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Oregon Wildfires: Evacuation Order For Blue River In Upper McKenzie Bridge Area

INCIWEB

Update 10:15pm:

A new fire sparked by downed power lines Monday evening has prompted the following evacuation orders along OR HWY 126:

EVACUATION NOTICES IN EFFECT ALONG THE UPPER MCKENZIE DUE TO FIRE (9/7 @ 10:00pm) A LEVEL 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Notice has been issued to residents of the Holiday Farm RV Park (54432 McKenzie Hwy, Blue River).

LEVEL 2 EVACUATION FOR MILL CREEK ROAD TO DEARBORN ISLAND and for MCKENZIE RIVER DRIVE TO MCKENZIE HIGHWAY: BE SET - PREPARE TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE A temporary evacuation point is being established at McKenzie High School (51187 Blue River Dr, Vida)

Updated 9/7/20 8pm:

The Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation and Deschutes National Forest could spread onto the Willamette National Forest, which has prompted forest managers to expand closure orders.

The Lionshead Fire has grown to nearly 21,000 acres and the Beachie Creek Fire is 500 acres. High winds in the area have prompted officials to let residents know they should evacuate from the Little North Santiam Canyon and Breitenbush Hot Springs area.

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The closures are in effect for the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area west to Oregon State HWY 22 and south to Oregon State HWY 20.

Over the weekend large parts of the wilderness area, including a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail were closed and visitors were asked to “promptly leave.”

Credit INCIWEB
A bear print in the dirt of a fire line on the Lionshead Fire.

The new closures come as the combination of high winds, low humidity, and dry fuels could cause rapid fire spread. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for wind and low humidity through Wednesday evening. The National Weather Service says strong easterly winds are expected starting Monday afternoon, peaking overnight Monday into Tuesday morning, then slowly easing through Tuesday evening. These winds have the potential to reach historic speeds for early to mid September.

Fire managers are also concerned about the latest weather system’s potential impacts on the Beachie Creek Fire which is burning six miles north of the community of Detroit. The fire is currently confined to the Opal Creek Wilderness, burning in heavy timber on inaccessible, steep slopes.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be aware of aerial firefighting aircraft, CL-415 scoopers on Detroit Lake.

In Lane County, the Lane County Sheriff lifted all evacuation notices associated with the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire near Mapleton on Sunday. Sweet Creek Rd. remains closed from HWY 126 to milepost 3. The fire has burned 307 acres and is now 100% contained.

Credit INCIWEB
The Beachie Creek Fire grew to more than 400 acres on Sunday, Sept.6, 2020.

InciWebreports there are 15 wildfires burning in Oregon.

Copyright 2020, KLCC

Love Cross joined KLCC in 2017. She began her public radio career as a graduate student, serving as Morning Edition Host for Boise State Public Radio in the late 1990s. She earned her undergraduate degree in Rhetoric and Communication from University of California at Davis, and her Master’s Degree from Boise State University. In addition to her work in public radio, Love teaches college-level courses in Communication and Public Speaking.
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