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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🔥15 new wildfires in Deschutes Nat'l Forest; 2 lead to evacuations, Mt. Bachelor closure

🏛🚫🔥🗺Crook Co. Pushes Back On Wildfire Hazard Map

🏛Deschutes County Offering Grants for Projects that Help Reduce Wildfire Risk

📰Pacific Power Foundation Awards $2,000 to Family Access Network

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🏠🔥Redmond Fire & Rescue Battles Blaze in Terrebonne, Minor Injuries Reported

🚨 Crime News

⚖Charges Dropped Against Bend Murder Suspect

📰 Community News

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😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

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What’s Up Central Oregon 

15 new wildfires in Deschutes Nat'l Forest; 2 lead to evacuations, Mt. Bachelor closure

Multiple new, lightning-sparked fires were reported Saturday, leading to the closure of Mt. Bachelor and multiple evacuations. The Deschutes National Forest has also closed several roads and recreational areas.

Central Oregon Fire Information reported Saturday that firefighters responded to 15 wildfires on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. They ranged from a quarter of an acre to 150 acres.

Fires were predominately clustered near the Mt. Bachelor Roadless Area and the eastern edge of Flat Top Butte and East Butte. These fires grew quickly as they were pushed by winds.

Firestone Fire – 3000+ acres, located SE of Newberry Caldera on the Deschutes National Forest, and burning in brush and timber. Multiple air and ground resources are responding. A Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) has been ordered.

Backside Fire – 80 acres, located west of Mt. Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest. Multiple air and ground resources are responding.

Mt. Bachelor announced Saturday night it would remain closed on Sunday. It expect to reopen on Thursday.

Evacuations

Here is the list of evacuations reported by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office as of 6:45 p.m. Saturday: 

Level 3 (Go Now) Evacuation notices for the Mt Bachelor area including Mt. Bachelor, Todd Creek Horse Camp, Sparks Lake, Devils Lake, and Quinn Meadow area. 

Level 3 (Go Now) Evacuations include all areas north of the Lake/Deschutes County Line to Pine Mountain, east of FS 18 (China Hat Rd) and FS 25 (Spencer Wells Rd), west of Moffit Rd.

Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuations include areas north of Pine Mountain between FS 25 (Spencer Wells Rd) and Moffit Rd all the way to Hwy 20.

Level 1 (Be Ready) for areas west of FS 18 (China Hat Rd), north of the Deschutes County/Lake County Line, south of FS 21 Rd, and generally southeast of Newberry Caldera. 

Current maps including evacuation areas can be found at: https://deschutes.org/emergency 

The following roads and recreational areas were closed as of Saturday at 7:00 p.m.:

Recreation sites

• Edison SnoPark

• Edison Shelter

• AC/DC Shelter

• Sheridan Shelter

• Quinn Meadow Trailhead

• Quinn Meadow Horse Camp

• Devil’s Lake Camp

• Devil’s Lake Trailhead

• Soda Creek Campground

• Sparks Lake Picnic Area

• Ray Atkeson Trailhead

• Todd Creek Horse Camp

• Todd Creek Trailhead

• Mount Bachelor

• NFSR 25 OHV Trailhead (RD 25 Trailhead)

• NFSR 2510 OHV Trailhead (Rd 2510 Trailhead)

• Camp 11 OHV Trailhead

• Groundhog OHV Trailhead

• China Hat Campground

• South Lava OHV Trailhead

• South Ice Cave Picnic Area

Roads

• All National Forest System Roads found within the area closure are closed. Cascade Lakes Highway (NFSR 46) and River-Summit Drive (NFSR 45) will remain open for public use.

• All National Forest System Roads found within the area closure are closed.

• NFSR 23 will remain open for public use. NFSR 22 west of the closure boundary will remain open for public use.

• NFSR 18 north and south of the closure boundary will remain open for public use.

For fire information, you can visit the Central Oregon Fire Information site at: www.centraloregonfire.org

Crook Co. Pushes Back On Wildfire Hazard Map

Posted by Heather Roberts KBND News

PRINEVILLE, OR -- The same day Oregon's Board of Forestry approved rules for the new state Wildfire Hazard Map, Crook County Commissioners said they have multiple issues with how the map was developed and what designations were applied to their area.

County Community Development Director Will Van Vactor told Commissioners Wednesday the map is inconsistent, "Lots that are also in the wildland-urban interface that are completely surrounded by lots that are only classified as moderate risk." Most notably, he says, areas in Deschutes and Crook counties with similar topography, climate and population are assigned different hazard levels, "Sunriver and Black Butte are both moderate risk, when portions of Juniper Canyon, for example, are high risk - when even staff from OSU acknowledge that there's grave risk involved in both Black Butte and Sunriver in terms of the risk of a catastrophic fire."

Van Vactor also says there's a lack of due process for property owners, "So, if somebody does some good work creating defensible space around their property or eliminating vegetation that may pose a fire risk, there's no opportunity to have their property reclassified." And, he believes, "It puts our Community Development staff in a position where they're trying to enforce whatever higher building code may be required without understanding why, because the map isn't self explanatory."

Commissioner Brian Barney says the whole process should be re-evaluated, "You can compare Black Butte, and more specifically with Sunriver, as being a lower fire hazard than some of the areas over here, especially Juniper Canyon, then definitely they didn't go to the scene and look." And, he thinks the lack of due process, after the initial 90-day appeal period, will leave some property owners unable to build or renovate their homes, "Because the building requirements are much more stringent, it's much more expensive, it puts people against other people and where they live. And discourages them from living in those areas."

County Commissioner Susan Hermreck is concerned about seeing some waterways designated as moderate risk, "The fact that they have lakes designated as moderate wildfire, I really do think they need to go back and take a hard look."

Commissioners signed a letter this week to the Governor, state lawmakers and OSU, which developed the map, asking for more review of the determination process.

Deschutes County Offering Grants for Projects that Help Reduce Wildfire Risk

Deschutes County is encouraging local communities to apply for County Fuel Reduction grants by September 30.

Fuel reduction grants are designed to help communities pay for specific, short-term projects that reduce fuel and improve defensible space in Deschutes County. While there is no established minimum or maximum amount, the funds awarded range between $100 and $5,000. This fall, the fuel reduction grant program has a total of $125,000 to distribute.

Applications will be accepted for neighborhood and/or community scale projects only. Individual property owners are not eligible to receive funds. The grants can provide funding for a variety of activities including equipment rental, supplies for community work events, roadside chipping contractors, debris disposal fees, and more. The County discourages grant requests for regular annual maintenance projects, like pine needle raking and removal.

Preference will be given to communities or neighborhoods that are working to be recognized as a Firewise USA site or are currently recognized as a Firewise USA site and are proposing projects consistent with their Firewise action plan and community assessment.

You can learn more about the County’s Fuel Reduction Grant Program and fill out an application through this link. Applications are due by 5pm on Monday, September 30.

deschutes.org

Pacific Power Foundation Awards $2,000 to Family Access Network

The Family Access Network (FAN) received $2,000 from the Pacific Power Foundation to provide the support Central Oregon children need to thrive in and outside of the classroom. As we enter the new school year, FAN advocates are eager to assist children and their family members. According to the KIDS Count Data book, in order to meet educational milestones, children need to have their basic needs met, from enough nutritious food to eat to a safe place to sleep. FAN advocates are determined to help see children’s needs realized.

“We are so grateful to the Pacific Power Foundation for their grant,” said FAN Executive Director Julie N. Lyche. “As the new school year begins, it’s crucial that students receive support both in and out of the classroom and this partnership strengthens FAN’s ability to do this critical work.”

The Pacific Power Foundation is part of PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 1.8 million customers in six Western states as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). Pacific Power Foundation’s mission is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. For more information, visit rockymountainpower.net/foundation or pacificpower.net/foundation.

Unique to Central Oregon, FAN began in 1993 and currently employs 28 advocates at 65 sites in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. These advocates work tirelessly to help families break the cycle of poverty. The direct placement of FAN advocates within schools allows FAN to effectively reach and connect children and families in need to the essential resources to thrive.

familyaccessnetwork.org • 541-693-5675

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Redmond Fire & Rescue Battles Blaze in Terrebonne, Minor Injuries Reported

TERREBONNE, OR — A structure fire engulfed a manufactured home, an outbuilding, and a vehicle in Terrebonne on the evening of September 5, as reported by Redmond Fire & Rescue. The fire department responded to the emergency call at around 6:20 p.m. at 345 F Avenue.

Upon their arrival, firefighters were greeted with a large column of smoke and active flames threatening the residential area. The situation was further complicated by a powerline arcing dangerously on the ground, prompting immediate action to prevent the fire from spreading. Fire crews swiftly deployed multiple hose lines to contain the blaze within the property, successfully protecting neighboring homes from damage.

Two residents involved in the incident were medically evaluated at the scene but declined further treatment and transport. Additionally, one firefighter sustained a minor knee injury during the firefighting efforts but did not seek medical aid.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation. Redmond Fire & Rescue received support from Bend Fire & Rescue, Crooked River Fire & Rescue, and the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office during the incident.

Charges Dropped Against Bend Murder Suspect

Posted by KBND News

The Deschutes County District Attorney has asked a judge to dismiss charges "without prejudice" against Brian Lee Wynn, accused of killing a man in May. 

David Hickman was found dead at his campsite near the Bend DMV on May 30th. Wynn was arrested a short time later, and indicted by a Grand Jury for Hickman's death.

At the time, D.A. Steve Gunnels told KBND News there was no known connection between the two. However, surveillance footage showed Wynn with the 62-year-old victim shortly before the murder. During the investigation, Bend Police asked for help locating a blanket Wynn was seen wearing around the time of Hickman's death (pictured).

It was later recovered. Both men were members of Bend's homeless community. 

Friday, the D.A.'s office announced forensic testing on the evidence gathered during the investigation did not provide conclusive evidence that Wynn is responsible for Hickman's death. 

The homicide investigation is ongoing.

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