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Middle Fork Complex Continues To Be Active

Inciweb

The Middle Fork Complex fires in eastern Lane County continue to be active. Fire managers announced new evacuation notices Tuesday afternoon.

  

Parts of Oakridge are now under a Level 2: Be Set notice. That includes the High Prairie area, Fish Hatchery area, Oakridge north of Roberts Road, and Oakridge east of Salmon Creek.

 

The rest of Oakridge and Westfir are now under a Level one: Be Ready evacuation notice. A rural area north of Oakridge remains under a Level 3: Leave Now evacuation.

 

A map of current evacuation levels can be viewed here.

 

Deputy Incident Commander Dan Quinones said keeping the flames out of the town continues to be a top priority for fire crews, and he said firefighters are doing the best they can.

“We’re not in a traditional environment in 2021," he said. "We need to manage the resources that we have available to us, and we know that we may not be getting any more assets to these fires, because we’re in strict competition with other fires, not only in Oregon and Washington, but nationally.” 

The complex includes several fires that, as of Tuesday afternoon, total roughly five-thousand acres, with two percent containment. Quinones said the upcoming heat wave will likely cause more fire growth in the coming days. 

 
Update: Red Cross Cascades Region volunteers are supporting Lane County in opening a shelter for residents whose homes are in evacuation zones related to the Middle Fork Complex Fire, including the Kwis and Knoll fires which both have active evacuation zones. 

The shelter is located at:

Pleasant Hill High School

(36386 OR-58, Pleasant Hill) 

Individuals and families affected by the Middle Fork Complex Fire and in need of assistance are encouraged to simply show up for help. For information on what to bring to a Red Cross shelter, please visit RedCross.org.

Find more information about evacuation levels and resources related to the Middle Fork Complex Fire at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/MiddleForkComplex.

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
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