BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Crews working to put out the 2-day-old Hidden Forest Fire 12 miles southeast of Bend continued mop-up operations and secured containment lines on Sunday, bringing the nearly 300-acre blaze to 60% containment.

Resources on scene included skidgens, engines, dozers, water tenders and hand crews, officials said in a brief update.

"Smoldering and areas of interior heat have been observed in the within the fire area," officials said.

Sunday morning, a drone with IR (infrared) capabilities was used to fly over the fire and identify areas of heat. "This information will help firefighters on the ground focus efforts to seek and destroy areas of heat near the fire perimeter," the update concluded.

Most evacuation levels were lifted Saturday night with one Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation area still in place along Forest Service Road 18 near Arnold Ice Cave.

"Heavy machinery, engines and personnel continue working throughout the Level 3 (Go Now) zone," the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said in an update.

"Forest Service Road 18 remains closed for public safety," they added. "Please avoid the area until the closure is lifted."

To receive timely emergency and evacuation notifications, sign up for Deschutes Alerts at deschutesalerts.org.

Fire officials said in an update earlier Saturday that the day’s focus will be continued mop-up to identify and extinguish hot spots, as well as securing existing containment lines using heavy equipment.

Saturday afternoon, officials said containment lines were holding and crews were engaged with continuing to secure those lines with the increase in personnel and equipment. It was 30% contained, Watch Duty reported, quoting the National Interagency Fire Center

Weather predictions called for continued hot and dry conditions with relative humidity in the single digits. which contribute to challenging fire suppression conditions.

Earlier story:

The new wildfire broke out Friday morning about 12 miles southeast of Bend, growing to about 300 acres by evening amid an intense air and ground attack that stopped its spread and allowed a reduction or lifting of evacuation levels.

The fire prompted Level 3, 2 and 1 evacuation notices from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, which also issued to a widespread emergency alert by smartphone and issued Levels 1, 2 and 3 evacuation alerts that were lifted or reduced by nightfall.

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch provided this summary Friday night on the Central Oregon Fire Info page:

Central Oregon — Firefighters responded to a smoke call earlier today just after 11:00 a.m. located approximately 12 miles southeast of Bend on the Deschutes National Forest near Forest Road 18 and the Swamp Wells (area).

Resources responding to the Hidden Forest Fire (#685) included ground resources with engines, dozers, a task force, a hotshot crew, and other overhead. Air response included LATs (Large Air Tankers), SEATs (Single Engine Air Tankers), and Scoopers dropping both retardant and water around the fire’s perimeter.

Winds out of the west today pushed the fire towards the east. The forward progression of the fire has been stopped at 297 acres, with both dozer and retardant lines established around the fire’s perimeter.

Crews will remain on site, tonight conducting mop-up operations. Additional crews have been ordered and are en route, bringing the number to 160-plus personnel and growing. Tomorrow’s operational plan will consist of continued mop-up and strengthening containment lines.

Firefighters construct control line around a fire to establish a barrier to keep it from spreading. Containment is based on their confidence that a portion of the fire is secure, and the fire will not move beyond the control line.

Firefighters may have control line around the perimeter of a fire, but until they are able to decrease fire activity along the edge of the control line and cool down hot spots, they do not consider that portion of the fire contained.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, most evacuation notices related to the Hidden Forest Fire southeast of Bend have been reduced or lifted. For the most up-to-date information on evacuations, visit www.facebook.com/DeschutesCountySheriff or the agency's news release and alerts page.

Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.

Earlier info:

Incident 685, later named the Hidden Forest Fire, was spotted shortly after 10 a.m. in the Swamp Wells area near China Hat Road and Forest Service Road 18. The first crews on scene said it was exhibiting a moderate rate of spread, in sagebrush and light trees, and the fire initially was estimated at 20 acres, officials said on the Central Oregon Fire Info X page.

By late Friday afternoon, officials said aircraft had successfully dropped retardant around 80% of the fire, which had grown to 297 acres, later mapped at 270 acres. Meanwhile, bulldozer lines had been established on both the right and left flanks of the blaze. Crews were working to connect those fire lines.

Resources responding to the scene included engine crews, bulldozers and overhead personnel. By early afternoon residents reported seeing .helicopters, air tankers and Single-Engine Air Tankers (SEAT planes) dropping water and retardant to slow or stop the fire's spread in an area that has several ranches.

Around 9 p.m., the sheriff's office issued this update for the firefighting effort and evacuation levels:

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Changes Evacuation Notices for Hidden Forest Fire Southeast of Bend

As of 9:00 p.m., on Friday, August 7, most evacuation notices related to the Hidden Forest Fire southeast of Bend have been reduced or lifted. Fire crews made strong progress throughout the afternoon and have successfully stopped the fire’s forward movement.

Thanks to an aggressive aerial attack using retardant from air tankers and water from helicopter drops, crews were able to slow the fire significantly. Ground resources then built a line around the fire and secured the perimeter.

Reduced to normal status

LAP 569-A and LAP 569-B, South of the 18 Rd.

Reduced to Level 1 (Be Ready).

EAS 702-B Horse Ridge Frontage Rd area.

Remaining in Level 3 (Go Now)

EAS 701 North side of 18 rd between the 1819 rd and Horse Ridge Rd 2015.

Remaining in Level 1 (Be Ready)

EAS 702-A remains in Level 1 (Be Ready) Ft. Rock Rd and Hwy 20 area, West of Spencer well Rd

The Hidden Forest Fire has burned about 297 acres, mostly in sagebrush and juniper trees. Firefighters will remain on scene overnight to strengthen containment lines and monitor for hot spots, but no additional growth is expected.

Around 11:40 a.m., the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office announced evacuations in the area:

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Announces Evacuation Notices for New Wildfire Off China Hat Road Southeast of Bend

Bend, Ore. -- A wildfire has broken out about 12.5 miles southeast of Bend off China Hat Road in the area of Arnold Ice Cave.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1 (Get Ready), Level 2 (Get Set), and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notices for nearby areas.

At this time, no structures are threatened, but the area is a high‑use recreation destination, and the Sheriff's Office is asking people to avoid the area. The fire is burning primarily in sagebrush and juniper at this time.

EVACUATION NOTICES

Level 3 (GO NOW)

• Forest Service Road 18 in the area of Arnold Ice Cave

Level 2 (BE SET)

• Areas west of Highway 20 near Horse Ridge
• Swamp Wells Road in the area of Fuzztail Butte and Swamp Wells Butte

Level 1 (BE READY)

• Fort Rock Road south of Horse Ridge and west of Highway 20

Residents and recreation users in the affected areas should follow all evacuation guidance from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Fire crews are actively responding, and updates will be provided as conditions change.

A few minutes later, cellphones blared across much if not all of the county, alerting of the Level 3 evacuation zone. Dozens of people went to social media, with many upset by getting an urgent alert when they were miles away.

Although many people received the alert despite being a great distance from the area, DCSO Public Information Officer Jason Carr told the Bugle the send to the wider area was not in error - it was on purpose, due to that area's popularity with visitors.

"When we send a WEA (Wireless Emergency Alert), it reaches more people," Carr said. "The China Hat area is heavily used for recreation, so there is a high likelihood of tourists and visitors without access to Deschutes Alerts. Sending a WEA ensures we reach anyone who might be in the area or heading there to recreate."

More than 150 firefighters were tackling the fire by early Friday afternoon, with "scoopers" part of the air assault on the blaze, estimated at that time at 50-60 acres, officials said.

Around 1:30 p.m., as air tankers dropped retardant on the blaze, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook update: "Because of its proximity to homes and popular recreation sites, the fire is receiving an immediate, aggressive aerial response to keep it from moving toward neighborhoods."

Fortunately, deputies added, "Winds are currently pushing it east, away from subdivisions and other structures." They also noted that no homes or subdivisions are in an evacuation zone.

Crews are still fighting to contain several major fires across the region that broke out in the wake of July thunderstorms, with some growing to 100,000-plus acre "megafire" status.

Central Oregon Fire Info · Aug 8, 2026, 8:49 AM

Hidden Forest / August 8, 2026

Size: 297 acres

Location: Approximately 12 miles southeast of Bend on the Deschutes National Forest near Forest Road 18 and the Swamp Wells Area

Today’s focus will be continued mop up to identify and extinguish hot spots as well as securing existing containment lines using heavy equipment.

Weather predictions call for continued hot and dry conditions with relative humidity in the single digits which will contribute to challenging fire suppression conditions.

[IMAGE: https://centraloregonfire.org/wp-content/uploads/Hidden-Forest-2.png]

[IMAGE: https://centraloregonfire.org/wp-content/uploads/Hidden-Forest-1-1.png]