Update: The Pine Mountain Fire East of Bend is 100% Contained

On Tuesday, May 12, Central Oregon Fire officials reported the Pine Mountain Fire is 100% contained at 2,589 acres. The fire will transition back to the local unit. A warning has been issued for anyone near the burn area. Burned landscapes present hazards that either did not exist prior to the fire or have been exacerbated by the effects of the fire. In some cases, these hazardous conditions may persist for several years after a fire. Hazards to be aware of include, but are not limited to, snags, debris from falling rocks, erosion – especially on road edges, and ash pits and/or holes from burned shrubs or stumps.

Previous reporting:

The Pine Mountain Fire is 85% contained at 2,589 acres. On Monday, May 11,firefighters continued mop-up, back hauling equipment and identifying suppression needs.

Central Oregon Fire Info released the following information:

The remaining mop-up is isolated to heat off the control handline along the fire’s western edge in the steep, rocky terrain. Risk identification, such as roadside hazard trees, and damage identification is ongoing. Firefighters continue to patrol around the burned area.

Yesterday, firefighters declared containment along the northern and southern edge of the fire’s perimeter. Containment is declared when firefighters feel confident a containment feature, such as a handline or dozer line, would hold if fire activity increased within the burned area.

Resources assigned to the Pine Mountain Fire include three hotshot crews, one dozer, five engines, four water tenders and twenty overhead personnel.

Previous reporting:

The Pine Mountain Fire experienced minimal growth overnight Thursday. By Friday morning, May 8, it was an estimated 2,483 acres and 15% contained.

According to Central Oregon Fire Information, on the north side, the fire is bound by handline and existing prescribed burn units. Firefighters have constructed handline along a portion of the western edge of the fire and hotshot crews will focus on finishing construction along this side of the fire today. Dozer line is established around the southern portion of the fire. On the eastern portion, the fire encountered the Pine Fire scar from 2024, moderating conditions and slowing fire spread. Firefighters will bolster this area with additional handline today (Friday).

Resources assigned to the Pine Mountain Fire include five hotshot crews, two dozers, ten engines, six water tenders and 15 overhead.

The Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team will take command of the Pine Mountain Fire at 9 a.m. today.

On Friday, the BLM issued a notice of emergency closures in the area.

The Bureau of Land Management has issued an emergency temporary closure of select public lands in Deschutes County, effective immediately, in response to a wildfire burning in the area. The closure is intended to reduce conflicts with fire crews, support suppression operations and protect public safety and natural resources.

The closure applies to the following BLM-managed lands:

• Township 20 South, Range 15 East: lands lying south and east of the Deschutes National Forest boundary.
• Township 20 South, Range 16 East: lands lying southwesterly of Fox Butte Road.
• Township 21 South, Range 15 East: lands lying north and east of the Deschutes National Forest boundary.
• Township 21 South, Range 16 East: lands lying westerly of Moffit Road.

The closure will remain in place until conditions allow for safe public access. All uses within the closure area are prohibited.

The following individuals are exempt:

Federal, state or local officers; organized medical, rescue or firefighting personnel engaged in emergency, fire or law enforcement activities; and public utility employees conducting emergency repairs.
BLM employees, contractors or agents performing official duties.
Individuals acting within the scope of their official governmental responsibilities.
Individuals with valid existing rights of access, including right-of-way holders, permittees, lease holders or inholding landowners.
Individuals with written authorization from the BLM authorized officer.

Violating the closure may result in prosecution before a U.S. magistrate, fines under 18 U.S.C. 3571, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. Vehicles found in violation may be removed. The closure order is effective immediately upon signature.

For more information, contact the BLM Prineville District Office at 541-416-6700 or email BLM_OR_PR_Mail@blm.gov. Closure updates will be posted online at Fire Restrictions – Oregon-Washington Bureau of Land Management.

Previously reported:

Prescribed burning east of Bend in the area of Pine Mountain began that on Tuesday, May 4, grew out of control on Thursday afternoon. By 9pm, the fire had grown to 2,866 acres per the perimeter uploaded to the NationalInteragency Fire Center. Fire perimeters are preliminary and indicate the general burn area.

A news release earlier in the week said firefighters planned to conduct up to 2008 acres of prescribed burning 14 miles southeast of Bend starting Tuesday and continuing through Friday if conditions remain favorable. Ignitions were slated for around 350 acres each day of ignitions.

On Thursday morning, May 7, shortly after 9am, a news release was sent canceling the day’s prescribed burn due to unfavorable conditions. The Pine Mountain area has been temporarily closed to traffic, including off-highway vehicles and paragliding and the news release stated closures would remain in place for multiple days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete.

Despite the cancellation, the burn flared up Thursday afternoon with another release stating the Pine Mountain Prescribed Burn on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest was declared a wildfire at approximately 4 p.m. on May 7. Although forecasted weather conditions were within parameters for the prescribed burn, multiple spot fires occurred outside of the unit boundary.

Named the Pine Mountain Fire, the wildfire is approximately 14 miles southeast of Bend and is estimated at 1,500 acres. Firefighters have called in additional resources, including additional hotshot crews, engines and aircraft. Forest Service firefighters are trained to be proactive and prompt in declaring a wildfire. Declaring a wildfire, when necessary, means additional resources can be rapidly dispatched to effectively contain the fire.

Smoke from the Pine Mountain Fire may be visible from Highway 20, Bend and the Newberry Caldera.

For more information, visit centraloregonfire.org and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow us on X @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

This story has been updated to reflect new acreage and containment numbers and add closure information.