Single Publication

Lookout/Horse Creek/Pothole Fires/Bedrock

September 5, 2023

Morning Update

ALERT: There may be short closures on Highway 126 as firefighters are removing fire damaged hazard trees.

Lookout: Total Personnel: 793

Size: 24,581 acres l Start Date: August 5, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 20%

Resources: 33 engines l 15 crews l 7 bulldozers l 27 water tenders l 8 masticators l 5 helicopters l 1 Skidder

Fire activity was minimal on Monday. Today, mastication along contingency lines, and hauling of logs will continue on the north side. The focus on the east side will be hazard tree removal and suppression of hot spots. Crews and equipment continue to prepare and improve primary and alternate lines along the west side, looking for opportunities to go more direct.

Horse Creek: Total Personnel: 161

Size: 765 acres l Start Date: August 24, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 30%

Resources: 12 engines l 3 crews l 4 bulldozers l 9 water tenders l 3 masticators l 3 Skidders l 1 Excavators

Yesterday firefighters actions resulted in an increase of containment lines. Significant heat from burning, dead and down heavy fuels remain on the eastern side of the fire in steep rugged terrain. Crews will continue extinguishing and removing burning material along completed fire lines, and patrolling along roads.

Pothole: Total Personnel: 61    

Size: 109 acres l Start Date: August 25, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 20%

Resources: 4 engines l 1 crews l 1 bulldozers l 4 water tenders l

There was little fire activity yesterday allowing firefighters to make good progress on containment. Secured line continues to increase. Today firefighters will maintain established fire lines and continue to secure the perimeter.

Bedrock: Total Personnel: 419

Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22, 2023 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 90%

Resources: 17 engines l 11 crews l 4 bulldozers l 16 water tenders l 7 masticators l 5 helicopters l 4 Skidder

Containment was increased on the southwest side of the fire. The repair group will continue hazard tree mitigation along road corridors utilizing tree fallers. They will also utilize crews to continue chipping operations.

The suppression group will continue to work on open fire edges by extinguishing fire in heavy, dead, and down logs, and concentrated fuels. Excess fire equipment continues to be removed and returned to base camp for servicing and cleaning.

Weather

A warming and drying trend begins today. Fog is anticipated in the lower drainages in the morning hours. Light winds are expected in the fire area later in the day.

Lookout Fire Evacuation Level Reductions

The Lane County Sheriff has announced changes to some of the evacuation notices related to the Lookout Fire. In consultation with several cooperating agencies, the decision was made to reduce the evacuation level in several areas.

at  www.LaneCountyOR.gov/LookoutFire  There is potential for reducing evacuation levels in several zones over the next few days.

Additional information can be found at the following websites.

Lane County Evacuations: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=19729054   

Linn County Evacuations:  https://www.linnsheriff.org/ 

Evacuation Centers: An evacuation center is in place at Westridge Middle School in Oakridge for evacuees and small pets from the Horse Creek and Lookout Fires. For assistance with large animal evacuations, please call 541-285-8227. 

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: Willamette National Forest reduced the closure area for the Bedrock fire due to successful firefighting efforts. Many popular sites and trails have re-opened including the Alpine Trail. There are no changes to closure areas for the Lookout, Horse Creek, and Pothole fire areas at this time. These closures help provide firefighters with safer driving conditions and decrease the potential for search and rescue operations that could interrupt firefighting activities. 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 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

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 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Email: 2023.bedrock@firenet.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedrockFire2023/

InciWeb Bedrock: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-bedrock-fire