road 41 with road closures including Road 45 to Mt. Bachelor and Road 40 to Cascade Lakes Highway, Crane Prairie. View the closure map at http://deschutes.org/emergency

Smoky days – either from the fire itself or from burn-out operations – may be possible for quite some time until we receive significant snowfall. 

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September 17 Update

With continued the success of fire operations and improved conditions, fire managers are recommending dropping all evacuation notices on the Little Lava/Bachelor Complex. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Sunriver Police Department is lowering all evacuation levels to normal status today. THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS!! 

Even though evacuation levels are dropped, there will be continued hazards near the fires and fire operations. The Deschutes National Forest has implemented Emergency Forest Closures around these fires.

For more information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/deschutes/home

For up to date incident information, go to: http://deschutes.org/emergency 

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September 16 Update

Sunriver remains in a Level 1 evacuation status. Fire crews made great progress over the weekend thanks, in part, to cooler temperatures. Today, crews continue containment lines along the north side of the fire. On the south and west flanks of the fire crews are also working adjacent to the fire, when they can, to create fire breaks in those areas. 

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September 13 Update

3pm update: Sunriver will remain at Level 1 through the weekend. Scroll to the bottom of this notice for other links to fire information. 

8am update: Here is the link to the wildfire meeting presented by the USFS/Deschutes National Forest and other agencies on September 11: 
https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/videos/826947596309263

The USFS/Deschutes National Forest Facebook site posts morning operational updates on fire activity around 9am daily. The fire remains about five miles directly west of Sunriver and greater Sunriver area. 

 Fire Proximity

The yellow zone on this map shows the fire's growth up through Monday evening. The orange is the rapid spread of the fire from Tuesday night into Wednesday – prompting the Level 2 evacuation status for Tuesday and Wednesday.

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September 12, 11am update

Sunriver has been REDUCED TO A LEVEL 1 evacuation status! Still waiting on link to last night's meeting. Thank you for your patience. 

September 12, 8:45am update

Sunriver remains at a Level 2 as of this morning. If things change, it will be posted here. We will also post a link to last night's meeting, once we have that link from the agencies who hosted the meeting.

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September 11, 2:26pm update

A public meeting will be held at Three Rivers Elementary School cafeteria in the Sunriver Business Park at 6 p.m. 

Firefighting resources continued to arrive and engage, and aircraft continues to drop water and fire retardant on fire areas. Additional air resources are also incoming with a helibase to be established at Sunriver Airport today.

September 11, 11:17am update

Emergency management authorities are keeping Sunriver at a Level 2 evacuation status at this time – despite some rain and cooler weather. SROA's facilities/offices remain closed today.

Please do not contact SROA about evacuation procedures or other questions about the fire. We will share information as it is provided by emergency agencies.

To stay abreast of what's happening you can also follow news about the Little Lava Fire and Bachelor Complex fires via the links below, follow local TV/Radio news, posts by emergency agencies on social media, etc. SROA will update this news article as information becomes available.

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September 10, 4:30pm update

Sunriver is moving to a Level 2 "BE SET" evacuation notice due to the spread of the Little Lava Fire west of Sunriver. Be ready to leave your home at a moment's notice. If you can – it's best to leave early and find a friend or family to stay with outside of the community until the threat has passed. 

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September 9, 7:30pm update

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office issued a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation alert at 7:30pm Sept. 9 for Sunriver and the greater Sunriver/Three Rivers areas due to the Little Lava Fire to the west. Some of you may have already received an alert from Deschutes 911. 

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Evacuation Levels

WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Sign up for Deschutes 911 alerts: https://www.deschutes.org/911/page/sign-deschutes-alerts

• Sign up for Sunriver Emergency text alerts: Text SRALERTS to the number 888777.

• Current maps including evacuation areas:  https://deschutes.org/emergency

• Follow Deschutes EverBridge Alerts: https://member.everbridge.net/892807736723736/notif

• Follow Deschutes National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest 

• Learn about evacuation levels and how to be prepared at: https://www.sunriveremergencyinfo.com

• Download the Watch Duty app to your cell phone for fire info, maps and evacuation zones. 


 

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