Clackamas County establishes curfew during wildfire crisis. The curfew is effective immediately between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Date 9/11/2020

In response to the wildfire state of emergency, Clackamas County is enacting a curfew, effective immediately.

Today (Thursday, Sept. 10), in the interest of public safety, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners has enacted a curfew in all areas of Clackamas County.

This follows the BCC's Sept. 8 declaration of a state of emergency and this week's Level 3 evacuations covering much of Clackamas County.

The curfew covers all areas of Clackamas County.

From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting tonight (Sept. 10), no persons other than those working in life- and property-saving activities (or civilian employees at night-shift jobs) may be upon the streets or public places. The curfew does not apply to first responders and community members working to relocate during the wildfire evacuations.

In addition to enforcing the curfew, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office will step up deputy patrols in Level 3 areas of the county where an evacuation order is in place.

In addition, residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff's Office by calling 911 (as appropriate) or the Sheriff's Non-Emergency Line at 503-655-8211. Tips on suspected criminal activity can also be submitted to the Sheriff's Office Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip.

“We know this is a stressful time for county residents, and we understand people’s concerns about possible increased criminal activity in evacuated areas” said Sheriff Craig Roberts.

“We are stepping up our presence in response to the fires, and appreciate everyone's patience as we work together,” added Sheriff Roberts. “The curfew allows us to focus our patrol and evacuation efforts during this unprecedented wildfire crisis. I urge people to stay out of Level 3 evacuation zones for their own safety and the safety of others."

High winds and dry air mass have caused several wildfires in Clackamas County as well as a public safety shut-off by PGE along the Hwy. 26 Mount Hood corridor. The Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners declared a state of emergency on Sept. 8 that will allow them to request resources, evacuate individuals, barricade roads and redirect funds.

EXTREME FIRE RISK IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PROMPTS BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO CLOSE RECREATION SITES

PORTLAND, Ore. – Extreme fire activity, fueled by a rare fire weather event with low humidity and strong east winds of 15 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph, occurred on several fires located in western Oregon this week. To prevent human-caused fire and reduce wildfire potential, the Bureau of Land Management has instituted several closures and new fire-use restrictions.

“Public and firefighter safety is our top concern,” said BLM Oregon Washington State Director Barry Bushue. “We expect another challenging day as the winds pick up speed in some areas, and we encourage everyone to keep up to date with their local emergency officials for the latest information on evacuations.” Across the BLM’s Northwest Oregon District, all developed campgrounds are closed to the public, and dispersed camping is prohibited. Members of the public may not enter closed recreation areas. This temporary closure covers the northwestern part of the state, west of the Cascade Range and north from Cottage Grove to the Columbia River, and includes popular spots, such as Fishermen’s Bend campground, Wildwood recreation site, Alsea Falls recreation site, Shotgun Creek day use area, and Row River Trail.

Within the Roseburg District’s Swiftwater Field Office, all BLM-administered lands east of Interstate 5 are closed to the public.

The Coos Bay District is closing developed recreation sites east of Highway 101, with the exception of the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. Impacted areas will be closed for seven days beginning September 9. In southwestern and central Oregon, campfires and open flames are prohibited on BLM-administered lands across the Coos Bay, Medford, and Prineville Districts. Under these restrictions, campfires or any other type of open fire, including the use of charcoal briquettes, is prohibited on BLM-administered lands. Visitors can use portable cooking stoves that use liquefied or bottled fuels.

In eastern Washington, the Border Field Office is restricting camping, day use, and access on BLM-administered lands. This temporary closure includes popular spots such as the Twin Lakes, Coffeepot Lake, Lakeview Ranch, and Pacific Lake Recreation Areas.

Fire officials encourage the public to be diligent with all ignition sources on public lands, ensuring all cigarette butts are properly extinguished in an ashtray or dish of water and spark arrestors are in place on all motorized equipment. Additionally, all motorized recreationists should park in areas cleared of vegetation, as the undercarriage of a vehicle can be hot enough to start a fire. Officials also want to remind the public that using explosive target material, such as Tannerite, and the use of explosives and fireworks continues to be prohibited on all federal public lands.

The extreme fire danger and behavior have prompted the closure of recreation sites while fire suppression crews respond to the incidents. As it becomes safe to do so, firefighters will begin to assess the fires and their impacts in alignment with sound risk management practices.

Multiple new fires started on Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and private lands in the region have prompted Level 3 “Go” evacuations. Moderate to heavy smoke impacts from the fires are expected to continue along the western slopes of the Cascades and into the Willamette Valley.

Personal safety is paramount. Stay informed on air quality ratings and more by visiting the Oregon Smoke Blog at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/. Learn how to stay safe from wildfire smoke at https://www.cdc.gov/air/wildfire-smoke/default.htm. Nearby residents and visitors to the area are encouraged to check with local emergency officials for the latest information on evacuations.

A Red Flag Warning for the persistence of critical fire weather on the heels of this historic September event will remain in effect until 8pm Wednesday, September 9. Conditions during this time will remain favorable for continued rapid fire spread.

For the latest road and weather condition updates, visit https://www.tripcheck.com/.

Additional fire information is available on Inciweb.

Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.

Please observe public use restrictions and help us limit potential new starts during this time. A list of personal use restrictions, as well as closure orders, is available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BLMOregon.

September 11, 2020 Morning Update

Acres: 130,049 based on Infrared flight                                                 
Percent Containment: 0%

Start Date: September 8, 2020                                                                   
Cause: Human-caused

Origin Location: 2 miles SE of Estacada, OR                                         
Fuels: Timber, Grass, Rugged Terrain

Total Personnel: 178 total personnel including 6 crews, 8 engines, 1 dozer

Effective at 6 a.m. today, the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team #1 is in unified command of the Riverside Fire with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

“Firefighters will implement a value-driven strategy that utilizes a mix of tactics (direct, indirect and point-protection) when and where the probability of success is high, and the risk is commensurate with the identified values,” said Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team Incident Commander Alan Sinclair.

Yesterday erratic winds pushed new growth on virtually all sides of the fire with crews reporting the largest growth to the east and southeast throughout the day. Lighter winds are expected today. Heavy smoke is expected to continue to prevent pilots from conducting air operations, however firefighters plan to utilize a Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to help conduct aerial reconnaissance.

Firefighters are focused on protecting firefighter and public life-safety, conducting reconnaissance, and protecting point protection for structures where they can do so safely and effectively. With numerous wildland fires burning across Oregon and the West, resources continue to be stretched thin. Incident commanders are working together with nearby Incident Management Teams and partner agencies to share resources where they are needed most.

Numerous Level two and three evacuations are in place in Clackamas County. Visit https://www.clackamas.us/wildfires for current Level 1 : BE READY; Level 2: BE SET; Level 3: Go! evacuation and shelter information and map. Check with the Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office at https://twitter.com/ClackCoSheriff for real-time evacuation notifications or visit https://www.clackamas.us/dm/publicalerts to sign up for ClackCo Public Alerts.

Widespread dense wildfire smoke is expected to worsen beginning Thursday evening or Friday, resulting in potentially ‘hazardous’ air quality ratings for numerous communities. More information about smoke and your health is available at oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

There are numerous road closures in the greater Clackamas County area. Please avoid the area and leave the roads for evacuation and response crews. Utilize TripCheck.com for updates.

The Mt. Hood National Forest is currently under a full Forest closure including all campgrounds, roads, trails, and other areas. More information is available at https://go.usa.gov/xGkQv.

All Bureau of Land Management lands affected by this fire are closed to the public. More info: https://go.usa.gov/xGkdR

Fire Information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7174/

Facebook: facebook.com/MtHoodNF    

Twitter: twitter.com/MtHoodNF  
Tags: #RiversideFire #ClackamasWildfires

Real-time evacuation updates at: https://twitter.com/ClackCoSheriff and https://www.clackamas.us/wildfires

Thursday September 10, 2020 8:00 p.m. Update

Today: Erratic winds pushed new growth on virtually all sides of the fire with crews reporting the largest growth to the east and southeast throughout the day. In the early afternoon, critical fire conditions developed as 10,000 foot smoke plumes from the Riverside Fire and Beachie Creek Fire merged. For their immediate life-safety, firefighters working on the Riverside Fire were pulled off active response duties at approximately 2:00pm in the afternoon. They were able to re-engage the fire and critical life-safety work by the late afternoon. The two respective fires remain approximately one mile apart.

“Human life always comes first,” said Richard Periman, Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor. “The tactical pause this afternoon gave firefighters time to move to safety and reassess the extreme conditions they were facing out there on the ground.”

For a second day, heavy smoke prevented pilots from conducting air operations. With numerous wildland fires burning across Oregon and the West, resources continue to be stretched thin. Additional crews, engines, and other resources are continually being deployed if available to immediate life-safety incidents throughout the state and region. An incident management team will take command of the fire at 6:00am Friday September 11, 2020.

Evacuations: Numerous evacuations are in place in and around the community of Estacada, OR and Clackamas County. Please check with the Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office for real-time evacuation notifications. 

Smoke: Widespread dense wildfire smoke is expected to persist through the night and into tomorrow resulting in potentially ‘hazardous’ air quality ratings for numerous communities east of the fire and along the I-5 corridor. More information about smoke and your health is available at oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

Closures: There are numerous road closures in the greater Clackamas County area. Please avoid the area and leave the roads for evacuation and response crews. Utilize TripCheck.com for updates.

The Mt. Hood National Forest is currently under a full Forest closure including all campgrounds, roads, trails, and other areas. Other road and areas closures will be updated as that information becomes available.

Fire Information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7174/

Tags: #RiversideFire #ClackamasWildfires

Facebook: facebook.com/MtHoodNF

Twitter: twitter.com/MtHoodNF

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Yesterday: With more than 100,000 acres of new growth and numerous evacuations, firefighters focused their efforts on critical life-safety concerns as the fire moved an additional four miles down the Clackamas River corridor towards the communities of Estacada and Springwater. Numerous crews worked overnight to continue point protection efforts on homes and other critical infrastructure in the area and along Highway 211.  

Today: In addition to critical life-safety efforts, fire managers will continue to assess locations to successfully stop forward growth of the fire, taking advantage of forecasted lighter winds during the afternoon to conduct critical air operations when needed. However, changing wind directions throughout the day could spur additional fire growth in multiple directions. As of early this morning, firefighters estimate the fire to remain approximately two air miles from the community of Estacada, OR.  

“We’re working hard with our partners at the county, state, and federal levels to protect folks lives, homes, and businesses,” said Richard Periman, Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor. “While I’m hopeful for a bit of a break today from the weather, we need to be prepared for this fire to continue to burn in record-dry forest and grassland areas.”

With numerous wildland fires burning across Oregon and the West, resources continue to be stretched thin. Additional crews, engines, and other resources are continually being deployed if available to immediate life-safety incidents throughout the state and region.

Evacuations: Numerous evacuations are in place in and around the community of Estacada, OR and Clackamas County. Please check with the Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office for real-time evacuation notifications. 

Smoke: East winds will finally diminish today but warm and dry air will remain inland as a trough of low pressure along the coast moves into the Willamette Valley today, and then east of the

Cascades tonight. Widespread dense wildfire smoke is also expected to persist today and tonight. More information about smoke and your health is available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

Closures: There are numerous road closures in the greater Clackamas County area. Please avoid the area and leave the roads for evacuation and response crews. Utilize TripCheck.com for updates.

The Mt. Hood National Forest is currently under a full Forest closure including all campgrounds, roads, trails, and other areas. Other road and areas closures will be updated as that information becomes available.

Fire Information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7174/

Tags: #RiversideFire #ClackamasWildfires

Facebook: facebook.com/MtHoodNF

Twitter: twitter.com/MtHoodNF

Winds push Riverside Fire to 112,000 acres; second day of extreme fire behavior   

Today: Throughout the day, ground crews worked to protect critical infrastructure, homes, and property ahead of the rapidly expanding Riverside Fire. However, heavy smoke and low visibility prevented air tanker pilots from safety dropping retardant to slow fire growth. Eastern winds continued to push the fire down the Clackamas River corridor and west towards the community of Estacada, OR where a level 3 ‘Go Now’ evacuation order remains in place. As of 5:00pm the western edge of the fire is approximately two air miles from the northeast edge of the community. Additionally, the fire has spotted over Highway 211 in the local area. Firefighters will continue to work with law enforcement overnight to assist in critical life-safety evacuations and protection as needed. This fire remains an extremely fluid situation and more information will be shared as it becomes available.

“We’re working closely with the Clackamas Fire District, Sheriff’s Office, and many others to protect our communities,” said Richard Periman, Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor. “Nothing matters more right now than human life as we stand together to face this unprecedented situation.”

Evacuations: Numerous evacuations are in place in and around the community of Estacada, OR. Please check with the Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office for real-time evacuation notifications. 

Smoke: Sustained fire activity and easterly winds will contribute to continued “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” air conditions overnight. More information about smoke and your health is available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

Closures: The Mt. Hood National Forest is currently under a full Forest closure including all campgrounds, roads, trails, and other areas. Other road and areas closures will be updated as that information becomes available.

Fire Information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7174/

Tags: #RiversideFire #ClackamasWildfires

Facebook: facebook.com/MtHoodNF

Wednesday September 9, 2020 12:00 p.m. Update

Yesterday: Firefighters responded immediately in the early morning hours of September 8, 2020 when the Riverside Fire was first reported. Driven by high winds, crews reported extreme fire growth including torching, running, and spotting fire behavior as the fire moved 17 miles west along the Clackamas River drainage over the course of the day.

“This weather is extremely hazardous to our firefighters and first responders,” said Richard Periman, Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor. “We responded immediately when the fire was first reported, and we’ll keep all of the firefighting resources we have available on the Riverside Fire as we keep life and human safety as our top priority.”

Today: A second day of high-winds and low humidity could continue to drive active fire growth on the Clackamas River corridor of the Mt. Hood National Forest and surrounding private lands. Crews and available air resources will continue to look for opportunities to stop forward growth on the fire and protect life and property. More than 20 engines and crews are currently working to address immediate human life concerns, including working with county emergency management to assess any buildings burned yesterday. The fire remains seven miles from the community of Estacada, OR. This is an extremely fluid situation and more information will be shared as it becomes available.

Evacuations: Numerous evacuations are in place in and around the community of Estacada, OR. Please check with the Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office for real-time evacuation notifications. 

Smoke: Due to the continued high level of fire activity the West Cascades will continue to experience heavy smoke impacts today. East winds will continue to move smoke from the Cascade Crest and into down-wind communities. These winds and fire activity will lead to “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” air conditions throughout the day. More information about smoke and your health is available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

Closures: The Mt. Hood National Forest is currently under a full Forest closure including all campgrounds, roads, trails, and other areas. Other road and areas closures will be updated as that information becomes available.

Fire Information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7174/

Tags: #RiversideFire #ClackamasWildfires

Facebook: facebook.com/MtHoodNF

The local area remains under the threat of unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions with a combination of extreme heat, significant wind events, dry conditions, and firefighting resources that are stretched thin across the region and nation.  Due to these conditions, the Mt. Hood National Forest is temporarily closing to public access.  This includes developed campgrounds, dispersed camping, day use areas, wilderness areas, and all forest roads and trails.

This closure goes into effect at 6:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, and will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.  This is a temporary closure to protect public and firefighter safety and health.  People in the process of evacuating the forest are exempt from the order.

Extreme fire weather has caused rapid growth of fires, and new ignitions have strained all resources for the forest and region.  Nationally, and within Oregon, firefighting resources are operating at maximum capacity resources severely limited.  While the forest has been under fire restrictions, we still see unattended and abandoned campfires across the forest, heightening the risk to firefighters, the public, and wildlife. 

“At this time, with extreme fire danger, multiple wildfire growing, and new wildfires igniting and multiple evacuations, it’s simply not safe to visit,” said Forest Supervisor Richard Periman.  “Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time of extreme fire threat.”

It is critical that forest visitors follow this important closure for their own safety and the safety of our firefighters.  Residents are encouraged to “follow” their local county sheriff’s department Facebook pages and websites for information about evacuation safety.

More information about fires on the Mt. Hood National forest at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire

The Willamette National Forest also has a forest closure in effect.  For information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/willamette/news-events

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The Klamath National Forest has issued Forest Order 21-05-01 extending the area closure for the Slater Fire through April 30, 2021.

The closure area has been reduced and the area of the Devil Fire has been removed from the closure.  Please view the map and order for details.

View/download closure map