A quick-moving wildfire in Jefferson County that led to level 3 evacuations Monday afternoon prompted the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize an incident management team and several structural protection task forces.
The agency is mobilizing resources to the Alder Springs Fire burning west of Crooked River Ranch in Jefferson County. The fire sparked midday Monday on the Crooked River National Grasslands and grew rapidly to 1,500 acres by 5 p.m. Throughout Monday afternoon, wildland firefighters worked to slow the fire on the ground and in the air with several large air tankers and smoke jumpers.
On Monday night, the state fire marshal mobilized two structural task forces through Immediate Response. On Tuesday morning, the OSFM’s Red Incident Management Team and six more structural task forces will arrive in Central Oregon.
“This is the second time our agency has mobilized resources in the last week because of a wildfire,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The conditions we are seeing across Oregon are extremely concerning, especially in early June. It only takes a spark to cause a disaster, so be wildfire aware.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices for homes and properties near the fire. You can find the latest on evacuations here. The Deschutes County Sheriff also issued level 1 evacuations.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says a shelter is set up at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond and Ranch Chapel. Animals can be taken to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds or Over the Edge Taphouse (with your own corral).
The OSFM Red Incident Management Team will be briefed Tuesday at 9 a.m. and take unified command with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 Team. For updates on the fire, please follow Central Oregon Fire.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes resources through the Emergency Conflagration Act when invoked by the Governor. The Alder Springs Fire is the second conflagration of 2025.
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The Alder Springs Fire was reported Monday morning at 9:40 a.m. and quickly grew in dry and breezy conditions approximately one mile northeast of the Alder Springs Trailhead. The fire is burning in grass, brush and juniper in steep and rugged terrain on the Crooked River National Grassland, Prineville District BLM managed lands, and private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Lower Bridge Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA). The Alder Springs Fire is estimated to be 2,500 acres and is 0% contained.
Firefighters were initially successful with direct attack on the west side of Whychus Creek until gusty west winds pushed the fire across Whychus Creek. Multiple heavy air tankers and helicopters provided air support to the crews on the ground, but safe and direct access was a challenge all day. Lower Bridge RFPA was instrumental in direct attack efforts, working to contain the fire directly on the east side of Whychus Creek alongside USFS, BLM, Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters and several municipal fire engines where access was available. Monday evening, the fire jumped the Deschutes River, which prompted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to increase evacuation notices that had been issued earlier in the day and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office added coordinated notifications based on fire activity.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Alder Springs Fire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team under the command of Ian Yokum are being mobilized with two task forces of structure protection resources Monday evening and six more arriving Tuesday.
In addition, the Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team under the command of Ted Adams will be taking command of the fire effective at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, and will enter into unified command with OSFM Red Team when they are in place.
Jefferson and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have issued the following evacuations: A Level 3 (GO) evacuation order for CR06, CR07, CRR8, CR10N, CR10S, CR11, CR12, CRPL2; a Level 2 (SET) evacuation warning for zones CR02M, CR02N, CR02NW, CR02SW and CR09, as well as Deschutes Campground at Cove Palisades, along the river and campground; and a Level 1 (READY) evacuation advisory for CR02E, CR02NE, CR02SE, CR03M, CR03N, Lake Billy Chinook Public Lands 3, RED-101, RED-91, RED-92 and SIS-016. For more information on evacuation notices visit:
Deschutes County Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/
Jefferson County Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/
A temporary evacuation point has been established at Highland Baptist Church: 3100 SW Highland Avenue, Redmond, OR. A large animal shelter has been established at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds at 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR.
Firefighters anticipate similar weather challenges on Tuesday, with hot and breezy conditions and challenging access in certain areas of the fire, while structure protection engines will focus on point protection of private land assets and infrastructure. The fire will maintain the staffing of three 20-person crews, as well as adding an Interagency Hotshot Crew that was released from the Rowena Fire is expected to be in place. Dozers, skidgens and aerial assets like air tankers, single engine scoopers and helicopters will also contribute to suppression efforts Tuesday.
For up-to-date wildfire information, visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov
