One of the big challenges with the Holiday Farm Fire in the McKenzie River area is that the smoke is so thick it’s hard for fire crews to get a handle on where it’s burning. U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio said he’s asked the Defense Department to provide satellite imagery of the fire.
He said crews are working to keep the fire from reaching Springfield, where he lives. DeFazio spoke with KLCC as he prepared to leave his home, which was under a level one-evacuation notice.
“When you get level one you’ve got to be ready to go because when they say three, you’ve got to run.” DeFazio said. “And I had a friend upriver who, they just knocked on his door and said, run. So, no time to prepare anything. That was the first night when it just blew up and jumped 13 miles in an hour.”
DeFazio said he’s also seeking federal help with housing for those who’ve lost their homes to the fires.
Evacuation info: www.lanecounty.org/mckenziefire
