Wildfire Map Spotlight: Flat Fire, Central Oregon

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of August 24, 2025, the wildfire named the Flat Fire is burning in Central Oregon, primarily northeast of the town of Sisters in Deschutes County, and extending into Jefferson County.

The fire covers both public and private lands managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, the Ochoco National Forest, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (1).

Its location near popular landmarks, including the Sisters wilderness area and Lake Billy Chinook, has heightened concern for both residents and visitors.

Which cities or areas are affected by the Flat Fire?

The cities and areas affected by the Flat Fire include:

Crooked River Ranch
Lake Billy Chinook
Redmond
Sisters

These communities are experiencing varying levels of evacuation orders and are at risk from the ongoing fire (3).

Air quality alerts have been issued across multiple communities in Central Oregon as smoke from the Flat Fire continues to spread. Current AQI levels are ranging between 150 and 200, which fall into the categories of unhealthy to very unhealthy conditions for residents.

The areas under active air quality alerts include:

What is the current containment status of the wildfire?

As of August 24, 2025, the Flat Fire has burned approximately 21,971 acres and remains at 0% containment (4).

Firefighters have established some initial containment lines, particularly along the southern perimeter, and continue to work aggressively with both ground and aerial resources.

However, challenging terrain, dry conditions, and red flag warnings are slowing progress toward containment (2).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders remain active across parts of Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. Authorities have issued Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation levels, affecting nearly 10,000 people.

A 24-hour Red Cross evacuation center has been established at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond, and the Jefferson County Fairgrounds is open for large animal sheltering.

Residents are urged to follow updates from county sheriff’s offices and to avoid the fire zone for their safety and to support firefighting operations.