Single Publication

Containment grows to 23% in Bingham Fire

Daily Update: October 7, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 503-854-3366 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.Bingham@firenet.gov 

Acres: 183      Containment: 23%

Location: Areas of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, east of Marion Forks.

Start Date: September 30,2024             Personnel:   308                 

Resources: 9 crews | 11 engines | 1 bulldozer | 2 water tenders |

Highlights: The Bingham Fire remained at 183 acres, but containment grew to 23 percent as firefighters secured segments along the southern and northern portions of the fire. Crews also completed digging containment lines around the fire’s entire 4.4-mile perimeter. These lines, however, are not considered fully contained until they are widened and nearby heat sources extinguished, giving fire managers greater confidence that flames won’t spread outside of them.

Firefighters will focus efforts today widening containment lines and identifying nearby hot spots. Progress will be slow, however, as crews negotiate working amid an abundance of standing dead trees killed by previous wildfires 10 to 15 years earlier, making the trees particularly dangerous as a falling hazard.

Crews also will continue work on contingency containment lines near the community of Marion Forks, which is situated about 2 miles northwest of the fire’s western boundary. Work will include removing dead or hazardous trees along Marion Creek Road (NFS Road 2255) that could block access or escape or even cause injury to homeowners or other motorists visiting the area. 

Evacuations: LEVEL 3: GO NOW! evacuation alerts have been issued by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office for a large area of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Additionally, LEVEL 2: GET SET evacuation alerts have been issued for the area around Marion Forks Campground and Marion Forks Fish Hatchery. The Level 2 evacuation area also extends along Highway 22, to a ½-mile west of Highway 22, from Pamelia Road (NFS Road 2246) south to Parrish Lake Road (NFS Road 2266). Please refer to the Linn County Wildfire Map for more information: https://tinyurl.com/LinnCoFireMap. Highway 22 remains open at this time. 

The Willamette National Forest issued an updated formal closure Oct. 4 in the same footprint of the Level 3 Evacuation here: https://tinyurl.com/26jpr9a6.  A large evacuation area like this is necessary to give wildfire response teams enough space to safely travel to and fight the fire as crews will be on road systems and trails and air assets may be utilizing nearby water sources. The fire itself is much smaller than the evacuation area. The Pacific Crest Trail through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness is expected to remain open. The trails and roads west of the highway are closed from Pamelia to Big Meadows Loop/Turpentine Loop area. With hunting season started, Forest Service staff will work with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office to reduce closure areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

Weather: Temperatures are forecasted to climb into the upper 70s today, but expected to fall back into the 60s by Tuesday. A 10 percent chance of rain is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday.