Zach UrnessSalem Statesman Journal
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LATEST: FRIDAY WILDFIRE REPORT 15 large fires bring evacuations statewide, more lightning forecast
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ORIGINAL STORY
A total of 1,050 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes raked Oregon late Tuesday night, igniting a number of wildfires across the state, including many that brought evacuation warnings by Wednesday and Thursday.
The bulk of those strikes were across southern Oregon, according to the National Weather Service, but there were about 200 strikes along the Cascade Range and foothills in Marion, Linn and Lane counties.
"The lightning strikes were pretty well spread out," NWS meteorologist David Bishop said. "The bulk were down near Medford while we had quite a few in the Central Cascades."
Not much precipitation came with the lightning strikes, which allowed numerous small wildfires to grow following early July's record-setting heat.
Here's the latest on the fires, evacuations and warnings around the state.
Fire reported on McKenzie View Drive north of Springfield
A vehicle-turned-vegetation fire north of Springfield reached 10 acres before being halted by fire crews on Thursday night.
The wildfire reporting app Watch Duty reported that the fire, which started at a vehicle, "jumped the road." The fire was traveling north uphill.
Oregon State Police had blocked off McKenzie View Drive eastbound in Mohawk Valley, directing drivers to turn around.
The Oregon Department of Forestry said the fire started around milepost 5 of McKenzie View Drive where a car was fully engulfed in flames. Officers began going door-to-door to evacuate nearby homes at approximately 7:30 p.m.
By 9:30 p.m., crews had hoses around the blaze and were engaged in mop up.
See this story for more details.
Closure issued for Blue River Reservoir area as Ore Fire reaches 440 acres in McKenzie Corridor
Willamette National Forest has issued an closure order around much of Blue River Reservoir due to the 440 acre Ore Fire burning north of Rainbow in the McKenzie River corridor.
This closure includes the following sites: Buck Mountain Trail, Tidbits South and West Trail, Gold Hill Trail, Mona Campground, Lookout Campground, and Saddle Dam Boat Launch.
A full map and breakdown of the closure can be found here.
Evacuation warnings for North Umpqua area due to Boulder Fire near Toketee Falls
A level 2 "be set" evacuation warning was issued due to the Boulder Flat Fire east of Roseburg and Glide in the North Umpqua Canyon near Toketee Falls. The evacuation is for homes in the Slide Creek area downstream to theSoda Springs area due to a fire near Soda Springs and Pine Bench in Toketee.
It's unclear how large the fire has become. A map of the evacuation area can be found here.
Oakridge still on evacuation
The northern part of Oakridge remained on level 1 and 2 evacuation warnings Thursday morning. In the McKenzie Corridor, the Ore Fire burning near Blue River grew to 250 acres. Here's more details on fires burning in Willamette National Forest east of Salem and Eugene.
- The High Prairie Fire, listed at 10 acres, has brought a level 2 and level 1 evacuation warnings north of Oakridge. The latest evacuation map can be seen here. Another fire, the McKinley Fire, is also north of Oakridge and estimated at 3 acres.
Deteriorating air quality east of the Cascades
Air quality was quickly deteriorating east of the Cascades by Thursday morning, with numerous fires burning across the state's east side.
Bend's air quality was "unhealthy for sensitive groups" while Burns was at "very unhealthy," according to air quality metrics from around the state.
Oregon's west side was in decent shape and that appears likely to remain in place Thursday.
Gov. Tina Kotek invokes Conflagration Act for fires in Umatilla County
Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for a series of fires in Umatilla Countynear Pilot Rock late Wednesday night.The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing its Green Incident Management Team to protect homes in the area.
The Pilot Rock Fire is the largest of the blazes at 10,000 acres but there are a number of other fires in the area as well, including the NF Owens Fire at 952 acres.
"Significant lightning storms moved through Umatilla County Wednesday afternoon and have kept local fire agencies busy responding to wildfires. Gusty winds and dry conditionscaused some of these fires to grow exponentially and threaten life and property," a news release said.
Level 3 evacuation orders issued for Wickiup Reservoir area in Central Oregon
The Round Mountain and Wickiup fires on Deschutes National Forest reached a combined 170 acres by Thursday morning, according to Central Oregon Fire Info. In response, levels 1, 2 and 3 evacuation orders have been issued around Wickiup Reservoir.
Level 3 Go Now:National Forest area north of Wickiup, Forest Service Road 4262 and Forest Service Road 4380 and south of Forest Service Road 42 (South Century Drive)
Level 2 Be Set:National Forest area between Road 4380 and the Deschutes River including Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds and private inholdings along the west side of the river at Haner Park
Level 1 Be Ready:Haner Park subdivision east of the Deschutes River
Evacuation maps can be found at bit.ly/3Wr3y1B
Engines, dozers, water tenders and aerial support are the resources working on the fires.
Trail Fire grows to 1,200 acres, brings closures near Diamond Lake and Mount Thielsen, forces level 3 evacuations on the Pacific Crest Trail
A forest closure has gone into effect on Thursday afternoon in response to growing fire activity to protect the public and firefighter safety. The closed area is on along the southeast side of Diamond Lake to the Pacific Crest Trail to the east. Diamond Lake Viewpoint, Campground and Visitor Center are closed through Sunday as well.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has implemented level 2 and 3 evacuation notices due to the Trail Fire, and along a large segment of the Pacific Crest Trail. The fire is burning east of Diamond Lake in Douglas County and reached 1,200 acres in size.
Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations have been issued for the following:
- Pacific Crest Trail is closed from the intersection of Highway 138 East at the "North Crater Trailhead" to the intersection with USFS Maidu Lake Trail #1446 near Miller Lake
- USFS North Crater Trail #1410
- USFS Summit Rock/Crater Trail #1457
- USFS Mt. Thielsen Trail #1456
- USFS Spruce Ridge Trail #1458
- USFS Howlock Mountain Trail #1448
- USFS Thielsen Creek Trail #1449
Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation warnings are in place for Diamond Lake Horse Corrals, Diamond Lake Campground and RV Park.
Oregon Department of Forestry responds to 17 fires in 24 hours after lightning storm
The three largest fires, Durkee Fire at 7,530 acres, Snake Fire at 1,000 acres and NF Owen Fire at 952 acres all started on Wednesday afternoon or evening. NF Owen Fire and Snake Fire have been combined to create the Battle Mountain Complex near Ukiah.
The Northeast District will continue to respond to new fire starts throughout the day. Firefighters will be conducting patrols of impacted areas and utilizing smoke detection cameras.
"The Oregon Department of Forestry is urging Oregonians to actively participate in wildfire prevention and avoid bringing fire hazards on the landscape," the news release said. "With resources spread thin, less human-caused fires can make all the difference and allow resources to focus on the new lightning-caused fires."
Fire crews battling more Rogue River fires
Firefighters have been responding to 10 small fires in Josephine County following thunderstorms on Tuesday night. A majority of the fires are on BLM public lands, along both sides of the lower portion of the Rogue River, in southern Oregon, and burning on both sides of the river northwest of Rand and Galice. The fires are mostly small, less than an acre.
"These fires have likely remained small due to rain that came with the weather system, as well as an aggressive initial attack from firefighters," a report from the Oregon Department of Forestry said. Aircraft has been key on these incidents. Firefighters are hiking as far as 2 miles to reach fires on steep, dangerous ground.
Here are the fires of greatest concern.
- Horseshoe Bend Fire, holding at an estimated quarter-acre. Located north of Horseshoe Bend Campground, north of the Rogue River. Firefighters are on scene and using helicopters due to remote location and no road access. The U.S. Forest Service- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and ODF are encouraging people to avoid camping at all Horseshoe Bend campsites while helicopter-bucket dipping is taking place.
- East Fork Big Windy Fire, estimated to be 1/100 of an acre. Located east of East Fork Big Windy Creek and south of the Rogue River on steep, remote county with limited access. ODF firefighters are on scene with one 20-person crew hiking into the fire area.
- Big Windy Creek, estimated to be a quarter-acre. Located on steep, remote ground just north of the East Fork Big Windy Fire. Tree fallers and a 20-person crew are assigned to the incident and hiking in.
- Trout Creek Fire, estimated to be half an acre. Located north of Trout Creek and south of the Rogue River, southwest of the Zane Grey Cabin. This fire is a 2-mile hike from the nearest road. Two 10-person crews are assigned to the fire, along with a bulldozer. Firefighters are cutting a significant amount of dead trees to clear a path to the incident.
- Missouri Creek Fire, estimated to be half an acre. Located north of Bear Camp Road and south of the Zane Grey Cabin. Firefighters are hiking down to the fire.
Wildfires on Umpqua National Forest east of Roseburg
There are lightning-caused wildfires burning in Umpqua National Forest east of Roseburg. They include:
- Lemolo Fire:Estimated 15 acres. Level 1 evacuation warning "be prepared" was issued was being issued for the campgrounds and resort at Lemolo Lake. Two engines and crew on site. Aircraft resources are being shared between Lemolo and Trail Fires.
- Jack Saddle Fire: Estimated5 acres. About 14 miles northeast of Idleyld Park. As of Thursday morning, the fire has a hose around 90% and is 70% hand trailed. There is no new growth and minimal fire activity. In addition to a Forest Service Engine, Douglas Forest Protective Agency (DFPA) air and ground resources were on site. DFPA is now in joint command with the Umpqua National Forest on continued suppression efforts on this fire.
- Lost Bucket: 2 acres,near Jack Saddle Fire. Most of the fire has a hose around it but isn't fully trailed. Authorities hope to get 100% trailed by noon on Thursday. DFPA air and ground resources were utilized.
- Cultus Fire: Estimated 1.5 acres. Fire is lined. 40% contained.
- Slide Fire: Estimated 0.5 acre. 100% lined.
- Tucker Fire –Estimated .5 acres, Resources: Squad 211 and 212 and one engine. 10% contained, handline and hose laid around it.
Fire restrictions in place for Willamette National Forest
The Willamette National Forest implemented fire restrictions on Wednesday as the fire danger remained "high" across the forest.
Fire restrictions prohibit all campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires or other open fires outside of designated campgrounds. Building, maintaining or using a fire, campfire or stove was still permitted in designated metal campfire rings or grills in designated recreational sites.
Restrictions for smoking, off-highway vehicles, and chainsaws in campgrounds also are in effect.
Restrictions and updates to restrictions as they change can be found at fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/fire.
Falls Fire grows in acreage but also containment
The Falls Fire in Grant and Harney counties about 13.5 miles north of Burns reached 110,674 acres by Thursday morning and was at 5% containment.
Fire crews secured the south containment line Wednesday evening and controlled spot fires across 31 roads after increased fire activity during the day.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation orders remained in place in Grant and Harney counties. The Harney County Sheriff’s evacuation map can be found at bit.ly/4d1XvX2 for the most accurate evacuation notices.
Ten residences and 13 "other" structures were destroyed in the early stages of the fire, according to Oregon State Fire Marshal structure teams.
This fire forced the closure of several areas in the Malheur National Forest. Emigrant Creek Campground, Falls Campground, Yellowjacket Campground and Delintment Lake Campground were all closed.
No growth detected in Cow Valley megafire
The largest wildfire in Oregon has not increase in acreage since Tuesday, stalling at 133,408 acres. Fire crews reported that containment grew to 77%. The fire is being characterized as smoldering.
Due to successful strategic operations, fire activity has minimized significantly. Conditions had improved enough that Malheur County Emergency Management is confident that homes were no longer at risk.
Some resourced aided in the suppression of new starts from lighting strikes, on Wednesday.
Crews will continue to patrol for and extinguish hot pockets.
Due to the reduced threat to structures, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Team demobilized its incident management team and remaining structural task forces on Wednesday morning. Several hundred wildland firefighters remained and other resources were set to be assigned to structural protection.
The latest evacuation warning levels can be found on the Facebook page of Malheur County Sheriff's Office.
Larch Creek Fire appears to slow, containment increased
The Larch Creek Fire in Wasco County was estimated at 18,693 acres and 43% containment as of Wednesday morning.
Firefighters had fully lined the perimeter.
Wasco County Sheriff's Office lifted some evacuation orders and reopened Pine Hollow Reservoir and asked the public, "to recreate safely and stay aware of current fire evacuation orders. All evacuations will remain in place today and re-evaluated tonight at 6:00 PM."
Evacuation orders at levels 1, 2 and 3 remained in place. An evacuation map can be found at bit.ly/4bPdmae.
Lone Rock Fire reaches 71,020 acres
Another eastern Oregon wildfire — the Lone Rock Fire — grew to 71,020 acres and was 10% contained as of Wednesday morning. The blaze moved south during tuesday night due to fire-friendly weather conditions.
The fire east of Condon ignited over the weekend and grew quickly. Level 3 "go now" evacuation orders were issued in Gilliam and Morrow counties. For a map of the evacuation, see this link.
The status of these fires and other large blazes will be updated as more information becomes available.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.
