Evacuation orders remain in place for about 600 residents near Sisters, where the Milli Fire grew overnight Friday from about 7,000 acres to more than 7,800 acres.

Those living in the Edgington/Remuda Road and Crossroads subdivisions and residents along the Three Creeks Lake Road, just two miles to the south of Sisters, have all been told to evacuate.

In addition, the Tollgate subdivision is still being warned of a possible evacuation. The city of Sisters and Black Butte Ranch are not affected by the evacuation orders.

A Red Cross evacuation shelter is set up at Sisters Middle School, and a pet evacuation team is housing pets and livestock at the Sisters Rodeo grounds.

A community meeting was held Saturday evening at Sisters High School to update residents on the fire, and answers questions.

More than 400 firefighters worked Saturday to cut new containment lines between the edge of the fire and the threatened communities. Fire crews with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Deschutes National Forest are being assisted by task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, which is helping to protect and evacuate neighborhoods.

Fire officials warned that drones flying in the area could ground aircraft that are helping fight the fire. A temporary flight restriction is in place barring drone flights. Three heavy air tankers and one very large air tanker have made repeated drops of fire retardant in inaccessible areas of the fire. In addition, three helicopters are deployed for the fire and two National Guard helicopters on standby.

McKenzie Pass Highway — state Highway 242 — east of Cascade Crest to the junction of Forest Road 15 is closed.

As the Milli Fire continues to burn near Sisters, fire crews are making progress on the 66,003-acre Nena Springs Fire that gained more than 19,000 acres in two days.

Evacuation orders have been lifted in the area. However, the residents in Charley Canyon, Webster Flat Road, South Junction, Culpus Bridge and Wolf Point Subdivision, are being told to be ready for another evacuation on a moment’s notice.

The Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa is also being warned about a potential evacuation.

Fire crews were focused Saturday on keeping the fire west of the Deschutes River, south of Highway 216, east of Highway 26 and north of BIA Road 3, according to Warms Springs Wildland Fire Management.

The Deschutes River is open to rafters, but Bureau of Land Management river rangers will stop rafters if a helicopter flies in to gather water from the river. Smoke from the fire may become visible Saturday over the river.

All roads in the area are open, expect Webster Flat Road.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820,

kspurr@bendbulletin.com