Single Publication

Lookout, Bedrock, Petes Lake, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires

Sunday, September 24, 2023 - Morning Update

Current Status:

Lookout Fire: Size: 25,751 acres l Start Date: August 5 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 50%

Bedrock Fire: Size: 31,590 acres l Start Date: July 22 l Cause: under investigation l Containment: 98%  

Petes Lake Fire: Size: 3,254 acres l Start Date: August 25 l Cause: Lightning l Completion: 50% 

Horse Creek Fire: Size: 763 acres l Start Date: August 24 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 100%

Pothole Fire: Size: 109 acres l Start Date: August 25 l Cause: Lightning l Containment: 100%

Total Personnel: 737

Total Assigned Resources: 22 engines l 18 crews l 5 dozers l 20 water tenders l 5 masticators l 3 helicopters

Suppression: With the onset of a sustained pattern of cooler, wet weather, firefighters have shifted their focus to accomplishing the substantial task of suppression repair across all five fires. Despite the increased relative humidity and chances for rain, fire will continue to consume decaying vegetation covering the forest floor, downed logs, and heavy concentrations of slash in interior portions of the fire before accumulated rainfall amounts extinguish some of the remaining heat.

Suppression Repair: The incident management team, working closely with the Resource Advisors, have developed a geo-referenced database to track the substantial suppression work that needs to be completed as the fire management shifts from fire suppression to exclusively suppression repair. On Saturday, firefighters completed the repair of several miles of dozer line created during suppression efforts on the north portion of the Horse Creek Fire. Additionally, logs generated from cutting trees on the Horse Creek Fire and the Lookout Fire were removed from the fire footprint. In advance of the rain that began overnight and is expected to persist throughout the week, firefighters placed emphasis on cleaning culverts and other water diversion infrastructure to ensure that they are clear for the wetting rains.

Crews anticipate completing the mastication, or grinding of trees and other vegetation, near the Petes Lake Fire on Sunday. On the Lookout Fire, crews have a significant amount of suppression repair remaining to complete. To date, firefighters have completed suppression repair of 6.4 miles of the 32 miles of dozer line created during suppression efforts. Firefighters have been working on suppression repair of the Bedrock Fire for a longer period of time. As such, they are getting closer to completing the repair that is needed. In comparison, crews have completed repair of 14.2 miles of the 32 miles of dozer line created on the Bedrock Fire. Due in part to the smaller size, as well as the suppression tactics, all of the suppression repair has been completed on the Pothole Fire. Firefighters are working diligently to complete the suppression repair efforts. However, with the increased wind and rains, they are asked to make real-time, risk-informed decisions to do the work safely and avoid hazardous roads and danger trees in their work environment.

Weather: Light showers entered the fire areas last night accompanied by overnight lows in the middle to upper 40s. Relative humidity values are expected to be near 90 percent as chance for rain remains in the forecast for much of the coming week. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms on Monday associated with the wetting rains Monday into Tuesday. The rainfall amounts for the coming week is expected to be between 0.5-1.5 inches with the weather pattern moving through the area.

Linn County Evacuations: Visit the Linn County Wildfire map for current evacuation information.

Lane County Evacuations: Visit the Lane County Lookout Fire Evacuation Areas map for current evacuation information.

Deschutes County Evacuations: Visit the Deschutes County Emergency Information map for current evacuations information.

Forest Closures: Emergency closure orders remain in place for the Willamette National Forest and the Deschutes National Forest. For information on Oregon hunting regulations and these forest closures, contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (503) 947-6000.

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in place over the Bedrock and Lookout Fire areas.

Smoke Outlook: A smoke outlook for West-Central Oregon includes the Lookout, Bedrock, Petes Lake, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires. Another source for air quality information is the Fire and Smoke map from airnow.gov.

Fire Information:

Email: 2023.lookout@firenet.gov

Phone: 541-215-6735 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Facebook:

• Lookout, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires
• Bedrock Fire
• Petes Lake Fire

InciWeb:

• Lookout Fire
• Horse Creek Fire (includes Pothole Fire)
• Bedrock Fire
• Petes Lake Fire