Firefighters battle extreme behavior on Rowe Creek Complex; containment reaches 76%

Firefighters faced extreme fire behavior Friday as the Rowe Creek Complex grew to 364,413 acres. Despite very difficult red flag weather conditions, crews were able to increase containment to 76 percent.

Crews spent much of Friday defending control lines against 95-degree heat and 8 percent humidity. The most significant activity occurred along U.S. Highway 26, where multiple spot fires crossed the highway in the afternoon. Surge groups were quickly deployed to assist ground crews in suppressing these breakouts.

To the south, a spot fire that started earlier in the week became established near Forest Service Road 500, forcing fire managers to incorporate Salmon Creek Road into the primary containment line as the fire backed down the slope toward the road. Firefighters also utilized County Road 23 (Ochoco Creek Road) and a network of bulldozer lines to hold the fire's southeast flank.

Progress was reported on several other fronts:

• Cherry Creek: Crews successfully kept the flames east of Cherry Creek Road.
• Tomkins Pass: Firefighters worked through the night to suppress a slop-over where the fire crossed Tomkins Pass Road.
• Aviation: Good visibility allowed both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to support ground teams in the Cherry Creek and Highway 26 sectors.
• Mop-up: North of the Ochoco Divide, personnel are cooling down hot spots around buildings to ensure their safety.

Protecting homes remains a top priority. The Oregon State Fire Marshal deployed additional structural task forces to protect homes and other critical infrastructure. Firefighters are also closely monitoring green islands, unburned areas inside the fire's perimeter, near Hamilton Creek to prevent new threats to nearby structures.

Conditions are expected to remain challenging today with a forecast high of 88 degrees and humidity dropping as low as 14 percent. While winds will be light, gusting up to 18 mph, fire officials warn that terrain effects can make wind direction unpredictable. There is no rain in the forecast for the next several days.

Evacuation levels continue to shift; Crook County updated its status on Friday. Those living near the fire should check the following maps for their current status:

• Crook County: protect.genasys.com
• Jefferson County: tinyurl.com/bdz88ufn
• Wasco County: perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
• Wheeler County: arcg.is/1aDrHm4

A Red Cross shelter is open at the East Side Church (3174 NE Third Street, Prineville).

Public lands in the Ochoco National Forest remain under emergency closure orders, though the units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are now open. Travelers can check for the latest road closures and conditions at TripCheck.com.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area; the public is reminded that unauthorized drone use is illegal and will ground all firefighting aircraft.