Single Publication

Lookout/Horse Creek/Pothole/Bedrock Fires

September 13, 2023 - Morning Update

Please join us tonight for a community meeting at the McKenzie High School Gymnasium at 7p.m. The Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 will provide an overview of the fires and answer questions.

Lookout: Total Personnel: 699 | Size: 24,596 acres l Start Date: August 5, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 50%

Resources: 27 engines l 12 crews l 5 bulldozers l 24 water tenders l 6 masticators l 4 helicopters l 2 Skidders

While no change in containment occurred on the Lookout Fire, firefighters and heavy equipment stayed focused on primary containment lines on the north side. Patrol and monitoring on the east and south divisions continued at pace. Night operations hauled 36 loads of wood material from the fire’s northside and the White Pine contingency area east of Hwy. 126.

Horse Creek: Total Personnel: 66 |Size: 763 acres l Start Date: August 24, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 90%

Resources: 5 engines l 1 crew l 1 bulldozer l 2 water tenders l 1 masticator l 2 Excavators | 3 Skidders

Suppression repairs, followed by patrol and monitoring improved primary containment lines around the fire’s edge. There was no change in containment or any growth of the fire.

Pothole: Total Personnel: 26 |Size: 109 acres l Start Date: August 25, 2023 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 90% Resources: 1 engine l 1 water tender |1 masticator | 1 skidder

Patrol and monitoring crews continue to hold and secure the southern flank. As this work continues, resources and personnel will be reduced as additional progress is made.

Bedrock: Total Personnel: 165 | Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22, 2023 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 90%

Resources: 8 engines l 4 crews l 13 water tenders l 5 masticators l 3 helicopters l 1 skidder

There has been no additional containment and acreage remains unchanged. However, Bedrock suppression and repair teams are continuing to work very closely with Resource Advisors (READ) and other experts to bring past fire suppression activities under control. The goal under suppression repair is to return the affected area to pre-fire conditions as closely as possible.

All Fires:  When travelling Hwy. 126 through Blue River and McKenzie be sure to stop and view the south facing drainages. They reveal a patchy collection of burned and unburned trees. This is a called a mosaic fire pattern. During the Lookout fire, some areas burned very hot while other areas were skipped or had a low-intensity under-burn with no trees killed. 

What evolved was a patchy mosaic of burn, unburned and green section of the landscape. Forest managers say mosaic burns generate habitat diversity, benefiting wildlife and sensitive plant species. For example, once regrowth occurs, mosaic burn patterns offer places for forage, hiding cover and breeding areas.

Weather

Today expect a cool, humid morning. A trough will quickly pass through the Pacific Northwest overnight; followed by increasing temperatures, decreasing humidities, and light easterly flow setting up overnight Wednesday night into Thursday. This will allow for much drier, hotter, and more unstable conditions across the area, with elevated to spotty critical fire weather conditions into the weekend.

Evacuation Update

Linn County Evacuations: For the Lookout and Horse Creek fires, the Linn County Sheriff Offices announced an Evacuation Alert change.

• All LEVEL 1 (BE READY) and LEVEL 2 (BE SET) Evacuation Alert Levels are lifted completely.
• All LEVEL 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Alerts are downgraded to a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) preparedness level.

For the most specific guidance on evacuation level locations, please refer to the evacuation map located at https://www.facebook.com/LinnSheriff

Lane County Evacuations: The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is lifting the remaining Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notices related to the Bedrock Fire.  For the most specific guidance on evacuation level locations, please refer to the evacuation map located at https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=19729054  This resource will describe which areas remain at Level 1 (Be Ready) and Level 2 (Be Set). 

Forest Closures: The closure order for the Lookout Fire was reduced Sept. 7th due to successful firefighting efforts in the Horse Creek and Pothole Fires. Castle Rock Trailhead, Kings Castle Trailhead, McKenzie Bridge Boat Launch and other recreation sites and trailheads are open. Updated closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=61574

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest. Visit the Willamette National Forest  Website to view current forest closures. 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.