Wind-driven wildfire spreads near popular central Oregon vacation spot and prompts evacuations
In this image provided by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Oregon. smoke rises from a wildfire on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in La Pine, Ore. The wildfire near the popular vacation destination of Bend, is growing rapidly. Officials on Wednesday urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor. (Capt. William Bailey/Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Oregon via AP)
LA PINE, Ore. (AP) — A wildfire in Oregon’s high desert, near the popular vacation destination of Bend, grew rapidly Wednesday, and officials urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor.
In this image provided by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Oregon, smoke rises from a wildfire on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in La Pine, Ore. The wildfire near the popular vacation destination of Bend, is growing rapidly. Officials on Wednesday urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor. (Capt. William Bailey/Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Oregon via AP)
The wind-driven Darlene 3 wildfire was just outside city limits of La Pine, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Bend, and grew to nearly 4 square miles (10 square kilometers).
In this photo provided by the Deschutes County Sherriff's Office, smoke rises from a wildfire near La Pine, Oregon, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Gusty winds fueled a rapidly growing wildfire just outside the central Oregon community of La Pine and prompted evacuations. (Sgt. Kyle Kalambach/Deschutes County Sherriff's Office via AP)
Video taken Tuesday showed a huge plume of thick smoke billowing behind homes, strip malls and grocery stores. Officials set up an evacuation center at a local high school and were working to get horses and other animals out of the area.
“We’re doing much better than we were yesterday,” Geoff Wullschlager, city manager of La Pine, said Wednesday.
Firefighters were able to build a defense around the fire overnight, and fire managers listed the blaze at 30% contained Wednesday.
The concern, however, was stronger winds forecasted for later Wednesday, which again could fan the fire.
Evacuation alerts were sent to 1,100 homes and businesses Tuesday, said Lt. Jayson Janes of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. Those orders remained in effect Wednesday, Central Oregon Fire Info said. Janes said about 50-60 people sought refuge at a local high school serving as an evacuation center.
It was not known whether any structures had burned.
Jenny Braden didn’t have to go far to see the plume rising on the outskirts of La Pine. All she had to do was walk outside her house, where the swell of smoke was visible at the end of her street.
In this image provided by Jenny Braden, smoke rises from a wildfire on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in La Pine, Ore. The wildfire near the popular vacation destination of Bend, is growing rapidly. Officials on Wednesday urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor. (Jenny Braden via AP)
When she and her mother received an evacuation notice, they grabbed their four cats, a few personal items and left the house.
They then “spent the next few hours at Dairy Queen, watching the fire grow,” she said by text to The Associated Press on Wednesday. They went to a shelter, where they were informed their evacuation level wasn't meant for immediate displacement and they could go home if they wanted.
Smoke from a wildfire rises on a road near La Pine, Ore., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The fire prompted mandatory evacuations in the small town in central Oregon and was growing rapidly in hot, dry conditions. (Jim Pharris via AP)
They did but were focused on the fire all night in case they had to move quickly.
In this photo provided by the Deschutes County Sherriff's Office, smoke rises from a wildfire near La Pine, Ore., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Gusty winds fueled a rapidly growing wildfire just outside the central Oregon community of La Pine and prompted evacuations. (Sgt. Kyle Kalambach/Deschutes County Sherriff's Office via AP)
They have never had to evacuate before, but there were many close calls in the last several years, Braden said.
“This is first that was so close, so quickly, and at a level two,” she said. “It’s super scary!”
Braden was working from home Wednesday, distracted by helicopters and airplanes flying overhead, dropping retardant and water on the fire.
“We’re keeping an eye out, packed more things and keeping the cats in the living room just in case we need to head out again,” she said.
Central Oregon Fire Management Service firefighters used dozers, or heavy construction equipment adapted to battle wildfires, to establish control lines around the blaze.
The Apache Fire burns in Butte County, Calif. Monday, June 24, 2024. Improved weather conditions aided firefighters Tuesday as they battled the rural northern California wildfire. (Cal Fire via AP)
La Pine High School was serving as a temporary evacuation point while La Pine Rodeo Grounds was hosting a livestock and small animal shelter.
TV station KTVZ reported that several U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and trails had been evacuated and closed.
La Pine is about 192 miles (309 kilometers) south of Portland.
The fire is among the latest dangerous ones in the U.S.. In New Mexico, thousands of people fled their homes last week as two fast-moving wildfires approached their village. Search and rescue crews this week have cleared more properties in the areas of Ruidoso, the mountain community that was hit hardest by the flames.
In the central area of California, a new group of three large wildfires and several smaller ones covered nearly 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) in rural eastern Fresno County, with 15% containment. The Fresno June Lightning Complex was ignited in rugged foothills as remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto flowed across the state Monday afternoon.
The Apache Fire burns in Butte County, Calif. Monday, June 24, 2024. Improved weather conditions aided firefighters Tuesday as they battled the rural northern California wildfire. (Cal Fire via AP)
“We had over a thousand lightning strikes to hit the county,” Dustin Hail, the Cal Fire unit chief, said at a briefing, adding that other fires that have not yet shown themselves could emerge over several days.
A firefighter uses a hose while a helicopter drops water as the Apache Fire burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Several areas were under evacuation orders or warnings, and a shelter was set up at a college.
In Southern California, evacuation orders for about 2,500 San Diego residents were lifted after firefighters stopped a fire's spread through a nature preserve near Torrey Pines State Beach on Tuesday. Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
In rural Northern California, a fire that threatened the community of Palermo late Monday lost steam as weather improved the next morning, and residents were allowed to return home. The Apache Fire destroyed two structures in its initial surge over about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers).
A helicopter drops water on the Apache Fire as it burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
___
Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska. Also contributing were AP writers John Antczak in Los Angeles, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska.
Mark Thiessen, The Associated Press
In this June 25, 2024, image provided by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, a Jefferson County Fire and EMS vehicle is seen as smoke rises from a wildfire near La Pine, Ore. The wildfire in Oregon's high desert, near the popular vacation destination of Bend, grew rapidly Wednesday and officials urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor. (Oregon State Fire Marshal via AP)
In this image provided by Jenny Braden, smoke rises from a wildfire on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in La Pine, Ore. The wildfire near the popular vacation destination of Bend, is growing rapidly. Officials on Wednesday urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor. (Jenny Braden via AP)
In this image provided by Jenny Braden, smoke rises from a wildfire on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in La Pine, Ore. The wildfire near the popular vacation destination of Bend, is growing rapidly. Officials on Wednesday urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor. (Jenny Braden via AP).
The remains of a structure destroyed by the Apache Fire as it burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters mop up as the Apache Fire burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters mop up as the Apache Fire burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters mop up as the Apache Fire burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Dogs watch through the fence of a property burned by the Apache Fire in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The remains of a structure destroyed by the Apache Fire as it burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024.According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The remains of a structure destroyed by the Apache Fire as it burns in Palermo, Calif., on Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024. According to Cal Fire, more than a dozen new fires sparked by lightning. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)