UPDATE: Please see below for additional evacuation notices issued Friday, July 26 at 8:35pm.
A fire outside Canyonville called the Milepost 97 Fire has now grown from 80 to 6,000 acres since the last official report.
Most of the fire has been to the south and southwest of the original burn. Kyle Reed is with the Douglas Forest Protective Association and is the public information officer for the incident. He says they’ve committed a number of ground and air resources to tackle the fire.
“We’ve got seven helicopters working on the fire, two large air tankers and then two single-engine air tankers,” Reed tells KLCC.
“And they’re supporting the fire fighters on the ground who are trying to work in and round, putting lines in on this fire.”
Reed adds besides temperatures in the 90s and low humidity, canyon winds have also been problematic.
“This fire’s burning in an area that burnt in 1987 with lots of large, standing dead trees, with a heavy brush component beneath them, on a really steep hillside,” adds Reed.
“So it’s been a real challenge, trying to get in front of this thing.”
Only minor injuries to firefighters have been reported so far. Three homes are under a level 3 or “GO” evacuation notice, meaning residents should leave immediately.
As of Friday afternoon, no structures have been destroyed, and no causalities have been reported.
UPDATE: July 26, 8:35pm - In conjunction with Milepost 97 Fire managers, the Sheriff's Office is issuing Level 1 "Ready" evacuation notices for all residences on the west side of the freeway between Interstate mileposts 88-83. This includes:
- Barton Road
- Azalea-Glen Road
- Old Booth Lane
- Harrel Lane
- Hobbs Lane
- Fortune Branch Road on the Azalea-Glen side
- Forrest Road
- Realty Road
- Quines Creek Road
- Mobley Drive
Additionally, a Level 1 "Ready" notice is also being issued for all residences off of Upper Cow Creek Road starting at Interstate 5 milepost 88, east to the base of Galesville Dam.
Residents in the area of the fire are urged to monitor official sources for the latest fire information. Information can be found at:
Copyright 2019, KLCC.
