Newly ignited Horse Creek Fire brings Level 2 evacuations in McKenzie River corridor

Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal
·1 min read
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A new wildfire ignited by Thursday night’s lightning strikes has brought Level 2 evacuation warnings to the McKenzie River corridor just east of Blue River.

The Horse Creek Fire, which is burning just south of the Lookout Fire, grew from 4 acres to 25 acres in a short time today, fire crews said.

The evacuation warnings, which mean “be prepared to go at any moment,” include the following areas:

  • Horse Creek Rd.

  • Hall Rd.

  • Sullivan Ln.

  • Alma Dr.

  • Old Foley Ridge Rd.

  • 5600 block of Delta Dr.

  • Areas south of McKenzie Hwy. from milepost 50.5 to milepost 54

  • Horse Creek Lodge

  • Foley Hot Springs

A map of the evacuation area can be found here.

Resources from the Lookout Fire are responding to the new blaze.

“We have heavy equipment on it and are pushing a dozer line around it,” Lookout Fire spokesman Randy Pyle said. “We also have aviation support.”

About 50 new wildfires popped up Friday across Western Oregon following 1,633 lightning strikes overnight.

The newly-ignited Horse Creek Fire has brought evacuations east of Blue River and just south of where the Lookout Fire is burning.
The newly-ignited Horse Creek Fire has brought evacuations east of Blue River and just south of where the Lookout Fire is burning.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Horse Creek Fire brings level 2 evacuations in McKenzie