Single Publication

Marcel Potvin, Incident Commander 

Start date: Sept. 30, 2024

Location: Detroit Ranger District, 
Willamette National Forest

Cause: Undetermined

Fire size: 195 acres

Full Suppression

Personnel: 126, including 4 Crews, 10 Engines, 1 Dozer

The Bingham Fire, located east of the Bingham Ridge Trailhead near Marion Forks, was reported on the evening of Sept. 30, 2024. The fire is burning partially within an older fire scar along the Bingham Ridge Trail that extends into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area. 

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 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. 

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, trails, and air assets may be utilizing nearby water sources. The fire itself is much smaller than the evacuation area. The Willamette National Forest will be issuing an updated formal closure later today in the same footprint of the Level 3 Evacuation. The Pacific Crest Trail will remain open. 

Firefighters are working as direct as possible to the fire’s edge. In the last two days, 18 smokejumpers, 11 rappelers, 3 hand crews, 1 hot shot crew, 10 engines, 4 professional falling teams and 1 dozer have responded to the fire and are preparing primary fire line and opening access routes to the fire area. Possible secondary and contingency fire lines are being discussed and scouted in the next few days. Shared air resources including helicopters and airtankers were able to complete multiple retardant and water drops on the fire to successfully slow the rate of spread. Additional resources have been ordered to support the full suppression actions.

WEATHER:  Yesterday, cooler weather and higher humidity levels moderated fire behavior. Light easterly winds are forecasted for the fire area through mid-day Friday, with possible temperatures reaching the lower to mid-70s with lower relative humidity on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, rain is forecasted in the area, with the potential for up to 0.25 inches of precipitation. Smoke may be visible from Detroit, Idanha, and along Highway 22 today. 

SAFETY: Members of the public are encouraged to heed local evacuation orders issued by the county sheriff’s office and emergency notification systems. Know the Ready, Set, Go levels and make appropriate preparations. READY your belongings; SET your things at the door or prepack them in your car; GO and leave immediately.