Single Publication

Marcel Potvin, Incident Commander

Start date: Sept. 30, 2024

Location: Detroit Ranger District, Willamette National Forest

Cause: Undetermined

Fire size: 183 acres

Full Suppression

Personnel: 204, including 8Crews, 7 Engines, 2 Dozers

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. Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) California Team 1 will arrive today for an in brief.

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.

The Willamette National Forest issued an updated formal closure yesterday 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, trails, and air assets may be utilizing nearby water sources. The fire itself is much smaller than the evacuation area. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) 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. Hunting season will be opening today, and the forest will work with Linn County Sheriff to reduce closure areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

Firefighters are working as direct as possible to the fire’s edge. In the last four days, crews have been working to complete initial primary line construction on the southern side of the fire to the wilderness boundary. Contingency lines have gathered equipment and may be starting construction soon. There is a plan being developed for protecting structures around Marion Forks and Independence Prairie.

WEATHER: Yesterday’s rain was about 0.3 inches of precipitation over the fire. Light easterly winds are forecasted for the fire area through today, temperatures reaching high 60’s with high pressure remaining Sunday. 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.

Linn County Resources

Fire Evacuation & Status Live Updates: https://www.linnsheriff.org/wildfire_live_updates/

Wildfire Preparedness & Resources: https://www.linnsheriff.org/wildfire-recovery/

Willamette NF Resources

Detroit Ranger District Front Desk: 503-854-3366

https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf

https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/

Bingham Fire Information

Email: 2024.bingham@firenet.gov

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-bingham-fire