Single Publication

Lookout, Bedrock, Petes Lake, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires

Monday, September 25, 2023 - Morning Update 

Current Status:

Lookout Fire: Size: 25,751 acres l Start Date: August 5 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 50% 

Bedrock Fire: Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 98%   

Petes Lake Fire: Size: 3,254 acres l Start Date: August 25 l Cause: Lightning l Completion: 50%  

Horse Creek Fire: Size: 763 acres l Start Date: August 24 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 100% 

Pothole Fire: Size: 109 acres l Start Date: August 25 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 100% 

Total Personnel: 712

Total Assigned Resources: 21 engines l 18 crews l 4 dozers l 19 water tenders l 4 masticators l 3 helicopters  

Suppression: With the cool weather and wetting rain further decreasing fire behavior to creeping and smoldering even extinguishing some areas of remaining heat within the fires’ perimeters, most firefighting resources are focused on suppression repair. However, crews working on the Petes Lake Fire expect to finalize mastication efforts to reduce fuels between the fire and Forest Service Road 4628 on Monday.

Suppression Repair: Crews continue to work on chipping small diameter trees and other vegetation cut during the fire suppression efforts. Larger trees are being hauled offsite to remove the fuel for potential future fires. As the rainfall amounts and wind speeds increase, the environment that firefighters are working in becomes more dangerous. Saturated soils and wind gusts can further weaken trees and put firefighters at increased risk for fatal injuries. However, they continue to make risk-informed decisions in the field to complete the necessary suppression repair work while remaining safe. 

On the Bedrock Fire, 6.6 miles of handline created by firefighters to limit fire spread have been repaired. Another one mile of handline repair is needed on the Bedrock Fire. In comparison, only two miles of the nearly nine miles of handline constructed on the Lookout Fire have been repaired thus far. About half of the handline miles constructed on the Horse Creek Fire have been repaired. Across all five fires, nine miles of handline have been repaired. Efforts are wrapping up throughout the Horse Creek Fire, with 0.6 miles of handline repair to complete in the northern end of the fire footprint. Suppression repair efforts on the Pothole Fire should be completed today.

Additional suppression repair work includes removing supplies firefighters used in the suppression efforts on each of the fires. To date, firefighters have backhauled more than four semi-truck loads of supplies used in the field – including 30 miles of hose that were deployed in the event it was needed. When returned, these supplies are refurbished and made available for another incident across the region or country.

Weather: Cloudy skies and widespread rain persisted throughout last night and into this morning as a cold front moved into the region. Heavy rain and scattered showers are expected throughout the day with high temperatures in 50s. Winds along ridgetops near the Lookout Fire and Petes Lake Fire will be from the south-southwest, with gusts up to 25-30 miles per hour. More light to moderate rainfall is expected throughout the week.

Linn County Evacuations: Visit the Linn County Wildfire map for current evacuation information.

Lane County Evacuations: Visit the Lane County Lookout Fire Evacuation Areas map for current evacuation information.

Deschutes County Evacuations: Visit the Deschutes County Emergency Information map for current evacuations information.

Forest Closures: Emergency closure orders remain in place for the Willamette National Forest and the Deschutes National Forest. For information on Oregon hunting regulations and these forest closures, contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (503) 947-6000.

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in place over the Bedrock and Lookout Fire areas.

Smoke Outlook: A smoke outlook for West-Central Oregon includes the Lookout, Bedrock, Petes Lake, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires. Another source for air quality information is the Fire and Smoke map from airnow.gov.

Fire Information:

Email: 2023.lookout@firenet.gov

Phone: 541-215-6735 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Facebook: 

• Lookout, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires
• Bedrock Fire
• Petes Lake Fire

InciWeb: 

• Lookout Fire
• Horse Creek Fire (includes Pothole Fire)
• Bedrock Fire
• Petes Lake Fire