A wildfire in the Lincoln City area is burning “at will,” according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Fire officials say the Echo Mountain Complex fire expanded to more than 1,000 acres today.
A large portion of the coast city is under mandatory evacuation orders. As of mid-afternoon on Wednesday, most of Lincoln City north of 12th Street was under a Level 3 "GO" evacuation. The remainder of the city is either in Level 2 "GET SET" or a Level 1 "GET READY" evacuation.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s office said some people were evacuated by boat from the East Devils Lake area.
The Newport Rec Center in Newport has been established as an evacuation point for Lincoln City residents.
Evacuations have also been ordered in the small town of Otis, just east of Lincoln City on Oregon Highway 18. The ODF said the fire is burning on both sides of the road, which is closed in the area. Traffic is also not permitted on Highway 101 between Lincoln City and Kernville.