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Evacuations downgraded as wildfire south of Eugene is now fully contained

Smoke seen through a grove of trees.
Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire & Rescue
First-arriving crews found the fire spreading uphill toward residences on Hampton Rd and Hideaway Hills Rd, according to Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire & Rescue.

Fire officials said Wednesday evening that a blaze that prompted evacuations south of Eugene had been contained.

Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire & Rescue said crews responded to a field fire just before 5 p.m. near the intersection of Scharen Road and Hampton Road, which is just west of the community of Goshen.

They said the flames were spreading uphill towards residences in the area. The Lane County Sheriff's Office issued Level 3 (Go Now) and Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notices for parts of the area.

By 8 p.m., crews had the upper hand on the blaze, according to fire officials. By 9 p.m., the sheriff's office lowered all evacuations to Level 1 (Be Ready), where they remained late Wednesday night.

In a Facebook post, Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire & Rescue praised the preparedness steps taken by people living in the area.

"Defensible space made a critical difference in today’s outcome," the post read. "It allowed firefighters safe access to slow the fire and protect nearby homes. This event highlights how essential it is for residents to prepare their properties in advance."

The agency said the fire grew to approximately 3.5 acres before it was brought under control. They said crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry would monitor the scene overnight.

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”