Ongoing Oregon Wildfires
Lookout, Bedrock, Horse Creek & Pothole Fires

Sunday Fire Update: 9/3/2023 1400 PDT

ALL FIRES
Fire-damaged trees and saturated soils along control lines combine to create an extreme hazard to firefighters and equipment. Prior to entering work areas, expert tree fallers identify and mitigate (fall) these weakened trees to reduce the risk of them coming down and causing serious injuries or fatalities.

Firefighters and law enforcement officers maintain a presence in evacuated areas. Trained firefighters are flying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) through the smoke to provide infrared heat imaging to locate hotspots near control lines and provide accurate mapping.

Firefighters are ready to respond to any new fire starts that may occur due to lightning. Mopping up describes the process of extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines down to the mineral soil, felling fire-damaged trees, and cooling ash pits to make a fire line less likely to escape or to reduce residual smoke.

Resources for all wildfires: Lookout, Bedrock, Horse Creek, and Pothole Fires: 990 total personnel with 66 engines, 17 crews, 14 dozers, 41 water tenders, 11 masticators, and 11 copters.

WILDFIRES

LOOKOUT FIRE: 25,575 acres. 20% contained. Start Date: 8/5/2023. Cause; Lightning. Fire Behavior: Minimal. Fire Map of Fires: Lookout, Horse Creek, and Potlhole. PC: Inciweb

BEDROCK FIRE: 31,590 acres. 85% contained. Start Date: 7/22/2023. Cause: Under Investigation. Resources: 22 engines, 11 crews, 6 dozers, 23 water tenders, 7 masticators and 11 helos. Fire Map: Bedrock. PC: Inciweb

HORSE CREEK FIRE: 1 mile SE of McKenzie Bridge, OR. 763 acres of timber, closed timber litter, and brush. 12% contained. Start Date: 8/24/2023. Cause: Lightning. IC: Tony DeMasters, Great Basin Team with Deputy ICs: Kim Martin and Sam Hicks. Fire Behavior: Minimal with creeping and smoldering.

POTHOLE FIRE: 109 acres. 15% contained. Start: 8/25/2023. Cause: Lightning.

EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Centers: An evacuation center is in place at Westridge Middle School in Oakridge for evacuees and small pets from the Horse Creek and Lookout Fires. For assistance with large animal evacuations, please call 541-285-8227.

Evacuation Update: The Lane Co Sheriff downgraded the following areas from Level 3 (go now) to Level 2 (be ready) status yesterday: North of Highway 126 from Drury Lane in the east to Scott Creek Road, including Paradise campground and North Belknap Springs Road. An up-to-date and searchable evacuation map is available through Lane County’s website.

Lane County Evacuations: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=19729054   
Linn County Evacuations: https://www.linnsheriff.org/

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