Brewer, Green Mountain and Crosswhite Fires Merge into Massive Blaze Near Prineville
The merge creates a rapidly expanding complex threatening hundreds of homes, prompting evacuation orders, with a 24-hour flight restriction in effect.
Overview
- The three fires merged Monday, July 27, into a single blaze that incident managers report has grown to more than 250,000 acres.
- Fire crews held key western and northern control lines around Prineville while shifting resources to protect neighborhoods and build indirect lines between McKay Creek and Mill Creek.
- Officials say Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation orders remain in effect and that at least 556 primary residences are currently threatened, with structural protection task forces actively prepping and defending homes.
- Hot, dry conditions and strong gusts that reached about 30 mph earlier in the week produced extreme fire behavior, frequent spot fires and pyrocumulus clouds that limited some aviation operations.
- Highway 26 has seen closures and crews are concentrating work along Marks Creek and Mill Creek roads while a 24-hour Temporary Flight Restriction and land closures remain in place; residents should follow county sheriff channels and fire.airnow.gov for updates.