Single Publication

Lookout/Horse Creek/Pothole/Bedrock Fires

September 12, 2023 - Morning Update

Lookout: Total Personnel: 795 | Size: 24,548 acres l Start Date: August 5, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 50%

Resources: 35 engines l 14 crews l 4 bulldozers l 26 water tenders l 6 masticators l 5 helicopters l 2 Skidders

Suppression work on the Lookout fire will strengthen containment and contingency lines in all areas of the fires. Firefighters noted heat and smoke along Carpenter Ridge. To moderate spread, helicopters once again dropped retardant and water on Carpenter Ridge. Crews performed regular and consistent patrol and monitoring on the east and south divisions. At the White Pine contingency line east across Hwy. 126, night crews hauled 26 loads of wood material from the region to a processing site.   

Horse Creek: Total Personnel: 86 |Size: 763 acres l Start Date: August 24, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 90%

Resources: 4 engines l 3 crews l 2 bulldozers l 2 water tenders l 1 masticator l 2 Excavators | 2 Skidders

Horse Creek containment remains at 90 percent. Crews continue to patrol and monitor along the fire’s edge. In the southeast corner, firefighters continue to face difficult access due to steep terrain.

Pothole: Total Personnel: 29 |Size: 109 acres l Start Date: August 25, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 90% Resources: 1 engine l 1 water tender |1 Masticator | 1 Skidder

Pothole suppression repair crews pushed containment to 90 percent. Acreage remains unchanged. Patrol and monitoring will continue. Crews will continue to hold and secure the southern flank.

Bedrock: Total Personnel: 193 | Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22, 2023 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 90% Resources: 11 engines l 4 crews l 13 water tenders l 5 masticators l 4 helicopters l 1 Skidder

Bedrock suppression repair crews are working to expand containment past 90 percent. Acreage remains unchanged. Suppression crews were integrated with repair crews to increase repair work capacity.

All Fires: At this stage, suppression repair plays a key role in all four fires. But what exactly do we mean by suppression repair? When wildland fires erupt firefighters respond quickly: bulldozers push-up gravel berms and reshape roads, hand crews build huge swaths of containment line, engine crews remove soil during mop-up, helicopters drop retardant, sawyers remove brush, and trees of all sizes. The effects across the forest can be long-lasting. If left unrepaired severe erosion, vegetation loss and harm to other forest resources may occur.

The suppression repair objective is to repair damage caused by these fire suppression activities, and to return the affected area to pre-fire conditions as closely as possible. Their work is specifically designed to minimize surface and gully erosion, minimize sediment delivery to stream channels, restore conditions to pre-fire drainage patterns, minimize loss of soil productivity due to potential erosion in cleared areas, and minimize the introduction or spread of noxious weed infestations. It’s hoped that the use of suppression repair will result in a healthier forest following the effects of wildland fire.

Weather

Cloud cover increased overnight allowing fog to form in the morning in the valleys and drainages. Today will be the coolest day of the week with valley highs in the mid-70s. Expect an increase in winds toward afternoon as a system approaches the area on Wednesday. A more pronounced period of warm, dry, and unstable conditions will return on Thursday into the end of the weekend.

Evacuation Update

For the Lookout and Horse Creek fires, the Lane and Linn County Sheriff Offices announced an Evacuation Alert change.

• All LEVEL 1 (BE READY) and LEVEL 2 (BE SET) Evacuation Alert Levels are lifted completely.
• All LEVEL 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Alerts are downgraded to a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) preparedness level.

See their websites for more information.

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, has  reopened for travel. Please monitor Trip Check for any updates at: https://tripcheck.com/   

Forest Closures: The closure order for the Lookout Fire was reduced Sept. 7th due to successful firefighting efforts on the Horse Creek and Pothole Fires. Castle Rock Trailhead, Kings Castle Trailhead, McKenzie Bridge Boat Launch and other recreation sites and trailheads are open. Updated closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=61574

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest. Visit the Willamette National Forest  Website to view current forest closures. 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.