Oregon wildfires: Bedrock Fire grows to 3,100 acres, degrading Central Oregon air quality

Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal
Updated ·6 min read
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A helicopter flies Monday between the Bedrock Fire and nearby Fall Creek to get a load of water as the wildfire burns east of Eugene.
A helicopter flies Monday between the Bedrock Fire and nearby Fall Creek to get a load of water as the wildfire burns east of Eugene.

The latest updates on Oregon's wildfires can be found here:

LATEST: Oregon wildfire updates: Bedrock Fire burns 3,190 acres, federal funds for Golden Fire

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This story updated at 12:58 p.m. on Monday, July 24

It was a busy weekend for wildfires across Oregon, with already-burning fires growing and multiple new blazes igniting and bringing evacuations and closures.

Here's the latest on the major fires burning across the state.

The Bedrock Fire burns above Fall Creek east of Eugene on Monday.
The Bedrock Fire burns above Fall Creek east of Eugene on Monday.

Bedrock Fire grows to 3,190 acres in Fall Creek area east of Eugene

The Bedrock Fire grew to 3,190 acres by Monday morning, just two days after the blaze ignited in the popular upper Fall Creek area, according to the latest updates from fire crews.

The fire is named for Bedrock Campground where it originated. The upper Fall Creek area has frequently burned over the past decade.

The fire is sending smoke that's degrading air quality in Central Oregon.

Big Fall Creek Road is closed at the intersection of Peninsula Road for the Bedrock Fire east of Eugene.
Big Fall Creek Road is closed at the intersection of Peninsula Road for the Bedrock Fire east of Eugene.

"Extreme fire behavior and windy conditions contributed to growth yesterday, mostly to the west and south," a Monday update said.

A type 2 firefighting team has taken over management of the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Forest Service said its goal is to "fully suppress the fire," the update said. However, "the fire is expected to be active again today with the continued hot and dry conditions forecast."

Resources working on the fire include 4 hand crews, 4 helicopters, 7 engines, 5 dozers, and various heavy equipment. Additional resources are in route.

“We want to encourage folks to avoid the area,” said Kevin Reese, fire staff officer for the Northwest Interagency Fire Management Organization. “A lot of fire-related traffic is traveling to the Fall Creek corridor as we fully suppress this fire.”

While there are no evacuation notices in effect at this time, several campgrounds along Big Fall Creek Rd. are closed due to fire activity. If an evacuation notice becomes necessary, information will be released by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

Flat Fire grows to 22,066 acres, listed as 'human caused'

More than 1,400 fire personnel are now staffing Oregon's largest wildfire, the Flat Fire, which grew to 22,066 acres by Monday morning.

The fire is burning near the town of Agness near the confluence of the Illinois and Rogue rivers. In Sunday's report, the fire was listed as "human caused" for the first time. The fire ignited at Oak Flat Campground. No other details were released.

More: Fire crews get OK to use heavy equipment in Kalmiopsis Wilderness to fight Flat Fire

“Crews have successfully implemented strategic firing operations and established control lines along the northern perimeter,” an update Monday said. “Firefighters will continue to assess opportunities and mobilize resources for additional contingency control lines in a proactive manner ahead of dry and windy conditions in the coming weeks.”

Pacific Northwest Team 3 — a team tasked with managing some of the nation's largest and most complex fires — took over management of the fire Sunday.

A fire line starts at Game Lake and stretches east over the Kalmiopsis Wilderness to its northern boundary. The fire team will also move resources toward the fire’s perimeter to establish lines.

There is a large closure area and a level 2 evacuation warning — meaning "be prepared to go" from Agness to Quosatana Creek. Curry County is sending evacuation notices utilizing Everbridge, which provides notices via phone.

Haight Creek Fire containment grows to 40%

Southwest of Veneta in Lane County, containment of the Haight Creek Fire has grown to 40% by Sunday morning. A Monday update from the fire team said the crew was able to expand mop-up efforts after clearing other hazards near the line.

Some smoke may be visible to communities nearby as the rest of the fuel is burnt inside the fire’s perimeter, alongside other conditions from fires further away.

“Fighting an active fire always draws a lot of the public’s attention, but the mop-up phase is equally important, and it takes considerably more time,” Ole Buch, Oregon Department of Forestry District Forester said in Monday’s release. “Folks are often surprised that trapped heat within the fire can smolder for months and even put off smoke. District staff will patrol the fire’s perimeter throughout the summer to keep a close eye.”

No evacuation orders have been issued and no structures or powerlines are threatened. The biggest threat is to natural resources, the Oregon Department of Forestry said. Access to Oxbow Road is also closed near the fire for the safety of the fire team.

The fire started July 18 on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected BLM land. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Golden Fire brings evacuations, closes Highway 140

The Golden Fire grew to 2,000 acres, with structures threatened, on Sunday.
The Golden Fire grew to 2,000 acres, with structures threatened, on Sunday.

The Golden Fire has grown rapidly on Bly Mountain, about 18 miles east of Klamath Falls and 11 miles north of Bonanza, to at least 2,052 acres as of Monday morning. It has closed Highway 140E and has brought level 3 evacuations — meaning "go now" —to surrounding properties.

Multiple fire crews and aircraft are currently engaging the fire.

Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Golden Fire to allow the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize more resources to protect life and property.

The Golden Fire began Saturday afternoon at approximately 1 p.m. For the status of Highway 140E, check TripCheck.com for the latest updates.

Red Cross Cascades has opened an evacuation shelter in response to the Golden Fire at Bonanza Schools (31610 Mission St., Bonanza).

Simnasho Fire improves to 25% containment on Warm Springs

A wildfire burning west of Simnasho on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation was listed at 1,249 acres Monday morning but has been bumped up to 40% containment.

There are no evacuations or road closures at this time. Highway 9 is limited to local and fire traffic only.

"Today the focus will continue to be the southern flank and continuing to watch for spot fires," a Facebook post from the Wildland Fire Management Team for Warm Springs said Monday.Related image (ID: 12282966002)

Human-caused fire contained on South Sister climbers trail near Moraine Lake

A human-caused wildfire was contained Sunday on the South Sister climbers trail near Moraine Lake Trail. Smokejumpers were dispatched and had a line around a blaze that didn't grow larger than an acre.

“The fire is human caused,” Central Oregon Fire Information added.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” 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: Oregon wildfires: Bedrock Fire now 3,100 acres, impacts air quality