SISTERS, Ore. (KATU) — Firefighters are continuing their relentless battle against the Flat Fire, which has now consumed 21,971 acres just two miles northeast of Sisters, Oregon.
Crews have been working tirelessly since the fire ignited on Thursday afternoon, establishing initial dozer and hand lines around key areas of the blaze.
Eric Perkins, Operations Section Chief for the Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3, said, “We were able to cut in some rough breaks around the fire to stop the spread around key areas and homes. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to improve lines and tie them together. We’re fighting this fire aggressively and safely, in cooperation with a lot of partners to save homes in these communities.”
Firefighters are facing challenging conditions today, with a red-flag warning in effect due to hot temperatures, low humidity, and an unstable air mass.
Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits, complicating efforts to contain the fire. Ground crews are working closely with air resources to slow the fire’s progress and protect threatened structures.
Damon Schulze, Field Operations Chief for the Red Team, praised the coordination among firefighters, saying, “With the challenging weather conditions and changing winds, firefighters coordinated extremely well with all resources in the air and on the ground, defending homes and properties. The teamwork that is going on here is very streamlined.”
PAST COVERAGE: Flat Fire in Oregon grows to 18,000 acres, evacuations in place
Additional personnel and resources are arriving to bolster firefighting efforts.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s structural task forces and Type I strike teams are focusing on protecting homes and critical infrastructure in the most active areas of the fire.
A community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, August 25, at Sisters High School, where local and incident officials will provide updates and answer questions.
Residents are urged to stay out of the fire area for safety, and the Bureau of Land Management has implemented closures.
The American Red Cross has established a shelter at Highland Baptist Church, located at 3100 SW Highland Avenue, Redmond.
The shelter is open 24 hours a day, offering a safe place for overnight stays, daytime drop-ins, meals, and additional resources.
The Jefferson County Fairgrounds is available for large animals. The Flat Fire began on August 21, and a conflagration was declared the following day.
Nearly 4,000 homes remain in evacuation zones, with approximately 1,000 homes under Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders, according to Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert and Lieutenant Nathan Garibay of the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Unit.
During a briefing at the Sisters Rodeo grounds, attended by state, regional, and local partners, fire managers reported that many homes have been saved.
They credited the “outstanding work of fire crews and the efforts of homeowners who created defensible space around their properties.”
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is actively working to confirm the status of homes and structures impacted by the fire.
For those affected, the Flat Fire Assistance Line is operational daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at (541) 550-4888. Voicemails left outside these hours will be returned as soon as possible.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the fire crews, partner agencies, and community members “working tirelessly to protect lives and property.”
Source link
