SIT REP 3: Sunday, August 20, 2023, 1500 hours PT

Incident Summary

The LOOKOUT FIRE was sparked by lightning on August 5, 2023, approximately four miles from McKenzie Bridge in the State (USA) of Oregon.

Current Status

Fire Command is under the leadership of the NW Team 6, a Type 2 IMT with PIOs from NW Team 6 and the OR State Fire Marshal’s Office (OSFM) Blue Team.

Fire information boards are posted at the following locations:

Blue Sky Market

McKenzie General Store & Obsidian Grill

Upper McKenzie Fire Station

McKenzie River Ranger Station

Clear Lake Resort

Walterville Post Office

Leaburg Store and Gas Station

Holeman Fire Station

Blue River Post Office

Lowell High School

Fire behavior is still being observed as moderate with flanking, single-tree torching, and short-range spotting.

There have been about 11,174 acres of timber destroyed and thankfully, NO structures have been taken in the area. However, there are still threats to the community of McKenzie Bridge, energy, and communication infrastructure.

Fire personnel, equipment, and Incident Cooperators have been working long hours since the course of this wildfire originally ignited. They are many specialists working in harmony to bring this wildfire to containment through a full fire suppression strategy.

According to Fire Officials: (Lookout Fire Info/Facebook)

Photo Courtesy: Lookout Fire 2023 (Facebook) unless otherwise given credit to the poster

Evacuations are in effect.

Resources

There are currently 1,061 total personnel along with 65 engines, 19 crews, 13 dozers, 27 water tenders, 11 masticators, seven copters, and five OSFM task forces (structure protection).

Incident Cooperators/Sources

Willamette National Forest (USFS), Lane County Sheriff’s Office, OR State Fire Marshals Office, Valley Regional Fire Authority (King County, Washington), Clackamas Fire, Tillamook County Task Force (Bay City Fire & Rescue, Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue, Garibaldi Fire & Rescue, Sheridan Rural Fire Protection District, and Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District), Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District, US National Weather Service IMET from Greenville-Spartanburg, SC Trainee, OR Dept. of Forestry, Bigfoot Water Delivery (Photo Credits (below)), and Amity Fire District.

The Bigfoot Water Delivery (Bigfoot Fire) has been dispatched to the Lookout Fire for 14 days as of Sunday, August 20, 2023. They are a water delivery service for pools, wells, and holding tanks.

Evacuations

Evacuation information can be found at Lane County’s website: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageid=19729054

Shelters

A Shelter is open at Lowell High School for evacuees and small pets from both the BEDROCK and the LOOKOUT FIRES.

Photo Credit: Clackamas FD

A large Animal Shelter is open at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene.

Cost-To-Date

$13.1 Million Dollars.

Photo Courtesy

Lookout Fire Facebook Page

(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog