PINE MOUNTAIN

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Pine Mountain Fire was officially declared a wildfire at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026. It is located in Deschutes County, Oregon, approximately 14 miles southeast of Bend, on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest.
Size and Containment: As of May 11, 2026, the fire is estimated at 2,589 acres (a decrease from earlier estimates of 2,866 acres due to infrared mapping refinement) and is 70% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire is burning primarily in high-desert grassland and ponderosa pine. Initially estimated at 1,500 acres, it grew to over 2,800 acres by May 8. On the eastern side, the fire's spread was significantly slowed when it reached the footprint of the 2024 Pine Fire, where previously burned terrain moderated fire behavior and limited its growth.
Containment Efforts: The Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team is in command. Resources assigned include hotshot crews, dozers, engines, water tenders, and overhead personnel. Firefighters have successfully contained the eastern edge, consisting of grassy flats. Specialized equipment, including a "skidgine" and a Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) Team, are aiding safe operations in the hard-to-access, rocky, and steep terrain southwest of the Pine Mountain summit.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: There are currently no mandatory evacuation orders in place for the Pine Mountain Fire.
Evacuation Warnings: There are currently no evacuation warnings in place.
Curfew: No curfews have been reported for this incident.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: No evacuation shelters have been opened as there are no active evacuations. Residents should monitor local alerts via Deschutes County Emergency Information.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued an emergency temporary closure of select public lands in Deschutes County near the fire to protect public safety and support suppression operations.
• Closed BLM-managed lands include specific areas in Township 20 South (Ranges 15 and 16 East) and Township 21 South (Ranges 15 and 16 East), including lands south/east of the Deschutes National Forest boundary, southwest of Fox Butte Road, and west of Moffit Road.

For more information, visit:

• Central Oregon Fire Information
• Deschutes National Forest Fire Information
• BLM Oregon Fire Restrictions and Closures

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been no reported injuries or fatalities associated with the Pine Mountain Fire.
Structures Impacted: No structures have been reported destroyed. Fire crews proactively built fuel breaks and prioritized protection around the Pine Mountain Observatory.
School and Business Closures: There are no reported school or business closures due to this fire.
Notable Impacts: The Pine Mountain Observatory was threatened by the fire, prompting firefighters to construct protective lines around the facility.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: No power outages have been reported in connection with this fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported.
Burn Bans: The BLM emergency closure prohibits all public access and uses within the designated closure area.
Air Quality: Smoke from the Pine Mountain Fire may be visible from Highway 20, Bend, and the Newberry Caldera. However, federal monitors have reported that the fire has not had a major impact on Bend's air quality, which recently ranked as "good".

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: With the fire at 70% containment, firefighters are continuing mop-up operations along smoldering sections of the perimeter to extinguish residual heat. Crews are patrolling around the clock to monitor for any changes in fire activity, and full containment is expected as they secure the remaining rocky, steep terrain.
Weather and Wind Warnings: No Red Flag Warnings are currently in effect. The weather in Deschutes County for May 11, 2026, is partly sunny with temperatures in the low 50s and moderate humidity (around 48%), which is assisting firefighters in their mop-up efforts.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The fire began as a multi-day prescribed burn initiated by the U.S. Forest Service on about 2,000 acres to cull flammable brush and small trees. On the morning of May 7, the Forest Service canceled the burn due to unfavorable conditions. By that afternoon, multiple spot fires had jumped the containment lines, and it was officially declared a wildfire.
Weather and Climate: Although forecasted weather conditions were initially within the parameters for a prescribed burn, officials noted that they experienced "unexpected conditions" that caused the fire to escape its boundaries. Fire officials are continuing to investigate exactly how localized weather and wind played a role in the fire's sudden spread.

For more information, visit:

• Central Oregon Fire Information
• Deschutes National Forest Fire Information
• BLM Oregon Fire Restrictions and Closures