The Holiday Farm Fire has grown to nearly 145,000 acres and is 0% contained as it burns along Highway 126 and the McKenzie River east of Springfield.
Public Information Officer Damon Simmons said they’re hopeful a shift to lighter winds from the west will help fire crews. He says firefighters will be getting help from local businesses.
“We’re bringing in some heavy equipment to try to clear the roads and try to clear those trees on the sides of the roads that keep falling into the roads, even in the areas that have burned through, we’ve got trees still falling into the road, rocks still falling into the road.” Simmons said, “So we’ve got to clear the road and clear the embankment above the road.”
Fire crews were able to protect more than 100 structures Wednesday Simmons said. The fire is burning just west of Leaburg east all the way to around Rainbow.
“It’s in the communities of Vida and Blue River.” Simmons said. “Blue River was substantially destroyed. Vida, firefighters were able to protect a large portion of Vida. So, Vida is still in fairly okay shape. Some of the outlying structures were damaged but the main community of Vida is still in fairly good shape.”
There are still around 200 people fighting the fire and it’s unclear if more resources will be available since so many huge fires are burning in the region.
Simmons said donations of food and other goods should go to help people who’ve lost their homes. The firefighters don’t need them right now.
Evacuation updates: Lanecounty.org/McKenzieFire
