Highway 97 south of La Pine closed as Jackpine Fire spreads to 50 acres, 2 crews called; Level 2 evacuation alert issued

(Update: Jackpine Fire 50 acres, contained to zero; Highway 9u closed)

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A wildfire reported early Friday afternoon off Masten Road south of La Pine brought emergency responders from multiple agencies to the scene, prompting a Level 1 (BE READY) evacuation warning and then a more comprehensive Level 2 (BE SET) warning. The fire grew to 50 acres and required the closure of U.S. Highway 97.

Incident 465, later called the Jackpine Fire, was reported around 12:30 p.m. south of Masten Road, east of Deer Forest Drive and west of Jackpine Loop, Central Oregon Fire Department officials said on their X/Twitter feed.

Officials said around 6:25 p.m. that the fire was estimated to be 50 acres in size and had “active fire behavior” and containment had dropped from 30% to 0%.

ODOT TripCheck showed Highway 97 closed near milepost 169, one mile north of the intersection with Oregon Highway 31. The agency said a four-mile stretch of the highway between mileposts 169 and 173 was closed.

“Postpone your trip or use an alternative route,” they said. “Be careful and be aware of workers working in the area.”

Crews from the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, Sunriver Fire, Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry and Walker Range Fire Patrol were called to the scene early in the afternoon to work together to stop and extinguish the fire. La Pine Fire Chief Erick Holsey said the first crews found isolated tree fires and spot fires when they arrived.

By 2 p.m., the fire was about 5 percent contained, and a bulldozer was pulling fire lines, Holsey said.

A Level 1 evacuation order was initially imposed for homes in Deer Forest and on an adjacent ranch, the fire chief said, adding that the cause of the fire was under investigation.

At approximately 3:10 p.m., after the fire reignited and jumped Jackpine Loop, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 2 BE SET Warning for all residents west of Highway 97 and south of Masten Road to the Deschutes-Klamath County line. The latest map can be found at http://www.deschutes.org/emergency.

Resources on scene included fire trucks, bulldozers and 10-man hand crews, with more on the way. A helicopter, single-engine firefighting aircraft and an air assault supported ground resources.

Holsey said in a 5:30 p.m. update the fire was 30% contained (later down to zero). They had raised a second alarm for building protection, deployed two crews from across the county, and the Level 2 evacuation order was still in effect.

Representatives of the Central Oregon Fire Department announced shortly before 6 p.m. that the fire had spread to an estimated 20 acres, later expanding to 50 acres.

“Firefighters on the ground continue to use helicopters and firefighting aircraft to slow the spread of the fire while they work to establish a bulldozer line around the fire,” they said.

To the south, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation order for both sides of Highway 97 south of the county line, including Long Prairie.