(The Center Square) – First responders began containing the Darlene 3 Fire near La Pine in Deschutes County on Wednesday.
Though the fire has expanded, the containment effort began overnight. As of Wednesday morning, the Darlene 3 fire was 2,145 acres in size and 30% contained, according to a social media account created by the State Fire Marshal’s office. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. However, 11 hours prior, the fire was 1,700 acres in size and 0% contained.
The state worries that winds today could exacerbate the fire; winds in La Pine will peak at about 14 miles per hour this afternoon, according to The Weather Channel.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations in response to the fire, according to Central Oregon Fire Info.
La Pine High School is being used as a temporary evacuation point for evacuees who need help, while La Pine Rodeo Grounds is being used as a livestock and small animal shelter.
Many public lands have been closed, including: Prairie Campground, McKay Crossing Campground, Ogden Group Campground, the Rosland OHV play area, and all Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered lands “within National Forest Road 180 on the south, Highway 97 on the west, Paulina Lake Road on the north, and the Deschutes National Forest Boundary on the east,” the site said.
Additionally, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Darlene 3 Fire burning near La Pine in Deschutes County on Tuesday, according to a release from her office.
The fire began around 1 p.m. Tuesday, about one mile south of La Pine on the east side of Darlene Way.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management Team and two structural task forces from Linn and Marion counties are responding to the fire.
“This fire has quickly grown within the last few hours, pushed by gusty winds and high fire conditions,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in the release. “The Emergency Conflagration Act allows us to send the full power of the Oregon fire service to protect life and property. As we enter the hot and dry summer months, I am asking Oregonians to do everything they can to prevent wildfires.”
Kotek determined that the threats posed by the wildfire exceeded the capacities of local firefighters — hence her declaration.
Her declaration let the state fire marshal mobilize firefighters and equipment to help local departments battle the fire.
One can find up-to-date information on the fire here.
