Oregon Public Broadcasting

A new wildfire in the Deschutes National Forest is affecting the traffic in Central Oregon.

Highway 58 is closed between mileposts 64 and 73 for all of  Wednesday. It is not clear yet when the road will be re-opened.

The Royce Butte Fire started Tuesday at around 2 p.m. and is burning over an estimated 1100  acres.

Jean Nelson-Dean is with the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center. She says the fire is so close to residential homes and vacation lodges that an evacuation took place Tuesday.

Jean Nelson-Dean: “Approximately 120 people were evacuated in 100 residencies. There is a Red Cross Shelter set up; it’s at the Community Club in Crescent. As of last night, there were seven or eight people at the shelter. A lot of times, people, you know, go to friends or family residences.”

Nelson-Dean says no homes have been damaged by the Royce Butte Fire so far. But it is unclear when people can return to their houses.

She  says it's believed to be human-caused. An investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, the Gnarl Ridge fire near Mount Hood is burning bright again.  Crews have evacuated people off the mountain. And evacuations have been ordered for the surrounding area.