Update for Sept. 13, 2020, morning
Oregon Department of Forestry IMT 3 Link Smith, Incident Commander and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Team Ian Yocum, Incident Commander
Holiday Farm Fire Information: 541-357-9729 (7am-10pm)
Lane County Non-Emergency Call Center: 541-682-3977 (7am-10pm)
Linn County Non-Emergency Call Center: 541-812-2260
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolidayFarmFire/
Email: holidayfarmfireinfo@gmail.com
Springfield, Ore. – The hard work of wildland and structural firefighters on the Holiday Farm Fire east of Springfield is starting to pay off. Yesterday, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office lowered the evacuation level in the Mohawk Valley to 2 (BE SET). After several days with zero containment, fire managers now estimate containment at five percent. Containment reflects the fire managers’ confidence that existing control lines would prevent additional fire spread.
An infrared flight that usually takes place overnight to show changes in fire growth did not occur last night. The most current information estimates the fire perimeter at 161,826 acres.
Many residents in the Mohawk Valley and north of the Linn County line are affected by the drop in evacuation levels. Please note two important exceptions:
- West of Marcola Road south of the intersection with Hill Rd. is being downgraded from a Level 2 (BE SET) to a Level 1 (BE READY).
- East of the Mohawk River from Wendling Rd. to the Linn county line remains at Level 3 (GO NOW), including Wending Road, Paschelke Road, Hileman Road, Bunker Hill Road and Mohawk River Road and their connecting roads.
The evacuation level along Highway 126 from Thurston Road to Camp Creek Road, including Camp Creek Road, Upper Camp Creek Road and Cedar Flat Road is also being downgraded from a Level 3 (GO NOW) to a Level 2 (BE SET). All of Deerhorn Road remains in a level 3 evacuation.
Please note that dropping Level 3 (GO NOW) to Level 2 (BE SET) reflects that fire danger has subsided in that area enough to allow residents access to the area so they can make additional preparations for their homes, livestock or other animals. They should expect that if fire behavior increases these areas may return to Level 3 (GO NOW) and residents must be able to leave again at a moment’s notice.
Structural assessment continues today as crews are joined by an 80-person national urban search and rescue team (USAR). The USAR team will be working to locate unaccounted for people within the fire perimeter and start assessing structures. This will be a large-scale operation.
Crews dedicated to protecting structures yesterday made good progress along the Highway 126 corridor. They continued to improve fire protection for homes throughout the fire and executed mop up operations in the southwest portion of the fire, specifically in Goodpasture Loop and Deerhorn Road.
With more resources in place, fire crews have been able to construct direct control lines (adjacent to the fire’s edge) and indirect control lines (farther back from the fire’s edge). Firefighters completed a successful burnout operation in the southwestern corner of the fire to establish a solid control line. Additionally, crews have been mopping up, scouting locations for new control lines and removing snags to make areas safer for fire personnel and vehicles.
Structural firefighters continue to focus on protecting structures and mopping up around homes. Currently, the fire threatens 23,456 structures.
Fire managers request that the public please avoid the area. Some roads are closed in the fire area and much of the Willamette National Forest (WNF). Road hazards include falling trees and rocks and debris. For more information on closures on the WNF visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=61574
Many communities in Lane and Linn counties remain under Level 1, 2 or 3 evacuation orders.
Level 2 (BE SET) means there is significant danger to your area and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area and be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Emergency responders may not have time to provide you with additional notice if danger increases.
Please continue to monitor cell phones, landlines, local media and official information sources for evacuation updates. Current evacuation levels can be found at:
Lane County: www.lanecounty.org/mckenziefire
Linn County: www.linnsheriff.org/fire_live_updates_sept_2020/
Fire personnel are warmed by the community’s support but are unable to accept donations or use volunteers. The fire must use individuals with the appropriate qualifications. Those looking to volunteer or donate can connect with local organizations at: https://www.lanecounty.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=17035134
| Estimated Size: | 161,826 acres (no IR flight yesterday) |
| Containment: | 5% |
| Start Date/Time: | 9/7/2020, 8:20 p.m. |
| Expected Containment Date: | 10/29/2020 |
| Location: | Lane County |
| Cause: | Unknown |
| Personnel: | 628 |
| Assigned Resources:
Hand Crews: Engines: Dozers: Water Tenders: Other Heavy Equipment: |
16 45 6 13 2 |
| Assigned Aircraft:
Structure Task Forces: |
4
5 |
| Injuries: | 0 |
| Structures Threatened: | 23,556 |
| Structures Damaged: | Assessing |
| Structures Destroyed: | Unknown |
| Evacuations: | Level 1 (Ready), Level 2 (Set) and Level 3 (GO!) are in effect. |