Single Publication

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