BEACHIE CREEK FIRE UPDATE – September 21, 2020
Virtual Community Meeting Beachie Creek Fire, Tuesday, September 22, 6 pm, Beachie Creek Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/BeachieCreekFire2020
Incident Management Team advises residents and drivers of hazards
Be Alert for: Rockslides, Falling Trees, Hot Ash, and Emergency Equipment
Salem, Ore. – Additional hot shot crews and Canadian firefighters are directly attacking hot spots Monday on the Beachie Creek fire. These new resources are working the southern edge of the fire along State Route 22 between Stayton and Detroit. There is heat around Rock Creek, and crews are securing that area. The North Fork area remains closed and structural firefighter crews are there conducting additional protection and safety work.
The Incident Management Team and Marion County Sheriff are advising residents about potential hazards of hot ash, falling trees, hazardous debris, and possible rockslides. A tree may look alive and green; and yet, the fire may have burned the base, making it a falling hazard. On State Route 22, debris is constantly being removed which is why it remains closed. Insurance firms are getting in the area to assess damage, and utility companies are making repairs.
The Marion County Sheriff deputies are also escorting specific boat owners in the removal of boats from Detroit Lake due to low water levels; only those owners whose names are on the Sheriff’s list are allowed in the area.
Firefighters are working directly on the western edge connecting the pieces of containment line, and weather conditions will be favorable this Monday and Tuesday. Just to the east of Silver Falls State Park, adjacent to the fire line, heavy equipment will be used to strengthen the containment lines. Over on the eastern edge of the fire, there is more intense heat in the Nasty Rock area, pushing towards Burnt Mountain; additional acreage will burn there on Monday. By Wednesday, a windy and wet weather pattern moves in that is forecast to produce up to an inch of rain. Wind gusts could reach 45 miles per hour; crews are preparing the areas for the weather.
Currently 1,118 structures are at Level 3 evacuations and another 4,574 are in level 2 evacuations. As more residents are allowed back into the area, it is imperative that everyone heeds road closures and safety messages. Anyone who enters the fire perimeter jeopardizes firefighting operations and puts lives at risk.
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.
Public Contact Information:
Facebook.com/BeachieCreekFire2020
Email: 2020.beachiecreek@firenet.gov
Phone: 541-583-0526, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m
Inciweb
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7001/
Smoke and Air Quality
https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/p/air-quality-now.html
https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks
