Single Publication

Lookout, Bedrock, Petes Lake, Horse Creek and Pothole Fires
Thursday, September 28, 2023 - Morning Update
 

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: 80%

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 Assigned Personnel: 467 I 16 engines l 16 crews l 2 dozers l 4 water tenders l 3 masticators l 2 helicopters

Northwest Incident Management Team 10 (NW Team 10), managed by Incident Commander Alan Lawson, took command of the fire at 6 p.m. yesterday. The incoming team members spent the day with their counterparts from the Pacific Northwest Team 2 (PNW2), gathering information to ensure a seamless transition.

Suppression Repair: A half-inch of rain was received over the fire areas the last two days, furthering containment efforts and shifting focus to repair – the process of restoring disturbed areas to their natural state. This is a critical phase, ensuring ecosystem recovery and reducing the risk of future fires. Ongoing suppression repair work across the fire areas includes chipping and removing large amounts of woody debris, drainage work, erosion control, hand and dozer line naturalization and infrastructure repair. Although the fires are largely under control, considerable work remains.

Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER): Resource specialists began assessment of the Lookout Fire yesterday. While suppression repair primarily concentrates on damages brought on by firefighting efforts, a BAER team concentrates on impacts caused by the fire itself. Both aim to correct and prevent damage, although from different causes. After a BAER assessment, a report and maps will be released following the analysis of their findings – similar to the products developed for the Bedrock Fire on September 21. 

Weather: Light rain will continue over the fire area through Friday, with minimal winds. Temperatures will remain somewhat consistent, with highs in the lower 60s and overnight lows in the 40s.

Evacuations: There are no evacuation notices remaining. 

Forest Closures: Emergency closure orders remain in place for the Willamette National Forest. There are no longer emergency closures in place from the Petes Lake Fire. Current emergency closure orders on National Forest System lands may affect some hunting units. For specific hunting related questions, contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (503) 947-6000.

Restrictions: Due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, the Willamette National Forest rescinded public use (fire) restrictions, lowered the fire danger level to “low” and reduced the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to IFPL I on Wednesday. Last Friday, the Deschutes National Forests dropped public use (fire) restrictions. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in place.

Smoke Outlook: With decreased fire activity, smoke outlooks for these fires are no longer being issued. Air quality conditions are still available at airnow.gov.