Wiley Creek Fire update -- Sunday, 8 p.m.
Oregon Department of Forestry - South Cascade
WILEY CREEK FIRE
News Update: August 13, 2023, 8:00 p.m.
Quick Facts-
Size: 241 Acres
Location: 6 miles SE of Sweet Home
Containment: 20%
Resources: ODF Type 3 Team, hand crews, dozers, and aircraft.
Lands Affected: USFS Willamette National Forest, Private land
FIRE LINES HOLD ON WILEY CREEK FIRE, CONTAINMENT INCREASES
Sweet Home, Ore.— Lines on the Wiley Creek Fire have held through critical fire weather conditions today, following days of strategic planning and work. Firefighters were not only able to hold the existing lines, but build on them throughout the day, allowing the team to increase containment to 20%. The fire is continuing to hold at 241 acres.
A firefighter received a minor injury to the leg today on the line and was treated and released at the hospital. EMTs have been staffing the fire and were able to quickly respond on the line. Steep terrain and rolling rocks remain a concern moving forward. Safety continues to be a top priority for the team and firefighters.
Tonight, resources will continue to build on lines and watch for potential flare-ups; while the fire held steady throughout Sunday, a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect until Monday night. This evening, relative humidity will only reach 40% and temperatures will remain in the 70s, meaning the chance for increased fire activity will remain through the night. Firefighters are preparing for this possibility and watching for any change in fire behavior. The team has also designated additional resources to be ready for initial attack overnight should the need arise.
Smoke from the Lookout Fire, located 31 miles southeast of Sweet Home, began to move northwest this afternoon, bringing thick haze that remains over the area. Meanwhile, little to no smoke was seen over the Wiley Creek Fire today (pictured below, photo taken at 4:50 p.m.). Smoke drift maps and air quality information is always available on https://fire.airnow.gov/.
As this Red Flag Warning continues, please be aware of the heightened risks for fires to start and spread, and help firefighters by following all local regulations, found here: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx. Additional wildfire prevention tips are available at www.keeporegongreen.org.
Level 1 (Be Ready) and Level 2 (Be Set) evacuations remain in place. For more information on evacuations, visit https://www.linnsheriff.org/. No campfires of any kind are allowed on the Willamette National Forest.
The closure order for Green Peter Reservoir remains in effect. Please respect all closures so that firefighters can focus on the containment of this fire.
