PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The more than month-old, nearly 374,oo-acre Rowe Creek Complex is nearly 90% contained, but it flared in Crook County Tuesday afternoon, prompting a new Level 3 GO NOW evacuation in the area, sheriff’s deputies said.

The new Level 3 evacuation notice was issued for the east side of NE Mill Creek Road, from the intersection of FS RD 3370 (end of the pavement) north to the Wildcat Campground.

"The fire has flared up and is actively burning," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post early Tuesday evening.

"Fire apparatus in the air and on the ground are on scene and actively engaging the fire. Please avoid the area," the agency said.

Along with alerts on social media, local TV newscasts received and broadcast the alert around 6 p.m.

Watch Duty noted that the Rowe Creek Complex West Zone was showing increased fire activity on the south side of the fire. More aircraft, including two SEAT (single-engine air tanker) plans were requested.

Firefighters had been making good progress on the blaze, and Crook County had reduced Level 3, 2 and 1 evacuation notices for various locations since Sunday.