Another fire burns through central Oregon, forcing evacuations, state park closure

Another

wildfire

is burning through central Oregon, forcing residential evacuations as well as

another evacuation

of a state park campground.

The Alder Springs fire, which had grown to 2,500 acres Tuesday, was sparked Monday afternoon on the Crooked River National Grasslands, where it rapidly spread,

the Oregon State Fire Marshal reported

.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued

evacuation orders

for the nearby residential areas, including the Crooked River Ranch, according to

Central Oregon Fire Information

. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office also issued evacuation orders for the fire.

Campers staying at The Cove Palisades State Park’s Deschutes Campground, which has 180 campsites, were forced to flee Monday night as the fire spread through the desert hills northeast of Redmond, state parks spokesperson Stefanie Knowlton confirmed Tuesday. The fire forced state park officials to shut down parts of the park, where they have also issued a new ban on open flames.

On Monday, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department closed the Deschutes Campground, and the Upper and Lower Deschutes day-use areas in the park. The Crooked River campground and day use area remained open, as of Tuesday afternoon.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions in coordination with local fire crews and the sheriff’s department on when it is safe to reopen,” Knowlton said.

Updates are regularly posted online at stateparks.oregon.gov on the

“park notices” page

.

The Cove Palisades State Park

is known for its water access and views over three rivers — the Deschutes, Crooked and Metolius rivers — that meet up at a reservoir, Lake Billy Chinook. It’s particularly popular among boaters in the summer.

The evacuation at the park comes less than a week after state park officials had to

evacuate a campground

at Cottonwood Canyon State Park, which was severely burned by the Ferry fire. Several other state parks temporarily closed last week as

the Rowena fire

burned through the Columbia River Gorge.

“This is the second time our agency has mobilized resources in the last week because of a wildfire,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a news release Monday. “The conditions we are seeing across Oregon are extremely concerning, especially in early June. It only takes a spark to cause a disaster, so be wildfire aware.”

Wildfires

• Lawmakers unveil a plan aimed at generating $60 million for wildfire prevention

• Firefighters battling Oregon blaze make heartwarming rescue

• 56 homes burned in Rowena fire, containment operations continue

• Officials tally number of homes lost in Rowena fire as evacuation levels ease

• Firefighters hold Rowena fire steady overnight; weather may offer relief

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