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Bedrock Fire update for Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Lowell, Ore. – Fire crews have continued to make progress building and reinforcing fire lines around the perimeter of the fire. While temperatures and wind have picked up slightly, humidity aided the work of over 700 personnel, including Oregon Department of Forestry and private cooperators, assigned to the fire. Work continues around the entire perimeter to obtain full suppression, with tactical firing operations taking place on the southwest finger along the 1821 road. 

In many places, the Bedrock Fire is burning into previous burn scars from the last few years. Generally, the Jones and Gales fire scars have much less vegetation available to burn. This can greatly reduce the rate of spread and intensity of the fire. In the previous burn scars, many of the ladder fuels that allow fire to climb into the tree tops are no longer present, which reduces extreme fire behavior.  However, burned areas may have grasses or other fine fuels that carry low intensity fire and produce smoke. These characteristics are favorable to suppressing the fire in fire scars.

To share more about the current fire conditions and forecast, Bedrock Fire managers and cooperators will be sponsoring a series of public meetings to present status updates and answer questions. The meeting at Lowell will be live-streamed on the “Bedrock Fire 2023” Facebook page, and recorded for later viewing. The schedule for the meetings is:

• Tuesday, August 1 at 5:00 p.m. at Lowell High School
• Tuesday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Oakridge High School
• Wednesday, August 2 at 6:00 p.m. at McKenzie High School

WEATHER:  High temperatures are expected to be near 80 degrees and minimum relative humidity is expected to be in the 30 percent range. Slightly warmer weather is expected later this week. By mid-week, cloud cover is forecast to increase, but rain remains unlikely.

SAFETY: Aviation resources engaged in suppressing the fire are using local water sources. Not all of the water sources are in the fire closure.  The public should be alert for helicopters or planes in the vicinity of the area. 

SMOKE:  Smoke from the Bedrock Fire will continue to spread into central Oregon, causing some areas to experience “unhealthy” conditions. Smoke from the Flat Fire and other fires is also impacting many areas.