Beachie Creek Update, September 26

Acres: 192,838 acres                                                                                     Percent Containment: 52% 

Start Date: August 16, 2020                                                                        Cause: Under Investigation 

Origin Location: Opal Creek Wilderness:                                                  Fuels: Timber and logging slash 

two miles south of Jawbone Flats, six                                                       Flights: Temporary Flight 

miles north of Detroit, Oregon                                                                                 Restriction on east side    

Resources: 677                                                                                         

Northern, Western, and Southern Flanks of Beachie Creek Fire Secure 

Crews are working direct on the fire line and have contingency line in place 

Salem, Ore. – Strong control lines are in place from the north, to the west and through the south of the Beachie Creek fire. Firefighters continue to monitor and secure lines.  

On the northern fire flank, communities of Wilhoit, Scotts Mills, Silverton, Silverton hills, and Silver Falls State Park are protected. The western flank communities of Sublimity, Stayton, Mehama, Lyons and Fox Valley are secure. Evacuation levels for North Fork and Elkhorn are lowered. On the southern edge of the fire perimeter, the towns along Highway 22 of Mill City, Gates, Niagara, Detroit, and Idanha all have strong control lines. Crews continue to mop-up and patrol hot spots along all containment lines.   

Smoldering is and will continue to be seen, but there is defensible space from those hot spots that protects the communities. Call 911 only if you see fire moving, not for smoke. Fire crews are already working the areas or purposely allowing interior fire to smolder; each 911 call takes them away from their task.  

Crew assignments Saturday including working with the contracted timber company east of the Silver Falls State Park to clear hazard trees, weather permitting. Canadian crews are working along Highway 22. There is a crew dedicated to working with residents and any remaining debris. There are 677 fire responders working on the Beachie Creek fire. Yield to emergency vehicles and be aware of post-fire falling hazards.  

Despite having a few days of rain, the fire is still creeping within the burn perimeter. It takes months of steady moisture to completely put the fire out. There are large areas of unburned and green trees that the fire jumped over during the wind event. On the ground, deep layers of organic material might be wet on top, yet fire burns deep underground. Off to the eastern flank, the fire is still burning in the Table Rock Wilderness where there are heavy and thick fuels that experience infrequent fire and exhibit drought-like conditions.  

The Marion and Linn County Sherriff Offices continue to evaluate and lower evacuation levels; check updates on their websites:   

• Marion County Sherriff’s website / evacuation maps: https://marioncounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5202b602f99647b9a16d488c545113b5 
• Linn County Sheriff’s website here:https://linngis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=56668b1f57cf4bec9be88420a37e1183 

The Willamette National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and State lands around the fire remain closed to the public. Go to InciWeb.gov for more information about closures in the area.