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Westerly winds moving through Oregon today are drifting smoke from the fires over the Cascade Crest and into Central Oregon. Heaviest smoke impacts are in the uppermost section of the McKenzie drainage, Sisters, and into Bend and Redmond. UNHEALTHY conditions are forecast today for these areas with some improvement this evening and into tomorrow as winds scour smoke out.
For McKenzie Bridge, Blue River, Oakridge, and the Willamette Valley, improving air quality conditions are being seen with the weather shift and should remain in GOOD to MODERATE air quality through the work week.
A firefighter uses a drip torch during the Bedrock Fire on August 22, 2023. After thinning vegetation near the edges of control lines, firefighters methodically apply fire to consume some of the fuel near the lines. This will result in less intense fire behavior if the wildfire reaches this point. Less intensity improves the odds that firefighters can then stop the wildfire near the previously "burned out" area.
This was the 14th day for this "initial attack" crew from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Photo taken August 22, 2023 by Public Information Officer Andy Lyon.
Taiyo Ichikawa, a firefighter from the Methow Valley Crew on the Bedrock Fire, Tuesday, August 22.
Lookout/Bedrock/Horse Creek/Pothole Fires
August 29, 2023
Morning Update
Community Public Meeting: There will be an in-person community meeting Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at the McKenzie High School in McKenzie Bridge, 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 https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/ and Lookout Fire pages https://www.facebook.com/LookoutFire2023/. Information officers will monitor and answer incoming questions.
Public reminder: 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. Please see links to this information below.
Horse Creek, Lookout, Pothole Fires Total Personnel: 937
Resources: 54 engines l 15 crews l 13 bulldozers l 29 water tenders l 11 masticators l 8 helicopters
Horse Creek: Size: 597 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. Fire crews, equipment, and air resources are actively engaged in full suppression efforts in the Horse Creek drainage. Firelines on the north and west edges are holding well. The fire has been moving eastward due to terrain and winds. Some dozers and hand lines have been installed to check eastern fire spread. Today, as conditions allow, firefighters will fly a drone above the fire to detect hotspots near the fire’s edge.
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.
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 that are being utilized 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 beginning to remove unneeded fire equipment like fire hose and pumps, while continuing to hold and secure the fireline. Of particular concern for the safety of firefighters, are both live and dead trees falling near work areas.
Pothole: Size: 99 acres l Start Date: August 25, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 0%
This fire is adjacent to the Three Sisters Wilderness. Yesterday firefighters installed critical direct fireline to contain fire on the northwest corner. Today they will continue identifying options to build fireline around the remainder of the northern flank.
Bedrock: Size: 31,592 acres l Start Date: July 22, 2023 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 71%
Total Personnel: 696
Resources: 35 engines l 12 crews l 8 bulldozers l 27 water tenders l 8 masticators l 11 helicopters
There was no measurable growth on the Bedrock Fire yesterday. Firefighters continue to secure portions of the containment line along the northwest area of the perimeter. 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).
All Fires
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity yesterday resulted in minimal 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 rain is predicted over the fires today. Winds from the west may be gusty 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 continue through Labor Day.
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: 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
Danny Hernandez, a firefighter with the Los Padres Hotshots, uses a drip torch to "burn out" vegetation on the Bedrock Fire. Photo by Public Information Officer Andy Lyon
Firefighters gather at 6 a.m. each day for a morning meeting. They get a briefing on the day's plan of action and a weather forecast, as well as safety information and anything else fire managers think they need to know for that day.
Tucky Meller, a firefighter with a crew off the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, on the Bedrock Fire, August 22, 2023.
Bedrock Fire
August 28, 2023
Daily Fire Update
Bedrock Fire Quick Facts
Size: 31,592 acres Origin: Willamette National Forest Resources: 39 engines;
Containment: 71% Cause: Under Investigation 13 crews; 11 helicopters;
Total personnel: 715 Start Date: July 22, 2023 8 dozers, 28 water tenders
There was no measurable growth on the Bedrock Fire on Sunday and containment is now at 71%. Firefighters will continue to secure portions of containment line along the northwest area of the perimeter. Across most of the fire the focus is now shifting to hauling out equipment that is no longer needed and repairing damage to the land and forest system roads that happened during the firefight.
While conditions were not as hot as predicted on Sunday, fire managers say the fuels remain very dry and active burning is possible today. Smoke will continue to be visible inside the fire lines until the area receives sufficient moisture to extinguish remaining hot spots.
Evacuations: A small area to the west of the western edge of the fire remains on a Level 2 evacuation notice from Lane County. Level 2 means residents in that area should still be ready to evacuate immediately if conditions change. An up-to-date and searchable evacuation map is available through the county’s website: Bedrock Fire Evacuation Areas (https://bit.ly/44rF8Gd).
Smoke: A changing weather pattern is expected to help push smoke out of the area starting today. The daily West-Central Oregon Smoke Outlook provides a detailed air quality forecast for the Bedrock Fire, as well as other nearby fires. The Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov) is another source for air quality information.
Weather: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity is expected this week as moisture moves in off the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures today will be in the upper 70s with a chance for precipitation tonight.
Safety and Closures: The Willamette National Forest emergency area closure maps for the Bedrock and Lookout Fires are available on InciWeb and the “alerts and notices” page of the forest website. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in place over the Bedrock and Lookout fire areas.
InciWeb Bedrock: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-bedrock-fire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/
Fire Information: (541) 414-6272, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Email: 2023.bedrock@firenet.gov
The Bedrock, Lookout, and regional fires continue to impact air quality Expect widespread haze and smoke. Significant impacts in the McKenzie River drainage, with UNHEALTHY air quality overall. Oakridge continues to fluctuate from MODERATE to UNHEALTHY. From La Pine, north to Sunriver and Bend expect small impacts to air quality, with La Pine seeing the most smoke in the MODERATE to USG range. In Eugene/Springfield smoke persists and will likely keep air quality MODERATE and USG.
Bedrock Fire
August 25, 2023
Daily Fire Update
Bedrock Fire Quick Facts
Size: 31,568 acres Origin: Willamette National Forest Resources: 47 engines;
Containment: 50% Cause: Under Investigation 12 crews; 11 helicopters;
Total personnel: 743 Start Date: July 22, 2023 10 dozers, 30 water tenders
Bedrock Fire: A virtual community meeting will be held this evening at 5:00 p.m. via Facebook Live on the Bedrock Fire 2023 page: https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/. There will be a live question-and-answer session following the presentations. For those who cannot attend, it will be recorded and available for viewing, and information officers will monitor and answer incoming questions.

Yesterday, crews focused on identifying hotspots and mopping up the fire perimeter in the Little Fall Creek area after several days of burn out operations. Around the remainder of the fire, crews continue to patrol and backhaul fire hose and equipment where lines are secured. On the northeastern edge of the fire, crews have begun suppression repair to return disturbed areas back to their natural condition.
Thunderstorms last night brought rain showers, but not in sufficient quantities to impact the fire. Firefighters are prepared to quickly respond to any new fire starts in the area and will be supported by air resources as needed when air quality allows.
Weather: Warm and dry conditions are predicted for today. Winds will be light out of the east. On Saturday, some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon with continued hot and dry conditions.
Evacuations: A Level 2 evacuation remains in place on the Bedrock fire. A searchable evacuation map with fire perimeters is on the Bedrock Fire Evacuation Areas. The Red Cross shelter has moved to Westridge Alternative High School in Westfir (46433 Westfir Road). Residents on a Level 2 (Be Set) or Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation notice who need assistance with large animal evacuation should call Lane County Animal Services (LCAS) at 541-285-8227.
Smoke: The daily West-Central Oregon Smoke Outlook provides a detailed air quality forecast for the Bedrock Fire, as well as other nearby fires. Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov/) is another source for air quality information.
Forest Closures: The Willamette National Forest implemented an Emergency Area Closure to ensure the safety of the public and personnel working on the fire. The closure maps for the Bedrock Fire are available on InciWeb. For information about road closures, please visit TripCheck.com. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Bedrock Fire area.
InciWeb Bedrock:
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-bedrock-fire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/
Fire Information: (541) 414-6272, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Email: 2023.bedrock@firenet.gov