Highway 126 will remain closed to regular traffic for some time in the area of the Holiday Farm Fire. The 23-mile stretch between Leaburg Dam and milepost 46, east of McKenzie Bridge, is still very dangerous according to Jim Gamble with the Oregon Department of Transportation.
He said ODOT crews witness several hazard trees coming down each day into the highway.
“It is just unsafe due to the fire damage that came through. The fire damage was very hot and burned all the vegetation off. Loosened the soils and compromised all the root systems.”
Gamble said he’s hopeful later in the week they’ll be able to bring people through using pilot vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Lane County Sheriff has reduced evacuation levels from 3-go now- to 2-be ready in the McKenzie Highway corridor.
