Prineville, Ore. — Residents in the Ochoco West subdivision are now under a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation notice as the Brewer Fire continues to burn northwest of Prineville, prompting expanding evacuation zones and an increasing response from state and local firefighting agencies.
The Crook County Sheriff’s Office issued updated evacuation notices Monday afternoon, placing the Ochoco West subdivision and surrounding areas under Level 1 (Be Ready) status. The advisory also includes areas north of NW Gerke Road, NW Puckett Road, NW Ryegrass, NW Grizzly Road, NW McCoin, NW Overlook, NW Winters Road, NW Elizabeth, NW McCabe Road, and properties along the east side of NW Madras Highway.
A Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation notice remains in effect for areas north of Ochoco West, east of NW Madras Highway near NW Grizzly Mountain Road, extending north to the Crook-Jefferson county line.
Level 1 notifications advise residents to stay informed, review evacuation plans, and prepare to leave if conditions worsen. Level 2 means residents should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice by packing essential belongings and preparing vehicles and livestock.
According to the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Incident Management Team, firefighters worked through the night protecting homes along SE Grizzly Road and in the Lofton Creek, Turner Creek Road, McKay Creek and Allen Creek areas as the Brewer and Box Springs fires continued to push south and southeast under strong winds and challenging terrain.
Fire officials said crews were able to tie in and hold the western edge of the fire overnight while continuing to construct and strengthen containment lines around the advancing fire. Structural firefighters and wildland crews remain focused on protecting homes and slowing the fire’s forward progress.
Officials expect another day of extreme fire behavior as hot, dry conditions persist. Aircraft are expected to assist suppression efforts as visibility improves later in the day.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal has deployed additional structural task forces to the southern portion of the Brewer Fire, bringing three structural task forces into coordinated operations with wildland firefighters to defend homes and other structures. Additional personnel and equipment are expected to arrive throughout Monday.
A temporary flight restriction remains in effect over the fire area. Fire officials reminded the public that flying drones near wildfires is illegal and can immediately ground firefighting aircraft, delaying suppression efforts.
Smoke from the Brewer and Box Springs fires is expected to continue impacting Prineville and surrounding communities, with changing wind conditions potentially affecting visibility and air quality throughout the day.
Fire officials will provide another update during the Akawa Butte Fire virtual community meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
