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Central Oregon wildfire updates Friday, July 13

Central Oregon wildland firefighters have responded to several small wildfires over the last 24 hours, in addition to continued suppression of the Solitude Fire.

Today, firefighters caught a vehicle fire in Jefferson County next to Pelton Dam that spread into roadside vegetation and stopped the fire before it grew beyond 1/10th of an acre. The fire was located on the east shoulder of NW Pelton Dam Road and reported at 3 pm today.

Around 1:30 PM today, a wildfire was reported on the Paulina Ranger District of the Ochoco National Forest on Round Mountain near Walton Lake. The fire is currently estimated at 1/3 rd of an acre in size, burning in heavy fuels. The responders include three engines, a helicopter, air attack, and heli-rappellers. Helicopters are dipping out of Walton Lake for the suppression effort.

The Solitude Fire is now 75 percent contained and reassessed at 708 acres in size. The fire was first reported Sunday around 6:30 pm, burning about 5 miles west of Spray, Ore. along state Highway 19 and the John Day River. Around 250 people remain assigned to the fire, including multiple air tankers and helicopters. The response includes state and federal firefighters, private contractors and the Wheeler County Rangeland Fire Protection Association.

A Red Flag warning remains in effect today from 4 pm through 11 pm this evening due to high temperatures, gusty winds and low humidity.

There are currently no public use restrictions in effect across federal lands in Central Oregon, except annual campfire bans along the Crooked, Deschutes and John Day rivers on Prineville BLM-administered lands. Central Oregon federal lands are currently under Industrial Fire Precaution Level 2, which allows chainsaw use, but requires they are shut off by 1 pm each day to avoid fire danger in the afternoon hours.

 

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