The Oregon Department of Forestry IMT 1 (IC Hessel) is transferring command of the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire back to the Western Lane District.  A Type 4 Incident Management Organization will be staffing the incident beginning 9/7/2020 at 7:00 a.m.  This is the last update for Inciweb.  For further information, please contact ODF-Western Lane District.

Effective at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, the remaining evacuation notices for the Sweet Creek MP2 Fire are canceled.

• Sweet Creek Road - The Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice is canceled.
• Hadsall Creek Road - The Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation noticed is canceled.

The evacuation notice for residents on Bernhardt Creek and Duncan Island roads was canceled on Friday, September 4. 

Sweet Creek Road remains closed between Highway 126 and milepost 3. While the immediate danger from wildfire has passed in that area, significant damage to the hillsides above and below Sweet Creek Road and the falling debris require continued closure for the safety of residents and other road users. 

Lane County Road & Bridge Maintenance will evaluate the condition of Sweet Creek Road during the next few days to determine whether the road can safely reopen. The road is expected to remain closed through at least the end of the next week. 

A detour has been established via Canary Road. The detour is signed and follows Sweet Creek Road to Forest Service Road #24 to Maple Creek Road to Canary Road, which joins Highway 101 north of Dunes City. 

Lane County Emergency Management would like to thank the Oregon Department of Forestry, Mapleton Fire Department, the Lane County Fire Defense Board, and the other responding agencies for their quick work to limit the spread of the fire and their continuing service to the Mapleton community. Lane County Emergency Management would also like to thank the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Lane County Road & Bridge Maintenance for their support. 

For more information, including a map of the detour, visit www.lanecounty.org/sweetcreekfires.

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MAPLETON, Ore.—Management of the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire will transition tomorrow at 7 a.m. from Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1 to a smaller type 4 organization. As containment of the fire moves past 80% and mop up operations extend nearly 300 feet into the interior of the burn, ODF’s Western Lane District will resume responsibility for the fire. After the transition, crews will continue to monitor control lines and repair impacts from fire suppression activities.

Crews today and tonight will continue mop up and backhaul unneeded equipment. Most resources will be released from the fire over the next two days, though a small transition team will remain. Containment will be near 100% when the team departs. Heavy fuels and smoldering stumps well inside the fire perimeter may continue to produce some smoke until the
season’s first rains.

Reflecting on the team’s deployment to the fire, Incident Commander Joe Hessel remarked, “The Mapleton community has been extremely generous and supportive of our crews. We’d also like to thank the landowners, Lane County, and local fire departments for their support of the team. The great work accomplished before our arrival set the team up for a successful assignment.”

A change in weather over the next 24 hours is expected to bring hotter and drier conditions across the state. Strong east winds are also predicted to develop, creating extreme fire weather through Wednesday. As of September 3, the Western Lane District is in extreme fire danger for general public use.
For details visit: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx. For the latest information on evacuations and closures please visit: https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.

This will be the final update from the Incident Management Team. Further information will be provided by the Western Lane District.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Continued cool, overcast weather across the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 fire has helped crews push containment to 63%.  Mop up operations have reached as much as 250 feet into the interior of the burn.  Crews continue using infrared thermal imaging cameras to identify hot spots as they work along the fire’s perimeter.  Even with higher humidity and cooler temperatures, heavy fuels will produce smoke within the burn for some time.  Rolling debris on the fire’s steep slopes continues to challenge mop up operations and create hazardous driving and working conditions for firefighters.  To date, no injuries have been reported on the fire.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Low clouds hung over the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire this morning, signaling a weather change that will aid crews as they continue mopping up the fire. A more stable weather pattern is expected to maintain an onshore flow for the next few days, bringing cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity across the fire. Overnight, crews used handheld infrared thermal imaging cameras to check the fire perimeter for hot spots as they pushed mop up operations further into the interior. Day crews will continue the effort. The fire is now 45% contained.

Fire managers have adjusted their estimate of the fire’s total size to 307 acres. It is not uncommon for acreages to change as more accurate information becomes available, especially when fires burn in steep terrain and dense vegetation. As fire activity subsides, it becomes safer for field observers to collect more detailed information about the fire perimeter. Field
observations, as well as infrared aerial imaging, are used to estimate the extent of a fire.

With containment increasing and favorable weather conditions expected over the next few days, some hand crews have been released from the fire. Aircraft and heavy equipment remain on standby should they be needed.

Evacuation levels have been lowered for residents impacted by the fire. Hadsall Creek is now at Level 2 (Set), Sweet Creek Road is at Level 1 (Ready) and Bernhardt Creek Rd and Duncan Island Road are no longer under an evacuation order. Sweet Creek Road and Hadsall Creek Road are both closed to all public traffic. While the threat of fire has diminished, the potential for rolling debris and falling trees remains. The Siuslaw River also remains closed from the Highway 126 Bridge to Tiernan Landing to accommodate helicopter operations. For more information on evacuations and closures please visit: https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.

Fire managers and local officials are asking for the public’s help in maintaining the fire’s excellent safety record. With the Labor Day weekend approaching, traffic is anticipated to increase through Mapleton along Highway 126, creating additional hazards for drivers and fire personnel. Travelers should allow extra time, drive slowly and be cautious of fire traffic.
Parking on the highway shoulder is not permitted between mileposts 9 and 14.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Day crews on the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire pushed mop up 150 to 200 feet into the
fire’s interior today. Aided by handheld infrared thermal imaging cameras, night crews plan to re-check
containment lines and extend mop up another 25 to 50 feet into the interior. Their work should be aided by
overnight humidity levels predicted to reach 90% on some parts of the fire. Last night’s burn out operation
on the northwest corner of the fire was successful. Helicopters dropped water on that portion of the fire
today, cooling remaining hot spots. Crews found no spots outside the line. Containment has reached 45%.
At this evening’s briefing, the incident fire behavior specialist described very favorable conditions for
overnight suppression work on the fire. Low temperatures and high relative humidity, combined with
predicted low wind speeds, will significantly decrease fire activity. Crews were again commended on the
incident’s excellent safety record, though fire managers cautioned daytime winds have brought down snags
within the fire perimeter. Rolling debris loosened by the fire, including rocks, trees, and vegetation, continue
to challenge safe travel along Sweet Creek Road.
Sweet Creek Road remains closed to all public traffic, as does the Siuslaw River from the Highway 126 Bridge
to Tiernan Landing. Evacuations remain in place on Hadsall Creek (Level 3: GO!), Sweet Creek Rd (Level 2:
Be Set!) and Bernhardt Creek Rd and Duncan Island Road (Level 1: Be Ready!). For more information on
evacuations and closures please visit: https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires. The Red Cross is
providing accommodations for those affected by the fire. To make emergency arrangements call 888-680-
1455.
The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) has teamed up with a local community volunteer to place
a particulate matter air sensor in the Mapleton Area. The sensor will contribute data to help LRAPA track air
quality throughout Lane County. To learn more about the PurpleAir Monitor and see real-time data from
Mapleton, visit http://www.lrapa.org/301/Particulate-Matter-Air-Sensors.
As the Labor Day weekend approaches, traffic is anticipated to increase, creating additional hazards for
drivers and fire personnel. Fire managers and local officials would like to remind travelers driving through
Mapleton on Highway 126 to allow extra time, drive slowly, and be cautious of fire traffic.

Beginning tomorrow the incident management team will issue one fire update each day. Daily updates can
be expected by 11 am.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Overnight, firefighters successfully completed a burnout operation in the northwest corner of the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire. The operation helped secure that corner of the fire by removing about 10 acres of unburned fuels between the fire perimeter and established fire line. Elsewhere on the fire, crews kept water flowing as they continued to grid for hot spots and complete mop up operations. As of this morning, the fire is 30% contained.

Today, crews will be looking for and responding to spots outside of the line as they continue mopping up interior portions of the fire. Two type 1 helicopters will also join the effort, increasing capacity to deliver water from the air.

Speaking at the morning briefing, Operations Section Chief Mike Carlson asked crews to be “slow, productive, and safe” as they complete the methodical work of locating and extinguishing hot spots. Fallers have removed hazard trees near the fire line, but rolling debris and steep terrain continue to present safety concerns for firefighters.

As the Labor Day weekend approaches, traffic is anticipated to increase through Mapleton along Highway 126, creating additional hazards for drivers and fire personnel. Fire managers and local officials would like to remind travelers to allow extra time, drive slowly, and be cautious of fire traffic. The Incident Management Team held a virtual community meeting at 7 pm last night, which was livestreamed on the incident’s Facebook page @sweetcreekmp2fire. For those who missed the meeting, a recording remains available on Facebook.

Lane County has now closed Sweet Creek Road to all public traffic. An alternate route is available. The closure comes in response to fire-loosened debris rolling off steep hillslopes into the road. The Siuslaw River is also closed to boat traffic from the Highway 126 Bridge to Tiernan Landing, making it available for helicopters to safely draw water. Evacuations remain in place on Hadsall Creek (Level 3: GO!), Sweet Creek Rd (Level 2: Be Set!) and Bernhardt Creek Rd and Duncan Island Road (Level 1: Be Ready!). The Red Cross is providing accommodations for those affected by the fire. To make emergency arrangements call 888-680-1455. For more information about evacuations and closures, please visit: https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Firefighters continued mop up operations around the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire today, working as much as 75 to 100 feet into some portions of the fire. The fire was less active, despite warm temperatures and low relative humidity. Helicopters continued to make bucket drops on hot spots, as crews used hand tools and hose lays for mop up. Following careful planning, firefighters conducted a burnout operation in the northwest corner of the fire this evening. The operation helped secure that corner of the fire by removing unburned fuels between the fire perimeter and established fire line. Smoke from the burnout could be seen over the fire late into the evening. Tonight, a specially equipped aircraft will overfly the fire to better map the perimeter and identify hotspots. Containment has increased to 30%.
The Incident Management Team held a virtual community meeting at 7 pm tonight, which was livestreamed on the incident’s Facebook page @sweetcreekmp2fire. The meeting included an update on the fire’s status and an opportunity to ask questions of fire managers. For those who missed the meeting, a recording remains available on Facebook.
Lane County has now closed Sweet Creek Road to all traffic. Alternate routes have been identified. The closure comes in response to trees and other debris rolling onto the road from hillsides made unstable by the fire. The Siuslaw River is also closed to boat traffic from the Highway 126 Bridge to Tiernan Landing. The closure is intended to protect public safety while helicopters are dipping buckets to support fire operations. For more information about closures and alternate routes please visit:https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.
Fire managers and local officials would like to remind travelers driving through Mapleton on Highway 126 to allow extra time, drive slowly, and be cautious of fire traffic. As the Labor Day weekend approaches, traffic is anticipated to increase, creating additional hazards for drivers and fire personnel.
Evacuations remain in place on Hadsall Creek (Level 3: GO!), Sweet Creek Rd (Level 2: Be Set!) and Bernhardt Creek Rd and Duncan Island Road (Level 1: Be Ready!). For more information on evacuations please visit:https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.
The Red Cross is providing accommodations for those affected by the fire. To make emergency arrangements call 888-680-1455.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Firefighters had another successful night on the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire. Hand crews, engines, and water tenders continued to strengthen lines around the fire, which is now estimated to be 15% contained. They also continued putting in hose lays to bring more water to the fire. Some concern remains about fire line holding at the bottom of steep slopes where rolling debris could spread fire. Day crews will assess and strengthen these lines today. They will also continue mop up operations around the fire’s perimeter. Predicted high temperatures, low relative humidity, and winds remain a concern, but air resources are available to cool hot spots and quickly address any spot fires.

Fire managers have adjusted their estimate of the fire’s size down to 382 acres. Steep terrain, smoky conditions, and dense vegetation have made it extremely difficult to accurately map the fire. Additionally, air resources have not been available to provide nighttime infrared overflights. The acreage may be adjusted as better information becomes available.

At this morning’s briefing, Incident Commander Joe Hessel thanked crews for their hard work and reminded them to maintain the highest degree of safety. Despite challenging terrain and difficult driving conditions, there have been no injuries reported on the fire.

A virtual community meeting is planned for 7 pm tonight. The meeting will include an update on the fire’s status and an opportunity to ask questions of fire managers. The meeting will be livestreamed on the incident’s Facebook page @sweetcreekmp2fire.

As the Labor Day weekend approaches, travelers should be aware of heavy fire traffic in and around Mapleton. Highway 126 remains open, but some local roads are closed. Temperatures are also predicted to remain high with low relative humidity. Fuel moistures in western Oregon are at historic lows. Fire danger remains extreme across most of the state. Everyone is encouraged to follow current fire season restrictions to prevent human caused fires.

Evacuations remain in place on Hadsall Creek (Level 3: GO!), Sweet Creek Rd (Level 2: Be Set!) and Bernhardt Creek Rd and Duncan Island Road (Level 1: Be Ready!). For more information on evacuations please visit: https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.

The Red Cross is providing accommodations for those affected by the fire. To make emergency arrangements call 888-680-1455.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Firefighters and air resources worked through the day to keep the Sweet Creek Milepost 2
Fire within its current footprint. Fire activity picked up around noon, but was kept mostly in check by
helicopters dropping water from the Siuslaw River and ground crews using established hose lays. A few
small areas of growth outside the line were quickly controlled. Fallers removed snags to make areas safer for
firefighters and to shore up fire lines. To date, no injuries or accidents have been reported on the fire, despite
steep terrain and challenging conditions.
Fire managers have adjusted their estimate of the fire’s size down to 382 acres. Steep terrain, smoky
conditions, and dense vegetation have made it extremely difficult to accurately map the fire. Additionally, air
resources have not been available to provide nighttime infrared overflights. The acreage may be adjusted as
better information becomes available.
At the evening briefing for night shift crews, Incident Commander Joe Hessel thanked firefighters for their
hard work preventing the fire from spreading.
Hessel said, “Our primary mission is to minimize the size of the fire.”
He emphasized success in the mission protects resources, reduces risk to firefighters and the community, and
protects nearby structures. Helicopters continued to work hot spots in the background as crews listened to
the briefing.
Tonight’s objectives include continuing to mop up. Mop up is the methodical process of locating and
extinguishing hot spots near control lines to prevent spread. Crews will focus on completing hose lays to
bring water to the fire and mopping up 25-50 feet into the perimeter. They will also continue improving
sections of fire line intended to catch burning debris rolling down steep slopes. Firefighters will be aided by
lower temperatures and higher nighttime relative humidity.
Tomorrow’s weather forecast—low 90s with gusty east winds—will continue to challenge control lines. Air
resources will remain available to keep spots in check and ground crews will continue mop up.
Evacuations remain in place on Hadsall Creek (Level 3: GO!), Sweet Creek Rd (Level 2: Be Set!) and Bernhardt
Creek Rd and Duncan Island Road (Level 1: Be Ready!). For more information on evacuations please visit:
https://www.lanecounty.org/news/sweetcreekfires.
The Red Cross is providing accommodations for those affected by the fire. To make emergency arrangements
call 888-680-1455.