Incident Media Photographs

Firefighters at work

ICP Break Down and moving to Walterville

Bedrock firefighters helping each other to work without falling on steep ground and deep ash

Rain is coming! The rainfall amounts are not expected to be substantial enough to significantly dampen fire activity, but it will clean the air some in the area. Like yesterday there is enough fire burning in heavy fuels that some smoke production is expected to continue. As has been the story lately there is a distinct line from McKenzie to Sisters, to Redmond. Bend is just on the edge and has seen a bump in smoke impacts dips to the south a bit. In general, we are thinking Central Oregon should be in the Unhealthy to USG ranges today.

Lookout/Bedrock/Horse Creek/Pothole Fires                                                                       

August 30, 2023

Morning Update

Community Public Meeting: There will be an in-person community meeting this evening Wednesday, at 5:00 p.m. at the McKenzie High School in Vida, Oregon. There will be a question-and-answer session following the presentations. For those who cannot attend, the meeting will be recorded and posted on both the Bedrock Fire and Lookout Fire pages. Information officers will monitor and answer incoming questions.  

Horse Creek, Lookout, Pothole Fires Total Personnel:  914

Resources: 51 engines l 16 crews l 12 bulldozers l 30 water tenders l 11 masticators l 11 helicopters

Horse Creek: Size: 703 acres l Start Date: August 24, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 0%

Fire behavior was limited yesterday morning but picked up in the late afternoon when the marine layer lifted over the fire. Containment lines continue to hold on the west, north and south edges of the fire. Air resources assisted firefighters on the ground to limit fire spread to the east. Fire crews and equipment are building a fireline from the ridgeline down into Horse Creek on the eastern edge of the fire.

Lookout: Size: 22,317 acres l Start Date: August 5, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 17%

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped moderate fire behavior allowing firefighters to make good progress. In order to provide a safe working environment for firefighters, fallers will be working in advance of crews as both live and dead trees pose a threat in some work areas. Along the northern, western, and eastern flanks of the fire, fuel breaks are being prepared by tree fallers, fire crews, and heavy equipment along forest system roads. When completed, these roads will be used as primary and alternate control lines to contain fire spread. On the southeast flank, near Belknap Springs, the fire has been slowly backing downhill toward completed containment lines near Highway 126. Where containment lines are confidently secured along the south edge, crews are removing unneeded fire equipment like fire hose and pumps, while continuing to hold and secure the fireline.

Pothole: Size: 99 acres l Start Date: August 25, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 0%

No measurable growth on this fire during the past couple of days has provided firefighters opportunities to build direct fireline around most of this fire. Today they will work to connect firelines around the perimeter.

Bedrock: Total Personnel: 641

Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22, 2023 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 80%

Resources: 27 engines l 11 crews l 7 bulldozers l 27 water tenders l 8 masticators l 11 helicopters

There has been no measurable growth on the Bedrock Fire for several days. Pockets of unburned fuels within the established control lines will produce visible smoke. Firefighters continue to secure and patrol portions of the containment line along the northwest flank. Across most of the fire, the focus has shifted to hauling out equipment, firehose, and pumps and repairing damage to the land and forest roads (grading, installing water bars, and re-contouring dozer lines). Sprinklers and other fire suppression equipment are being removed from the community of Big Fall Creek as the danger of active fire is substantially diminished.

All Fires 

Continued cooler temperatures and higher humidity for the past few days resulted in minimal or no fire growth on all fires. Firefighters and law enforcement officers maintain a presence in evacuated areas. Trained firefighters are flying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones through the smoke to provide infrared heat imaging to locate hotspots near control lines. Drones also support firing operations in areas that are hard to access, which reduces risk to firefighters. 

 Weather

Light precipitation is predicted over the fires this morning before giving way to slightly warmer and drier conditions this afternoon. Winds are predicted to be lighter from the west with possible gusts along ridgetops and where river and creek drainages align with winds. This condition often results in increased fire behavior where winds and drainages align. Cool, moist onshore flow is expected to increase, with about 1/3 of an inch of rain predicted beginning Thursday night through Friday.

Evacuation Centers: An evacuation center is in place at Westridge Middle School in Oakridge for evacuees and small pets from the Bedrock and Lookout Fires. A large animal shelter is established at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene.  An up-to-date and searchable evacuation map is available through Lane county’s website.

Lane County Evacuations: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=19729054   

Linn County Evacuations:  https://www.linnsheriff.org/ 

Road Closures: Highway 242, McKenzie Highway, is closed between milepost 61-76, 14 miles west of Sisters, Oregon to just east of the junction with Highway 126. Highway 126 is currently open. Please monitor Trip Check for any updates at: https://tripcheck.com/   

Forest Closures: Willamette National Forest closure orders remain in place around all four fire areas. These closures help provide firefighters with safer driving conditions and decrease the potential for search and rescue operations that could interrupt firefighting activities. Closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in place over the Bedrock and Lookout fire areas.  

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/4c92bc1a The Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov) is another source for air quality information.   

Lookout Information Line: 541-215-6735 (8am-8pm)

Email: 2023.lookout@firenet.gov                                              

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookoutFire2023 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/orwif-lookout-fire  

Bedrock Fire Information: 541-414-6272 (8am-8pm)

Email: 2023.bedrock@firenet.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/

InciWeb Bedrock: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-bedrock-fire

Although cool and moist weather is moderating fire behavior, there is enough fire burning in heavy fuels that some smoke production is expected to continue. There is a stream of smoke drifting over Central Oregon this morning coming from the Lookout fire (see photo). It is impacting a distinct line from Sisters, to Redmond, to Prineville. Bend is just on the edge and may see a bump in smoke impacts if this 'smoke stream' dips to the south a bit. In general, we are thinking Central Oregon should be in the Moderate to USG ranges today.

Lookout/Bedrock/Horse Creek/Pothole Fires                                                                       

August 30, 2023

Morning Update

Community Public Meeting: There will be an in-person community meeting this evening Wednesday, at 5:00 p.m. at the McKenzie High School in Vida, Oregon. There will be a question-and-answer session following the presentations. For those who cannot attend, the meeting will be recorded and posted on both the Bedrock Fire and Lookout Fire pages. Information officers will monitor and answer incoming questions.  

Horse Creek, Lookout, Pothole Fires Total Personnel:  914

Resources: 51 engines l 16 crews l 12 bulldozers l 30 water tenders l 11 masticators l 11 helicopters

Horse Creek: Size: 703 acres l Start Date: August 24, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 0%

Fire behavior was limited yesterday morning but picked up in the late afternoon when the marine layer lifted over the fire. Containment lines continue to hold on the west, north and south edges of the fire. Air resources assisted firefighters on the ground to limit fire spread to the east. Fire crews and equipment are building a fireline from the ridgeline down into Horse Creek on the eastern edge of the fire.

Lookout: Size: 22,317 acres l Start Date: August 5, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 17%

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped moderate fire behavior allowing firefighters to make good progress. In order to provide a safe working environment for firefighters, fallers will be working in advance of crews as both live and dead trees pose a threat in some work areas. Along the northern, western, and eastern flanks of the fire, fuel breaks are being prepared by tree fallers, fire crews, and heavy equipment along forest system roads. When completed, these roads will be used as primary and alternate control lines to contain fire spread. On the southeast flank, near Belknap Springs, the fire has been slowly backing downhill toward completed containment lines near Highway 126. Where containment lines are confidently secured along the south edge, crews are removing unneeded fire equipment like fire hose and pumps, while continuing to hold and secure the fireline.

Pothole: Size: 99 acres l Start Date: August 25, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 0%

No measurable growth on this fire during the past couple of days has provided firefighters opportunities to build direct fireline around most of this fire. Today they will work to connect firelines around the perimeter.

Bedrock: Total Personnel: 641

Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22, 2023 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 80%

Resources: 27 engines l 11 crews l 7 bulldozers l 27 water tenders l 8 masticators l 11 helicopters

There has been no measurable growth on the Bedrock Fire for several days. Pockets of unburned fuels within the established control lines will produce visible smoke. Firefighters continue to secure and patrol portions of the containment line along the northwest flank. Across most of the fire, the focus has shifted to hauling out equipment, firehose, and pumps and repairing damage to the land and forest roads (grading, installing water bars, and re-contouring dozer lines). Sprinklers and other fire suppression equipment are being removed from the community of Big Fall Creek as the danger of active fire is substantially diminished.

All Fires 

Continued cooler temperatures and higher humidity for the past few days resulted in minimal or no fire growth on all fires. Firefighters and law enforcement officers maintain a presence in evacuated areas. Trained firefighters are flying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones through the smoke to provide infrared heat imaging to locate hotspots near control lines. Drones also support firing operations in areas that are hard to access, which reduces risk to firefighters. 

 Weather

Light precipitation is predicted over the fires this morning before giving way to slightly warmer and drier conditions this afternoon. Winds are predicted to be lighter from the west with possible gusts along ridgetops and where river and creek drainages align with winds. This condition often results in increased fire behavior where winds and drainages align. Cool, moist onshore flow is expected to increase, with about 1/3 of an inch of rain predicted beginning Thursday night through Friday.

Evacuation Centers: An evacuation center is in place at Westridge Middle School in Oakridge for evacuees and small pets from the Bedrock and Lookout Fires. A large animal shelter is established at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene.  An up-to-date and searchable evacuation map is available through Lane county’s website.

Lane County Evacuations: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=19729054   

Linn County Evacuations:  https://www.linnsheriff.org/ 

Road Closures: Highway 242, McKenzie Highway, is closed between milepost 61-76, 14 miles west of Sisters, Oregon to just east of the junction with Highway 126. Highway 126 is currently open. Please monitor Trip Check for any updates at: https://tripcheck.com/   

Forest Closures: Willamette National Forest closure orders remain in place around all four fire areas. These closures help provide firefighters with safer driving conditions and decrease the potential for search and rescue operations that could interrupt firefighting activities. Closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in place over the Bedrock and Lookout fire areas.  

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/4c92bc1a The Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov) is another source for air quality information.   

Lookout Information Line: 541-215-6735 (8am-8pm)

Email: 2023.lookout@firenet.gov                                              

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookoutFire2023 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/orwif-lookout-fire  

Bedrock Fire Information: 541-414-6272 (8am-8pm)

Email: 2023.bedrock@firenet.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/

InciWeb Bedrock: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-bedrock-fire