Firefighters took advantage of Monday's calmer weather to make progress on the Sweet Creek Milepost Two Fire. The 513 acre blaze is burning on private & federal forestland near Mapleton, in western Lane County.
Crews focused on strengthening existing control lines and getting water to the fire from the Siuslaw River.
Fire behavior was mostly moderate.
Jim Gershbach is with the Oregon Department of Forestry. He says the fire is in steep terrain.
“So that always makes the job of digging and making control lines harder.” Gersbach said. “You’ve also got to factor in things rolling downhill. So, that’s not the easiest terrain in the world to fight fires in.”
Gersbach says weather conditions are expected to worsen with hotter temperatures forecast for the rest of this week. He urges the public to use care with recreating to avoid creating new fires.
The Lane County Sheriff Monday issued a Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation order for Bernhardt Creek Road and Duncan Island Road due to the fire.
Hadsall Creek Road is still under a Level 3 (Go) evacuation order and Sweet Creek Road is under Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation order.
Gersbach said weather conditions are expected to worsen with hotter temperatures forecast for later this week. He urges the public to use care when recreating to avoid starting new fires. Gersbach said they’re seeing more human caused fires this summer than usual.
The fire’s cause is still under investigation.
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