Single Publication

Bedrock Fire update for Monday, July 31, 2023

Lowell, Ore. – 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

Bedrock Fire is a full suppression fire, meaning fire personnel will be working to secure lines all the way around the fire. They are building these lines as direct to the fire’s edge as it is safe to do so.

Yesterday, 3% of the fire perimeter was designated as “contained”.  Containment is the designation for a section of line when there is little to no probability of re-ignition.  The contained section is south of Big Fall Creek Road on the west edge of the fire. There is no longer heat adjacent to this portion of line.

Achieving containment is a multi-step process.  Flammable vegetation and other fuels adjacent to the fire line are reduced in quantity or “abated”. Fuel abatement on Bedrock Fire is being completed with a combination of mechanical methods like masticators and work by crews with chainsaws and hand tools cutting vegetation.  When a fire line is fully prepared, firefighters may conduct burnout operations, lighting residual fuels along the line to consume them. This prevents the fire from burning intensely along the line, reducing the chance of fire crossing the containment line. Firefighters then extinguish all heat near the fire line to complete the work needed to achieve containment.

We were unable to have an infrared flight last night. Acreage will be updated after the next flight.

WEATHER:  High temperatures are expected to be near 80 degrees and minimum relative humidity is expected to be in the upper 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: Willamette National Forest has issued a Forest Closure Order for the area around the Bedrock Fire. A corrected version was posted July 30. Please stay out of the closure area for your safety and the safety of fire personnel. Unmanned aerial systems (AES or drones) are not permitted within the Temporary Flight Restriction.

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.