Single Publication

August 27, 2023 

Morning Update  

Size: 21,135 acres                             

Start Date: August 5, 2023  

Cause: Lightning  

Containment: 16% 

Point of origin: 3 miles North of McKenzie Bridge, OR 

Total personnel: 999 

Resources: 53 engines l 19 crews l 18 bulldozers l 30 water tenders l 11 masticators l 7 helicopters  
 

Current Situation: Firefighters continue efforts to suppress fire activity in the Horse Creek drainage. Last night, the fireline on the western edge of the Horse Creek Fire held and will continue to be secured throughout the day today. The primary growth of the fire occurred on the northern and eastern edges. Helicopters have dropped over 50,000 gallons of water and retardant and will continue as needed. Some resources assigned to the Lookout Fire have been diverted to the Horse Creek Fire as suppressing this and other new starts are the highest priority. The Horse Creek fire is estimated to be about 100 acres in size. A new lightning caused fire (Pothole Fire) is also being managed by this Incident Management Team. It is located about five miles southeast of the community of McKenzie Bridge. Firefighters are gathering on-the-ground information on this fire to develop a suppression plan today. 

On the Lookout Fire east flank, crews are prepared to respond to potential spot fires over control lines as the main fire backs downhill toward Highway 126. On the southern flank above North Bank Road, firing operations have been successful. On the southwestern flank moving north up Mill Creek Road, firefighters are steadily increasing containment as strategic firing operations followed by mop-up progresses. Ahead of the northern flank, hand crews and engine crews, tree-fallers and heavy equipment are preparing roads to be used as control lines. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) or drones are flying through the smoke to provide infrared heat imaging to locate additional threats to control lines. Drones are also supporting firing operations in areas that are hard to access, which reduces risk to firefighters. 

Structural protection firefighters are in place to protect homes affected by these fires. Firefighters and law enforcement officers will maintain a presence in evacuated areas. OSFM resources remain available to return to the incident should the need arise.  

The weather forecast for today is similar to yesterday, with hot, dry conditions and light east and northwest winds battling over the fire area, which will increase fire activity most notably on the northeastern flank.  

Evacuation Centers: An evacuation center is in place at Westridge Middle School in Oakridge for evacuees and small pets from the Bedrock and Lookout Fires. A large animal shelter is established at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene.  

Evacuations: For Lane County evacuation updates visit: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=19729054    

Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notice for Mona Campground, Lookout Campground, H.J. Andrews Headquarters, the area west of Hwy. 126 from Scott Rd. north into Linn County. 

There is a Level 2 (Be Set) for Horse Creek Road, Hall Rd, Sullivan Ln., Alma Dr., Old Foley Ridge Rd., 5600blk of Delta Dr. Areas south of McKenzie Hwy. from milepost 50.5 to milepost 54, Horse Creek Lodge, Foley Hot Springs, North Bank Rd. Areas east of the McKenzie Bridge to, and including Drury Ln. north of Hwy. 126, but south of the McKenzie River. Areas north of Hwy. 126 east of the .5 mile mark on Mill Creek Rd. to the east end of Taylor Rd. Hwy 126 from the Hwy 242 junction to Scott Rd. Belknap Hot Springs Rd. The area east of Hwy. 126 from Scott Rd. north into Linn County. Areas north of Hwy. 126 west of the .5 mile mark on Mill Creek Rd. to Blue River, Reservoir Rd. at the 1501 junction, the area south of Hwy 126 to the McKenzie River from the east end of McKenzie River Dr. to the McKenzie River Bridge just east of Taylor Rd. 

There is a Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notice for areas south of Hwy. 126 from Blue River Reservoir Rd. east to the east end of McKenzie River Dr, The area south of Hwy 126 from the McKenzie River Bridge just east of Taylor Rd. to Scott Creek Rd., McKenzie River Dr. and areas directly to the south and east, Belknap Springs Rd. South. 

For Linn County evacuation updates visit:  https://www.linnsheriff.org/  

In Linn County, there is a Level 3 (Go Now) from Olallie Campground and the Linn County line, north and west of Highway 126, extending north to Ice Cap Campground and Trailhead at Carmen Reservoir, then west to encompass Lakes End Campground and trail system at Smith Reservoir. Tamolitch Falls/Blue Pool is also within this LEVEL 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Zone 

A Level 2 (Be Ready) for the areas of Ice Cap Campground and Trailhead at Carmen Reservoir, north to where Ikenick Creek and Highway 126 intersect, and extending to the east in line with other evacuation boundaries enacted, and west along Highway 126.   

Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation zone for the areas north of where Ikenick Creek and Highway 126 intersect, extending east to the Willamette National Forest boundary, and north in line with Highway 20. This includes all areas around Clear Lake, and Clear Lake Campground, as well as Fish Lake and Campground.  

Road Closures: Highway 242, McKenzie Highway, is closed between milepost 61-76, 14 miles west of Sisters, Oregon to just east of the junction with Highway 126. Highway 126 is currently open. Please monitor Trip Check for any updates at: https://tripcheck.com/    

Forest Closures: The Willamette National Forest is implementing new Forest closures due to the increased fire activity. Closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029 Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette  

Smoke Outlook: Available at:  https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/4c92bc1a?  

Information Line: 541-215-6735 8am-8pm |  Email: 2023.lookout@firenet.gov                                               

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookoutFire2023  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/orwif-lookout-fire