Oregon wildfires updates: Numerous new fires spark evacuations, close Silver Falls

UPDATE AT 1:12 p.m. on Aug. 27: For the latest Oregon wildfire updates, including the latest on the 50 new fires burning across the state, see this newest story.

Numerous new wildfires popped up Friday following 1,633 lightning strikes across Oregon overnight.

Federal and state fire crews reported at least 50 new fires on the state's west side, and some of them are growing rapidly and bringing evacuations and closures.

The fires are threatening Portland's drinking water source, bringing evacuations in the McKenzie corridor and Douglas County while closing trails at Silver Falls State Park.

Here's a map and list of updates from the new fires.

5 p.m. Saturday: Level 3 go now order issued for Mink Lake basin

The Lane County Sheriff's Office on Saturday afternoon issued a level 3 "go now" evacuation notice for Mink Lake basin in the Three Sisters Wilderness due to a "fast-moving" wildfire north of Penn Lake.

3:30 p.m. Saturday: Evacuations issued in Douglas County

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has issued a level 3 evacuation order for the 10,000 block of Hubbard Creek Road to the intersection of Millwood Drive west of Sutherlin.

A level 2 "be set" evacuation notice has been issued for all homes on Lighthouse Road in Tyee.

The evacuation is apparently due to multiple wildfires in the area, including the Tyee Ridge Complex.

5:51 p.m. Friday: Fire in Bull Run Watershed, Portland's drinking water source, grows to 100 acres

The Camp Creek Fire grew to 100 acres south of Bull Run Dam in Clackamas County in Mount Hood National Forest.

"Hand crews, engines, and a hotshot crew are continuing to work into the evening," Mount Hood National Forest said in a statement. "There are no structures threatened and no fire closures in effect. Fire is about a mile south of Bull Run Reservoir #1."

The Bull Run watershed provides Portland's drinking water, but water has not been impacted so far, said the Portland Water Bureau.

"Water from the Bull Run continues to be safe to drink," the agency said. "We will continue to monitor water quality to ensure that the water remains safe to drink. Our top priority is protecting the water supply and facilities in the watershed and keeping our staff safe."

4:55 p.m.: Newly-ignited fire in McKenzie corridor brings level 2 evacuations

A new wildfire ignited by Thursday night’s lightning strikes have 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 amount of 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.”

3:15: Fire at Eugene's Alton Baker Park snuffed out

A 2-acre grass fire at Alton Baker Park was brought under control by the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department after just about an hour, officials said.

The park, which was briefly closed, has reopened.

The fire was reported at around 3:21 p.m. and was declared controlled by roughly 4:15 p.m.

The fire did spread into trees at the park, and an arborist for the city will look at ensuring they don't pose a hazard to the bike path below, said Kelsey Hunter with Eugene-Springfield Fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

3 p.m.: Fire at Silver Falls State Park closes four trails

Four trails have been closed at Silver Falls State Park due to a small wildfire burning in the backcountry, according to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

The fire is about a half-acre and burning in large timber in the Buck Mountain cutoff trail area, park manager Chris Gilliand said.

The following trails are closed as firefighters work the blaze: Upper Smith, Cutoff Trail, Buck Mountain, and Howard Creek trail.

“No visitors or structures are currently under threat,” Gilliand said. "Every other part of the park — including around the waterfalls — remains open."

Fire crews from multiple agencies have responded to the fire and have cut a line around the blaze, while bringing in water by trailer, Gilliand said.

"The concern is that the fire is up in tall trees," Gilliand said. "If a wind gust comes, it could throw embers into other areas of the park. We do have tree-fallers here now and once they get those trees on the ground, we should be pretty close to good."

The fire was first reported at 10:30 a.m. after a horse rider called in to say they'd seen smoke. A ranger found the fire around 11 a.m. and local fire crews arrived soon after.

"We have a lot of resources here now," Gilliand said.

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

10 a.m.: Nine new fires outside Eugene

In Willamette National Forest, east of Salem and Eugene, multiple new fires have been reported. Most are in the McKenzie River and Oakridge area — the same area as the large Bedrock and Lookout fires.

Here are the new starts so far reported.

-The Horse Creek Fire is 2 to 4 acres in timber burning up a 60% slope, officials said, located at Horse Creek Campground and Old Foley Road.

"The team on the Lookout Fire has responsibility for this fire," a Friday morning report said. "This fire reportedly has high spread potential and the team has requested a Type 1 helicopter for assistance. A Forest Service engine, as well as two Oregon Department of Forestry engines, are on scene along with the Grande Ronde Type 2 IA crew. Other heavy equipment has been requested."

-The Pothole Fire also has resources working on it, officials said. This fire is near Pothole Creek, east of Eugene and on the edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness. A contract fire crew is working on the blaze.

-The Warner Fire (#402) is reported as .10 acre in brush, timber and duff and is smoldering and creeping on a 30 to 45% slope. The responding resources have said there is low spread potential but a lot of snags and are continuing to work on the fire.

-Other fires: Windy Pass (#403) in the Middle Fork, #407 in the McKenzie River District and #408 in the Middle Fork all have engines responding. The firefighters on all three fires have visuals on the reported smokes but are having difficulty gaining access for an accurate size up. Three additional fires: #409, #410 and #411, all in the same general area of the McKenzie Ranger District, have been reported and resources are responding. All three are looking for available smokejumpers.

10 a.m.: Umpqua National Forest sparked at least three new blazes

Lightning sparked fire crews to check on 10 different smokes that came up from this southern Oregon forest on Friday. A handful of them are confirmed fires including:

-Chilcoot Fire. This fire is estimated to be between 50 to 60 acres and is located in the Umpqua National Forest in an area of mutually shared protection and is currently being staffed by Umpqua National Forest, Douglas Forest Protection Agency, and landowner resources.

-Ridge Fire. This fire is estimated around 15 acres. Fire resources on scene.

-Hill Fire. This fire is under one acre and fire resources on scene. This fire is currently lined.

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 updates: Numerous new fires spark evacuations