BLM said a closure covering all agency-managed land along both sides of the John Day River from Service Creek to the Columbia River is expected by noon Friday.
About 7 fires in the Rowe Creek Complex were sparked by a July 15 lightning storm near Twickenham, with crews overnight focused on protecting homes along Rowe Creek Road.
Limited resources, steep terrain, wind and high heat are hampering containment, and firefighters are prioritizing homes and key infrastructure until more crews arrive.
A complex incident management team is due Friday and will assume command Saturday as federal, contracted and local crews respond across five Central Oregon counties.
BLM said more closures could follow in Crook County, underscoring how dry conditions and a surge of regional fires are stretching firefighters thin.