The following update was posted shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday on the Central Oregon Fire Info page:
Redmond, OR—A large number of storm cells passed through Central Oregon on Wednesday, July 15th. Overall, the area covered by Central Oregon Fire Management Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry received more than 2,000 lightning strikes.
In the ensuing days, over 85 fires have dotted the landscape and stretched resources thin. Many of the starts remained under .1 acre, but winds, low humidities, and high temperatures have caused a portion of the incidents to establish into large fires.
This morning, the three Complex Incident Management Teams that were ordered to manage this fire load have assumed command of many of the larger incidents. These teams are Northwest Team 2, Northwest Team 10, and ODF Team 2.
Each team is rostered with professionals who specialize in the various aspects of fighting fire: operational decisions and tactics, logistics, planning, finance, aviation, safety, and political/public engagement. In total, they add more than 300 personnel to the firefighting efforts in Central Oregon.
Tomorrow (Sunday), two additional Complex Incident Management Teams enter the mix: California Team 1 and ODF Team 3. CA Team 1 will assume command of the Coyote and Connant fires, burning south and west of Post, respectively. ODF Team 3 will assume command of the Brewer and Box Springs fires, both burning east of Madras.
Updates to the fires currently not managed by a CIMT:
The Coyote Fire, approximately 18,000 acres, South of Post
The Connant Fire, 110 acres, West of Post FORWARD PROGRESS STOPPED
The Henry Fire, approximately 10,000 acres, Southeast of Paulina
The Crooked Fire, 350 acres, Southwest of Paulina
The Box Springs Fire, approximately 950 acres, 25 miles NW of Prineville
You can find updated information for the rest of the Central Oregon fires from each of the teams as follows:
Hay Creek Complex-NW Team 10
Hoag, Hopkin, Porcupine Ridge, Wilcox Fires and Incidents 456, 462, 466 and 467
Inciweb.wildfire.gov>Hay Creek Complex
http://facebook.com/HayCreekComplex2026
Public Information line: 541.901.8026
Rowe Creek Complex-NW Team 2
Crosswhite, Camel Hump, Red Rock, Twickenham, Cove Creek, Parrish, Deep Canyon Fires and Incidents 432, 482, 501, and 502
Inciweb.wildfire.gov>Rowe Creek Complex
http://www.facebook.com/rowecreekcomplex
Public Information line: 541.800.1280
Akawa Butte, Brewer, Pilot Fires-ODF Team 2
http://www.facebook.com/akawabuttefire
http://www.facebook.com/brewerfire
akawabutte.brewers.pilot.fires@gmail.com
Inciweb.wildfire.gov>Akawa Butte Fire
Inciweb.wildfire.gov>Brewer Fire
Inciweb.wildfire.gov>Pilot Fire
Public Information line: 503.877.9324
Interagency fire crews are working hard toward containment on each of these incidents in spite of the continued high temperatures, low relative humidities, and winds.
Personnel are engaging the fires with a mix of engines, hand crews, dozers, skidgines, water tenders, overhead, and aircraft. Fire management have been prioritizing resources where there will be the highest probability of success.
In addition to the CIMTs, five structure task forces from California arrived in Oregon last (Friday) night and will be assisting across the state in the firefighting effort. The mutual aid that comes from working with inter-state partners is invaluable and will continue to be reciprocal as conditions allow.
As always, firefighter and public safety remain the highest priority during these incidents.
Just before 9 p.m. Saturday, the Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release update:
Oregon Department Of Forestry Deploys Additional Complex Incident Management Team To Manage More Central Oregon Wildfires - 07/18/26
PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is deploying its Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT) to manage the Brewer and Box Springs wildfires in the Prineville and Sisters area.
This is the third and last ODF-staffed team the department has available. The deployment is necessary due to the unusual early season “resistance to control” nature of these lightening caused fires in Central Oregon.
The Brewer fire started Wednesday and grew to estimated 14,000 acres today (Saturday); on Thursday, it was at 3,000 acres. It is currently managed by ODF CIMT 2, but Team 2 also has the Pilot and Akawa fires. So ODF CIMT 3 will take over the Brewer Fire and the Box Springs Fire.
Box Springs was only 40 acres this morning but has grown rapidly. It is burning in timber and grass. ODF firefighters describe some of the terrain as steep, nasty canyons and draws which make it difficult to battle.
ODF fire managers stress patience and safety as resources are stretched thin and firefighters have been putting in long days and nights.
All local resources are committed, but additional air and ground firefighting resources have been ordered through partnerships with other states. However, it may take a while to fulfill all the requests, since the Northwest region has multiple large fires asking for additional resources.
The fires managed by both ODF CIMTs in Central Oregon have evacuation orders that are issued by county sheriff’s offices, to see the latest and to set up alerts from the counties, go to: https://centraloregonfire.org.
The public is urged to avoid these areas due to heavy firefighting traffic and possible road closures.
ODF CIMT 3 is scheduled for an in-brief tomorrow (Sunday) at noon and then take over management of the Brewer and Box Springs fires at 6 p.m. The incident command will be in Prineville.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ore. -- This is a wildfire emergency update from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, issued at 2:12 p.m.: The top of the Akawa Butte Fire, which includes the most southern parts of the Lake Billy Chinook zones 6 white, 5 black south of Jordan Road has been upgraded from a Level 1 to a Level 3- GO NOW! Evacuate Immediately.
Leave without delay. It is unsafe to stay, and your life could be in great danger. Emergency services personnel may not be available to help you if you choose to stay.
This may be the only alert you receive. Find resources at wildfire dot oregon dot gov.
If you will need assistance evacuating persons with additional needs, call: Frontier Regional 9-1-1 Center at (541) 384-2080
Do not call 911 unless experiencing an immediate life safety issue.
This is a wildfire emergency update from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The Level 1 evacuation for The top of the Akawa Butte Fire which includes the most southern parts of the Lake Billy Chinook zones 6 white, 5 black south of Jordan Road has been upgraded to a Level 3- GO NOW! Evacuate Immediately!
Level 3 - GO NOW means Leave Immediately!
There is extreme danger in your area - evacuate now. Leave without delay, it is unsafe to stay and threatens the safety of you, your family, and emergency responders. Your life could be in great danger. Emergency services personnel may not be available to help you if you choose to stay.
Do not stop to gather your belongings or protect your home. Follow your emergency plan.
Leave as fast as safely possible. Drive carefully. Turn on your headlights. Follow traffic safety warnings and instructions from local authorities. Use TripCheck.com or call 511 for road closure information.
If you need emergency shelter, call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, visit 211info.org, or text your zip code to 898211. TTY: dial 711 and call 1-866-698-6155. Language interpreters are available by phone. Text is available Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., in Spanish and English.
After you evacuate:
Do not return to the area until public safety officials announce the area is safe.
Continue to check for updates through local city and county websites, social media, TV, and radio. {Local Resource for more Info}
Once you are safe, check with friends and family.
Visit wildfire.oregon.gov for more info.
Another emergency update was issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on Saturday afternoon regarding upgraded evacuation levels on the nearly 14,000-acre Brewer Fire.
Area west of Hay Creek and up halfway through Southeast 15 and then over to Barber in Southeast 17 in Jefferson County has been upgraded from a Level 1 to a Level 2: Be Set to evacuate.
Be set to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Act early if there is any reason you might need extra time. Leave right away if you feel you are in immediate danger.
If conditions change quickly, this may be the only alert you receive.
Per Jefferson County Sheriff's Office via Everbridge.
Emergency Conflagration Act Invoked For Akawa Butte And Brewer Fires In Deschutes And Jefferson Counties - Oregon State Fire Marshal, 7/18/26 1:31 pm
SALEM, Ore. – On Saturday morning, the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked for the Akawa Butte and Brewer fires in Deschutes and Jefferson counties. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is assigning its Red Incident Management Team and several task forces to the fires to work alongside its wildland partners to protect nearby communities and critical infrastructure.
Hot, dry weather and strong, shifting winds created difficult firefighting conditions across Central Oregon Friday. The fires have grown significantly, threatening nearby communities.
The Deschutes and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices have levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices in place. Those looking for evacuation information should follow their local sheriff’s office.
Conditions will continue to be hot and dry on Saturday. The wind will be light in the morning but is expected to increase in the afternoon. Fire managers expect challenging, wind-driven fire activity later in the day.
“The conditions we’re seeing across Oregon have challenged firefighters for the past week, and the current forecast isn’t providing much relief,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “I’m urging every Oregonian to be wildfire aware and to sign up for their county’s emergency alerts. Know the evacuation levels and follow them if they are issued.”
The Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management Team will be in unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Team 2.
This is the fifth time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2026. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is posting updates on incidents it has resources assigned to on osfminfo.org. Oregonians can sign up for emergency alerts at oralert.gov.
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